When I finally reached the White House I was so excited, it felt absolutely unreal, then I had to wait for Chris' group in the, "W's" to make it through the check-points. I had plenty to look at, as the first couple of rooms and hallways are devoted to photos, portraits, sculptures, and other paraphernalia of presidents past and present. When were led from the museum rooms to some main rooms of the White House it was so incredible to see all of the historic paintings and furniture that have been involved in the history of our nation. The tour lasted about and hour from gate to gate and allowed you to walk along the roped path at your leisure. Everything about the rooms were grand and stately, it was like being allowed a glimpse into a piece of our nation that you could never believe would be possible without an inauguration, Grammy, or ambassadorship. 
Between tours we popped into the Library of Congress to take a quick looks. The library opened to the public in 1897 and has been referred to as the, "largest, costliest, and safest" library in the world. The interior of the Great Hall in embellished by works of art from over fifty American painters and sculptures. 
The Main Reading Room at the Library of Congress features eight giant marble columns, each of which support 10-foot-high allegorical female figures in plaster representing characteristic features of civilized life and thought: Religion, Commerce, History, Art, Philosophy, Poetry, Law, and Science. There are also 16 bronze statues set upon the balustrades of the galleries that pay homage to men whose lives symbolized the thought and activity represented by the plaster statues. 
Finally, we arrived at our last stop in the city of my trip. Our Capitol Building tour directed by members of Senator Bill Nelson's Staff. We arrived a little early and examined a large metal structure, a sculpture by Alexander Calder, in the lobby of the Hart Senate Office Building, were the Senator's office was located.
As the tour started the guide mentioned that we would be heading down into the, "guts" of the senate facilities. We were taken down an elevator to a basement level and led through hallways and passageways until we reached our mode of transport and underground tram/mini metro that transports; staff, senators, and visitors between the three main senate office buildings and the Capitol Building.
When we arrived ninety seconds after we boarded our tiny trains we headed up an escalator and then up a few more flights of stairs. Ascending to the South Wing and winding around corridors and passageways we were shown around to many of the rooms that used to be meeting and hearing rooms, we were also given a tour of the first room used by the Supreme Court. 
The staffer then brought us in to the Main Rotunda, were paintings, sculptures, and historic artifacts pertaining to presidents or senate members are kept. The were large twenty-feet bronze statues, a 360 degree frieze that depicted the initial landing of explorers to the new world to our nations founding to the inauguration of President Washington, and large paintings, that canvases were several stories high recording some monumental moments in American history. Chris mentioned that he believed that most Americans would not believe how much historical garb remained in the Capitol Building and how it reminded him of Europe, wrought with historical significance. 
A productive and educational last day of my trip. So freezing aside I had a wonderful trip, next time Kendra should be excused from school (wink, wink) to come with me! LOL. Love you all and I will see you guys tomorrow afternoon.x's & o's and such,
am
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