Here we are at Cherry Park Resort ... the closet RV park to Washington, DC even though it is in Maryland.  I told them to take me with them as their service dog and I would keep them straight but......they took off on their own to see if they could master 'public transportation'.  The goal was to get to the SW corner of Constitution Ave and 15th Street NW to meet up with their DC on Foot Tour guide.  
What confidence they had.  After all, they had attended the special tips session held at the campground.  They had purchased their 'Smart Cards' that they would load with money at the Metro Station in College Park, Md.  The card would allow them to travel the Metro into Washington DC where they would have just a short walk to the meeting spot.  Now being a senior has some great advantages.  The Senior/yellow Smart Cards are only $2.  The yellow card allows them to travel at 50% off....just $4 for the round trip into DC and back.  But....as I said, you have to load money on the card at the Metro Station.  All you need to do is tap the card on the white circle (thank goodness for the tips presentation; sure wouldn't know to do that by the directions on the machine!), chose add funds which defaults to $20, use the + - keys to raise or lower the amount, choose your payment choice and slide the credit card in the slot.  Piece of cake....with card #1.....and then it all went south.....  The machine tried to load more money on the first card...cancel.  Then just as it appeared everything was going as planned....out pops a white, paper ticket.  WHAT???  Now it was explained at the tips session that you could use a paper ticket but you would be charged FULL rate.  It seems they give excellent training and lots patience to Metro employees.  "No, problem.  Let me show you how to transfer this paper ticket money onto your smart card." And all with a smile!!
The trip in was without event as they got on the right Metro, heading the right direction and they exited at the right stop.  Just a couple of blocks to go and they were at the intersection by the Washington Monument with time to spare.  
Several monuments were on the tour and the delightful tour guide, Carolyn was loaded with info and stories to share.

Carolyn is a graduate from the University of Maryland where she majored in architecture. After 5 years working in her area of training, she came to the conclusion that she was much happier talking about architecture structures and is now a full time tour guide.  She is affiliated with Free DC on Foot Tours.  She is not paid by DC on Foot but her salary comes from tips....the only fee for the tour is pay the guide what you feel it was worth.  Interesting concept.  Motivates the tour guide to be at the top of her game ....and she was!!

The World War II Monument is well done.  The view of the Lincoln Memorial is preserved...in the center.  All the states are represented with the vertical pieces you see.

And the veterans feel ownership by slipping in to carve their symbol that was used to let other soldier know their comrades had been there.

Yep, Kilroy was here...... (don't know why this rotated...just tip your head to view)

The Vietnam Memorial is more than just the wall of names.  By the way, the design that was selected for this wall/memorial was created by a student who was completing an assignment from her professor.  Can you believe she only got a B+?  Maybe the fact that her professor submitted a design that didn't even survive the first cut has something to do with that??

 

There was lots of controversy over that fact that the memorial is just a list of names, organized by year.  As a result, two additional pieces were added: a statue of 3 females displayed in the center of 8 trees in memory of the 8 females who lost their lives; and 3 soldiers to represent the comrades.

Carolyn shared that there is something a bit unique about the Lincoln Memorial.  

If you look closely at the back of Lincoln's head, you can make out the profile of Robert E Lee, Lincoln's nemesis.

Are you aware that the reflection pond is too short to reflect the whole length of the Washington Monument?   Oops 

Now why is this program flipping/rotating the pic?  It was rotated and saved but it keeps reverting.  Oh well, you get the idea!  Just another glitch in our week full of glitches....but that's another story.....
Hickory