Hi All,
We had a very busy day touring. First stop was the Spy Museum. This was a mix of interesting espionage exhibits, history of spy's and cryptography, some video displays about US spies like Aldridge Ames and Robert Hansen and some silly exhibits about spy movies.
After lunch in Chinatown we were looking on Google Maps and noticed the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. The name derives from its location at the intersection of 6th St. and I Ave. When we showed up at the door, the security guard called a staff member to give us a brief tour. The place has a fascinating history. Originally a 1908 orthodox synagogue the building later became a church. When the church moved out, the building was slated to be converted to a night club. Three local Jewish real estate developers wanted to preserve the former synagogue so they bought it. Since these three men covered the spectrum of Jewish beliefs from orthodox to reform, worship services and community observances span the full range of contemporary Jewish practice.
Here's the altar with a magnificent stained glass window.
Next stop was the National Gallery of Art. We went on an informative docent led tour then wandered through galleries ranging from subtle impressionist paintings to videos of a man painting a room!
The FDR Memorial included this statue of the President with his dog Fala. Looks like many tourists have been stroking Fala's ears.
We had never before seen the Martin Luther King Memorial. It is an imposing sculpture. The legs blending into the rough stone represents "work yet to be done "
The Iwo Jima Memorial is striking at night
as is the Lincoln Memorial
Our last stop was the Korean War Memorial, 19 GIs slogging through a rice paddy. A sobering site in daylight, really haunting at night.
Sandy & Carl
Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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