Day 15: DC

Rise and shine in hot hot hot DC. We had breakfast from our hotel room via our cooler. We headed to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It was really fascinating to see the lobby and to think of the film Night at the Museum. We enjoyed seeing the fossils and the jewels like the Hope Diamond. They even had a couple actual mummies on display. Can you imagine the notion of your decrepit body being on display for millions of people each year?

We went to a sandwich shop called the West Wing Cafe and spent about $40 on two sandwiches and drinks. DC is one of the most expensive cities we've visited. We then headed to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. This place was hands down my favorite. My minor at Iowa was American Studies so many things I got the chance to see were things we studied.

Everything was jaw dropping - from the outfits that the first ladies wore during the inauguration, Lincoln's top hat from the night of his assassination, the literal battle ridden flag that Francis Scott Key looked at when we had the idea for the Star Spangled Banner, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, C3PO & R2D2, Mister Roger's sweater, and the Woolworth lunch counter from the 1960 civil rights sit in. I could have spent all day in that one single museum taking it all in.

We decided that since our hotel was right next to the National Portrait Gallery we would stop and see the Obama's portraits. It was an impressive building with a lot of beautiful paintings.

We then decided to walk to Ella's Restaurant for pizza and beer. It was a nice dinner to celebrate out last night in DC. We redeemed our free drink vouchers at the hotel bar and toasted a lovely time.