Washington, D.C.
The capital of the United States of America. Before I visited, I always had a certain “vision” of what the city would look like…. that vision has been shattered. I always imagined that the city would be noble and regal. That it would set the example of what the rest of our country should strive to be.
The monuments and government buildings were nice, but some of the areas on the outskirts left much to be desired. A lot of road work was being done (which is good), but the outskirts reminded me of cities like Oakland, CA.
The one place in DC that I really wanted to visit was the Lincoln Memorial. It definitely is one of the biggest tourists attractions (as evidenced in my photos) as there were a massive amount of people littering the steps to this glorious building. There were people sitting on the steps, eating, talking, and resting all over the monument. It was even crowded inside the building as well. There were even religious groups talking on the steps of the memorial, preaching to anyone within earshot.
Even though I didn’t get pictures, I also saw the FBI Building (X-Files immediately came to mind!), the IRS Building, and the USDA building.
Niagara Falls, Canada
Due to the mist, it was incredibly difficult to get a decent photo of the main part of Niagara Falls. For the serious traveler who wants the best view of Niagara Falls, I recommend crossing over the bridge into Canada. There you will be able to a direct view of the millions of gallons of water rushing down.
We decided to ride the “Maid of the Mist” that takes passengers directly to the main part of the falls. I warn everyone to make sure they bring a waterproof camera if want to take pictures on the boat. Once the boat arrives right next to the falls, the spray of water is so intense it feels as if you are riding a bike in heavy rain. The water is so cold (at least it is at the end of April) that it makes your face feel icy. XD
