Day 3 in Washington, D.C.

As usual, everything here in Cologne is still amazing! Just in the last 5 days I sampled some German wine's at the city's Wine Week, headed out to dinner with another program participant and her host family, visited the city's botanical gardens, and took a day trip to Maastricht! Lots of excitement over here. But there are still events in the U.S. about which I have not yet blogged, so here goes - some of my last memories on American soil for the next 365 days.

On July 26th, I continued my pre-orientation sightseeing blitz through D.C., this time with my host Ranjani by my side. I started out at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. From neanderthal skeletons to a preserved giant squid, this place has it all, including a hall full of countless rooms displaying innumerable gems and crystals. It also had an installation where you could touch a meteorite that fell from Mars. Between touching that and the moon rock in the Air and Space Museum the day before, I think it's safe to say I've basically been to space.

A real mummy!

The Hope Diamond

One can never get enough real mummies

Next up was the National Museum of American History. An incredible collection of historically significant items awaited us, from Dorothy's ruby slippers to gowns from every First Lady to date to a warship used in the Revolutionary War. 

An old firefighting cart. This had to be lugged by hand to the scene of a fire. Ranjani and I especially enjoyed the illustration of a dapper fireman

Steel columns from the 70th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower

The original flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the text to the Star-Spangled Banner. There are patches missing since parts were cut away and given away as mementos

Lunch break!

After a quick lunch break (during which we ran into one of my USC friends - Trojan Family is real, people!) we took off for Arlington Cemetery. The place is enormous, which is pretty sad. But we were glad we went, it is an amazing experience and quite a sight to see.

Kennedy's Eternal Flame

View from a hilltop in the cemetery

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

  

We also saw the changing of the guard. Its tight choreography was very impressive. In addition, note how the guard has no rank insignia on his sleeve. This is to ensure he does not outrank the fallen

The rest of the night was dedicated to my last Chipotle dinner for the foreseeable future and spending some time with Ranjani and her friends from Georgetown. More to come shortly!