Washington DC

After breakfast there was time to visit the Leo house chapel briefly before getting a taxi to Penn station. The train was very late and we left New York 45 minutes late. Jurowski got an excellent review in the New York Times. Researched Washington on the train which went through lovely countryside and down the coast. On arrival we had a pizza and got a taxi to the apartment which is well situated and on the fourth floor so lots of stairs. We got the subway to Rhode Island Ave where we boarded a shuttle bus to reach the stop for the National Basilica of the Immaculate conception. A huge and magnificent building. The singing at Mass was led by a woman cantor and a very loud organ.Boellmann Suite gothique at the end was rather hurried and on the choir organ which was a shame. Lovely bookshop downstairs where we bought books for confirmandi and servers. Had a wrap at Potbelly which caters for the Catholic university students and walked to see the floodlit Capitol. We are near to Capitol South station and the metro is well designed.

Sunday Another oddity about this apartment is that there are no blinds or curtains but we slept well. A very odd breakfast of orange juice, boiled egg, orange, toasted bagels and coffee! To the US Botanic garden which has some lovely plants and flowers many collected by US Customs when people try to import them! To West wing of the National museum of art which is free. We looked at the highlights of the huge collection and particularly liked the Rembrandts, Giotto, Leonardo and impressionists also some fine Botticellis and Constables. Walked to subway and to National Zoo which is also free! Saw the panda mother and young one, lions with 5 cubs, Sumatran tiger. Perhaps more interesting were the smaller mammals like molerats and elephant shrew and Geoffrey’s marmoset. Cheetahs and sabre horned oryx. They had done well to breed so many endangered species including Asian elephants. Had fish and chips, yoghurt and coffee at Mane grill. Long walk back uphill to the entrance. The orangs have the facility to swing above the heads of the public from one cage  to another! Metro and bus to the National cathedral to play the magnificent Aeolian-Skinner organ which is huge and makes a thrilling sound. To Wholefoods market and back feeling tired! Pasta and wine.

Monday slept well but work early. Liz didn’t sleep well as one photocard has completely disappeared –Bar Harbour to New York. We conclude it was lost at Leo House. To Smithsonian Air and Space museum with its amazing collection of planes and spacecraft. We saw an excellent presentation in the planetarium. The Wright brothers and Lindbergh displays and the Apollo missions are fascinating. Left Liz there and went to National Museum of Art – the East wing is being repaired. Had coffee at Cascade café and found some more of the highlights including the Leonardo, 4 Raphaels and Titians. Did a sketch of a Cezanne landscape. Fine sculptures downstairs and Andrew Wyeth. Through the sculpture garden to the American museum of Natural history to meet Liz. The diamonds and topaz are amazing. I went to the Freer and Sackler galleries which have lovely Asian art. We walked back via L’enfant engle and found a Starbucks where we at last had internet access. Found where the airport bus goes from. Escalator down at Capitol South not working!  Pasta and wine again.