What usually comes to mind when you think of our nation’s capitol are the tourist draws like the Washington Monument, the White House and the cherry blossoms. My recent trip to Washington D.C. proved there was a lot more to the city.It was my first trip to Washington D.C., and I wanted to take plenty of photographs while I visited both the well-known and not-so-well-known tourist sites. I am passionate about shooting landscapes, and there were plenty in Washington D.C. – 11 rolls worth.Before setting off on my first morning on the Metro, the city’s underground mass transit system, I didn’t want to stand out as a tourist so I hid my rather large camera in my backpack along with my Fromer’s guide to Washington D.C.Although I didn’t want to appear like a tourist, my first stop was, of course, the White House. I was anxious, and later disappointed when I found out there are no more tours (because of security risks) unless you have written permission six to 10 months in advance from your Congressman. I made the best of it and snapped plenty of outside shots.As I observed the White House, I wondered who was inside doing what. Are they looking out the window at me? Do they even know I’m standing here? Probably not. The White House seemed like an oasis to me as I stood there snapping photos and admiring the beautifully manicured lawn. Inside the fence, it was peaceful and quiet while less than 100 yards away the sounds of a city filled with continuous activity rang in my ears.One of my best sightseeing ideas was the TourMobile – a large, open-windowed bus stuffed to the gills with camera-toting tourists and a guide spouting facts about D.C. The TourMobile cost $20 for an all-day ride, and I was able to get off and on whenever I wanted in between stops to the major sites and museums.I strongly recommend the Smithsonian museums, which are free, air-conditioned and educational. Some of my favorite museum items were the Apollo 11 return module and pop-culture items like Dorothy’s (“Wizard of Oz”) ruby slippers, Mr. Roger’s sweater, the Fonz’s (“Happy Days”) jacket and Kermit the Frog. I also drooled over the world’s largest diamond – the Hope Diamond (I know what I want for Christmas!).One day I toured the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving, where they print all of the nation’s paper money as well as all the White House invitations. I had hopes they would hand out samples of money at the end of the tour. That was a free 45-minute tour, but there were no free samples!After six days in our nation’s capital, I learned that Washington D.C., designed by Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant in 1791, was the first American city planned for a specific purpose – government.Although there are many landscapes to photograph and grand places to visit, its purpose as a hub for government creates a hustle and bustle unparalleled elsewhere.I think my husband said it best: “What most people don’t realize is that Washington D.C. may be a place with a lot of tourist sites to visit, but it is also a place where you are surrounded by our government at work.”
