2011 Washington DC

Pentagon Memorial entrance

Sign at Pentagon Memorial. 184 people lost their lives when Flight 77 crashed onto the side of the Pentagon.

This is called the "Zero Line" and it was made from limestone recovered from the Pentagon, days after the attack. Etched is the time and date of the attack.

The individual benches, each representing someone who died at the Pentagon on 9/11, are arranged by date of birth. The youngest was born in 1998.

Looking at the outside of the memorial chapel through the Pentagon Memorial fence.

Overview of the Pentagon Memorial.

Detail of a name etched into one of the benches.

Detail of another bench in the Pentagon Memorial.

Each memorial unit is a cantilevered bench specifically positioned to distinguish from those who were aboard the flight and those who were in the Pentagon.

A different perspective on the Pentagon Memorial.

Another view of the Pentagon Memorial.

Bus stop near Pentagon. Only thing they allowed me to shoot while in the vicinity of the Pentagon.

I just liked the statue. Not many like this in LA.

Sign outside a building near our lunch stop. Turned out to be Clara Barton's first residence and where the American Red Cross was born.

Entrance to Clara Barton's house. They found over 700 pairs of unused socks dating back to the civil war in the attic of this building. Civil War soldiers needed a lot of socks as they developed foot illnesses from not being able to keep their feet dry.

No city is complete without its own Starbucks cup.

Taken through the doorway of a Starbucks as I rested from the Police Week activities. I just thought it was such an iconic shot of a Washingtonian woman.

Only in Washington.

Loved the front of this "cupcakery". I think it was $32 per dozen cupcakes; I don't like cupcakes that much!

Entrance to a crime museum in DC. Peggy and I thought it was so apropos of Police Week.

There was a spy museum with a great little store that we perused. I loved the iconic logo of its cafe.

This statue has a great history. Originally located near the twin towers, it fared no damage despite everything around it being destroyed on 9/11. During the days right after the attack, the statue acted as a billboard for the FBI and I guess as a symbol of survival. Someone eventually bought it and took it away from New York and eventually it was bought by the museum and put in front of it representing modern art.

This statue sits polar opposite from the head statue in the previous photo. It is supposed to represent the more antique art. It is dedicated to the guy who invented photography.

Old Post Office - Washington DC

Treasury Department facade at night.

Just after I took this photo of the White House at night, the lights went out. We all thought it was because it was after 11:00 p.m. Turns out the lights went out that evening all around the mall. Figures.

Random shot of DC at night. That's the Washington Hotel (although I think it's a W Hotel now). The detail in the upper part of this building was just gorgeous.

My first view of the Supreme Court. Bill's "contacts" arrange for us to get a private tour of the Supreme Court. It was by far the best tour we took.

First time I was here I never noticed the pool. It changes the look of the building as soon as you include the water fountain. Or so I think.

This floor reminded me of one of the piazzas I saw in Rome. It just adds so much to the building.

Detail of statue of Lex (law) at entrance to the Supreme Court Building. He is also referred to as the Guardian or Authority of Law.

Another shot of the Supreme Court (I took alot more, believe me).

Portico of the Supreme Court Building.

The Contemplation of Justice statue on the front steps of the US Supreme Court building.

Inside the Supreme Court building and the only part I was allowed to photograph. I have lots of mental photos of this place.

I'm fascinated by busts. This one was no exception.

The famous statue of Chief Justice John Marshall. Taking photos in here was a challenge as there was little lighting but I like the results.

A different view of the John Marshall statue.

One of two self-supporting staircases in the US Supreme Court building. They are not used but they show them to you as part of the tour.

Detail of a frieze near the John Marshall statue. I just loved the delicacy of it.

One of the endless corridors in the SC building.

It seemed like John Marshall was watching us wherever we went.

Detail of the ceiling in the grand entrance hall of the SC building.

The only shot of the interior of the courtroom we were allowed to take. Not shown the room running alongside this courtroom where we stood as our tour guide explained to us the intricacies of the room. Also not shown, the library, only used by Supreme Court justices and which the public never sees. Thanks to Bill's contact we not only got to see the library but were allowed to stand inside it (by special request of the Chief Justice). Not too shabby.

That cop was trying to avoid being in the picture but I caught him anyway. No one can escape my fast lens!

Detail of the columns that are part of the portico of the SC building.

View of the capitol from the SC building.

My first view of the Capitol dome as we made our way there for our next "private" tour. It sure pays to have friends in high places!

So glad we had a private tour and could avoid the mobs of school kids!