In the Beginning

Yes, we're both aware that we've already been here for about 2 months.

Several weeks ago now, we went for a late-night exploration to the Lincoln Memorial. (Did you know it's open 24 hours? Neither did we! I was sitting on the couch reading a tourist magazine around 10 p.m. one night and saw that there was a park ranger on duty until midnight. Thinking that was odd, I investigated a bit, and discovered that the place never closes! We jumped up and went right then, figuring that was the first time in our lives that we wouldn't have to catch a plane to go to the Lincoln Memorial. Anyway.) We had so much fun wandering around at a National Park in the middle of the night that we thought we should share the story.

Neither Pete nor I did a study abroad program in college, but several of our friends did. A few of those friends started email lists or blogs to share what they called the "photo of the week." It is in that spirit that this blog came to be. We have no formal plans about how many pictures we'll share per week (or per time that we get around to writing), or if this will become mostly a forum for sharing stories of our wacky antics. Likely, it will be both. (Other pictures will be posted on Facebook, or if necessary maybe we'll start up a flickr account or something. Details to come, once we figure them out.)

So much of Washington is worthy of being explored, and Pete and I are so excited to have a whole year to see it. We're trying to do one touristy-type thing per week, which is really quite easy since so many of the great things to do are free! We're both big fans of getting to know our community, wherever it may be, and it's great to have such a fun place to do that. I think you should do the same in your own town, but that's only my opinion :).

I'll leave you now with a few shots from our first adventure.

Pete waiting to catch the train

Lincoln Memorial. This photo doesn't come close to showing how gorgeous it is at night. Seriously, if you ever get the chance, go.

Reflecting pool and Washington Monument. Again, I don't think there's a camera good enough to show how pretty this is.

On the way back to the train, we ended up going through the World War II Memorial, which is breathtakingly amazing. Up close, it kind of reminds me of the cathedral ruins I walked through in England.

Photographically, I think this is my favorite. Clearly, this is the Washington Monument. It's also our last photo of the night.

That's all for now, people. 'Til next time!

~Kate