As you can tell, I didn't have time to post last night (Tuesday). I think you will understand why momentarily. Being completely exhausted from Sunday & Monday, we took our time getting ready. Just before lunch, we headed for Mt. Vernon. It was a welcome change not to ride to Metro for 45 minutes into town. Once there, we stopped by the food court and had lunch before touring the grounds. We were able to watch a short video and then proceed. We headed to the mansion tour first. The house has alot of original furnishings. We were able to look into 14 rooms, including the Washington's bedroom. The tour guide explained that it was in that very room that Washington died - Dec 14, 1799. It was amazing to think that this was the very home that the first President resided in, and where he drew his last breath. Several times during the day, we heard that Washington said (summarized in my words )" That there is no other estate in all the world as well situated as Mt. Vernon." I think that our family would agree. The view from the back of the house overlooking the Potomac was stunning. I could have sat there for days. (See photo page).
We also visited the buildings around the mansion - The greenhouse, garden, slave quarters, spinning room, shoemakers shop, smoke house, kitchen, stables, washroom, etc. It took about 25 pails of water for one load of wash. The slaves had to carry the water in themselves and then hand scrub the clothes. Can you imagine? And to think that sometimes we have trouble keeping up using a washer and dryer!
We also visited the tomb of the Washingtons. Originally he was buried at another place on the grounds, where other family members tombs were, but in his will, he directed that another site be constructed in a particular place. This was completed in 1831 and he and Martha along with the others were moved there. We also visited the burial place of slaves.
Hayden got to see the "Necessary" (outhouse). They explained that the waste was kept in wooden drawers to use for fertilizer. - YUCK!
Mt. Vernon has just opened a museum and education center. There were 3 life-size models of him at different stages in his life. It was amazing how life like they looked. The Museum was so informative and had various movies and exhibits taking you through his entire life. One thing that struck me was what Martha Washington endured - all the years that George was gone during the Revolutionary War; the loss of a private life, as he served as President; how many people she must have entertained and cared for in her home, and the trips she made to be with George during the war.
Well the day was over before we knew it and we headed back for supper. After eating it was on to the hotel, where the Internet was down. I began packing, as we would be checking out in the morning - early I might add. We loaded everything we could in the van, and headed to bed for an early rise.
We awoke this morning around 3:15 a.m. ( that would be 2:15 am Central Time and for those who know me well, sometimes I am just going to bed then!) We dressed, finished loading, checked out and headed back toward DC. I was confident that at 5:00 a.m., the traffic would be significantly lighter and we would be on schedule. Nonetheless, we planned for the worse, allowing ourselves 2 hours to drive to the Metro station in Maryland. We decided to head north of DC and catch the train to save some time on heading to PA after our White House tour. Upon entering the interstate, I was almost speechless. Folks, every lane, I mean every lane (4-5 across) was packed at 5 AM! It was completely dark and as far as the eye could see were taillights! It was like nothing I have ever seen before! Thankfully, we made in to the Metro right on schedule.
Our White House tour was for 8 AM. We arrived around 7:25 (Somebody please give me credit for being early once in my life!) The 7:30 tour was lining up, and then they asked if anyone was there for 8 am. We said yes and they began another line. They let us go through with the 7:30 because they were shutting off that entrance and going to reroute anyone who came up behind us. This was definitely a God thing, because we thought we were going to be pushing it for him to be in a meeting at 1:00 pm in PA.
We got to go through the house at our own pace. It was beautiful. It is incomprehensible to think of all the people who have walked those halls! To think - I am standing where Presidents, Dignitaries, etc. have stood. Or to think - this is what I have seen on TV. There was a display of china used by various Presidents. It was neat to see what their particular style was.
We were done rather quickly, and headed back to our van. We left the Metro around 8:30 am. and headed to PA. We arrived around 11:30 a.m. and checked into our hotel. Hayden and I took Jimmy to his meeting and came back to the hotel. I took a nap until about 4:30 and Hayden watched tv ( He napped all the way from Maryland to PA). We ate supper at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM!) in the King of Prussia mall. This place is huge! I think it is the largest retail space than any other in America. It is 2 stories on both sides of the road with a cross walk over the road and several parking decks. There are two Macy's! Several of the stores have 2 or 3 locations in the mall. There are over 400 stores in all. However, after walking DC that doesn't intimidate me in the least.
I am looking forward to sleeping in tommorrow. We will get back to school work as well. There is a bonus - when he finishes he can swim in the indoor pool. ( There is one thing that isn't available here, regardless of the number of stores - swimming goggles! We left ours at home :)
We are planning to go to Valley Forge park probably on Friday. Talk to you soon.
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