Washington Monument: The World's Tallest Stone Structure

The Washington Monument and Tidal Basin, seen from the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C., United States

The Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Tidal Basin with the D.C. skyline.

A couple enjoying the Tidal Basin.

The Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument.

During the summer, these paddle boats are out in force.  Reminds me a bit of these boats.

The (empty) Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument and the Capitol in the background.

Here's what the reflecting pool should look like normally. 

One of my favorite memorials: The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.  It's beautiful at night.

For more information on the Washington Monument.

For more information on the FDR Memorial.

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The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

American flags with messages left at the Memorial Wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., United States

The wall lists the servicemen who were either confirmed Killed in Action (KIA) or Missing in Action (MIA) and are listed in chronological order.

  As of May 2011, there are 58,272 names on the wall, including 1,200 who are still MIA, which are denoted with a cross.

When a visitor looks upon the wall, his reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names, 

which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together.

Here seen with the Washington Monument in the reflection.

For more information on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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The Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., United States

The memorial was completed in 1943 and honors the third American President: Thomas Jefferson.

The memorial closely resembles Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda at the University of Virginia and the Pantheon in Rome

Rudulph Evan's statue of Jefferson; the excerpts on the wall are from the Declaration of Independence.

For more information on the Jefferson Memorial.

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An Old Town Smorgasbord

The sunset approaching over the Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Every street in Old Town feels so wonderfully full of Americana!

King St.

The Potomac River

An American in Paris and King Street

Christ Church in Old Town

Old Town is full of fantastically bright doors!

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A Little Virtue, a Little Crab Shack, and a Little Coca Cola

Virtue Feed & Grain in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Old Town.

A floral shop (and cat!) in Old Town

Old Town

Ernie's Crab House in Old Town

Why hello there old Coca Cola sign!

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Sapphire sea the sun sails like a golden galleon

The Cherry Blossom in harbor in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States

The twilight of the day was breathtaking with the boats and water of Old Town's harbor.

The harbor.

The Cherry Blossom overlooking more of the harbor and boats.

The Potomac River.

The path next to Founder's Park and the Potomac River in Old Town.

This series of photos and all the fantastic memories I have of Old Town Alexandria

reminded me of this poem--the inspiration for the post's title:

A Day of Sunshine

                                                                                                 O gift of God! O perfect day:

                                                                                                  Whereon shall no man work, but play;

                                                                                                  Whereon it is enough for me,

                                                                                                   Not to be doing, but to be!

                                                                                                   Through ever fiber of my brain,

                                                                                                   Through every nerve, through every vein,

                                                                                                   I feel the electric thrill, the touch

                                                                                                   Of life, that seems almost too much.

                                                                                                   I hear the wind among the trees

                                                                                                   Playing celestial symphonies;

                                                                                                   I see the branches downward bent,

                                                                                                   Like keys of some great instrument.

                                                                                                   And over me unrolls on high

                                                                                                   The splendid scenery of the sky,

                                                                                                   Where through a sapphire sea the sun

                                                                                                   Sails like a golden galleon,

                                                                                                   Towards yonder cloud-land in the West,

                                                                                                   Towards yonder Islands of the Blest,

                                                                                                   Whose steep sierra far uplifts

                                                                                                   Its craggy summits white with drifts.

                                                                                                   Blow, winds! and waft through all the rooms

                                                                                                   The snow-flakes of the cherry-blooms!

                                                                                                   Blow, winds! and bend within my reach

                                                                                                   The fiery blossoms of the peach!

                                                                                                   O Life and Love! O happy throng

                                                                                                   Of thoughts, whose only speech is song!

                                                                                                   O heart of man! canst thou not be

                                                                                                   Blithe as the air, and as free?

                                                                                                   Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Hints of Americana in Old Town Alexandria

Americana in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States

King St, Old Town Alexandria

King St.

How can you not love, love, love Old Town?

Bittersweet Cafe in Old Town Alexandria

More Americana on a bicycle in Old Town

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The Old Town Alexandria Waterfront

The Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, United States

Old Town's waterfront.

Hello, Potomac River!

Part of the Washington, D.C. skyline as seen from Old Town.

For some reason, this seat amused me endlessly.

Hello, Alexandria bird!

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The Academical Village (An Ode to Mr. Jefferson)

The University of Virginia's Rotunda and Lawn -- Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

The columns of the Rotunda.

View of the Lawn from the Rotunda.

The Academical Village, combined with Monticello, is one of only three modern man-made sites in the United States
on the UNESCO World Heritage preservation site. 

(The other two?  The Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall.)

American president Thomas Jefferson designed the Academical Village, with its Lawn, Rotunda, Pavillions, and student rooms, to be a place of learning.  UVA professors still live in the majority of the ten pavillions and the pavillions' classrooms are still used.

An UVA student walks across the Lawn towards the Lawn rooms and the rest of Grounds.  

Lawn rooms.  It is an honor for fourth year students at UVA to live on the Lawn.

The opposite side of the Rotunda with its statue of Thomas Jefferson.  The Rotunda was the University's original library.

Take a virtual tour of the Academical Village here.

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