Michelle Goes to DC!: Day 2: ";Today felt like three days!"

Wow!! What a day. So much to do, so much to see, and so much was done!! We got a good nights rest, much needed after the little sleep we got the night before to catch early flights. Nancy and I waked up to the Senate building to pick up our Inauguration tickets. Great walk and easy to navigate. After collecting our ticket packets we went down to the tunnels to get some breakfast at a deli. We checked out the info in our packets, shared a muffin and sipped coffee. Our packets contained the official Inauguration invitation and program, tickets and maps, and pictures of the Pres. and VP. Its pretty great stuff, I will certainly be saving these extras!

From there we walked to Union Station and had fun in the corny gift shops. We really enjoyed the arrangement of Presidential bobble heads. I'll have to figure out how to post that video later. We then found a mock White House podium and set. The store staff was shocked by the squeals of joy we made as we played at the podium. We continued to browse the store and one of the clerks, Zachary, walked up with two envelopes saying "these look important." EEEEEEK we had left our Inauguration tickets on a shelf!!!! Zach, you saved our day!! At this point we decided it was best to get them back to the hotel where they would be safe until Minday. What a close call, too close!!

Once we regained with Barry we walked up to catch the Trolly tour. Had a fantastic tour guide, Adam, who was a cornucopia of fun facts and trivia. When the Trolly got to the National Cathedral we got off to tour it. Such a beautiful place of universal worship. Loved the architecture and all the little chapels. Unfortunately we didn't make it back to the Trolly stop in time to catch Adams Trolly, but our next tour guide was ok. Embassy row was next and super cool! I really enjoyed that. We also got to see VP Bidens house.

After the Trolly tour we were starvin-Marvin! Nancy wanted to take us to her favorite restaurant, Old Ebbits Grill. Such delicious food! Being the Kansans we are, Nancy and I each got a filet, and substituted mashed potatoes and green beans for the sides. Barry got a salmon sandwich. I'm not sure which was better, the salmon or the filet.... Either way, it was all good!

After dinner Nancy and I went on a walk around the White House. Cool to see all lit up. Can't wait to go back in the daylight. We then went on a mission to find an air up mattress to add to our single bed room. Let's just say we got to know the streets and subways of DC really well on this hunt!

As we neared our hotel at the end of the night I found myself saying "today has felt like three days!" We packed a lot into our day and wish we'd brought a pedometer to track how much we walked each day. Tomorrow will be easier on our feet as we plan to rent bikes to see the monuments and museums.

We are beat and enjoying the History channel in our hotel.