This artist was doing an incredible job of duplicating a painting. I personally would have just taken a picture of it... much easier. The kids lost interest in the paintings pretty quickly and found the benches more their style. *** After putzing around for an hour we trek off again to the Bureau of Engraving. Underestimating just how long it will take to get back there we decide I should run ahead just in case there is a line. I sprint the last 3/4 mile or so and arrive at 3:10 (tickets are available at 3:30) only to find a line. It doesn't look too bad, maybe 200 people or so and based on the volume the FBI tour could handle I figured we stood a good chance. *** Now by July standards the weather was very cool but after my sprint and then standing still in the baking sun it started to get toasty very quickly. Gina and the kids finally arrive, along with another 100 or so people behind me in line. At 3:30 sharp we some signs of activity at the ticket booth. We wait. We wait some more. By 3:40 we have not moved an inch and I'm getting worried. What are they doing, complete background checks on the fly? *** We wait some more. By 3:50 we have moved maybe 15 feet. This does not look good. We finally see a guard and ask him what the deal is. Turns out they only hand out 210 tickets. Of course each person in line represents about 4 tickets for their family members sitting in the nice cool shade. He points to someone about halfways to the ticket booth and says that will be about #210. I ask exactly how early do you have to arrive to get tickets. He suggests 6:30 am, Monday. We bail.
Alright, let's go to plan B and see the Holocaust Museum that is right next door. We enter a really interesting building and wonder over to the information center. Not suprisingly a sign reads "Sorry, all timed-entry passes have been given out for the day". Whatever... we didn't want to go through anyway. *** Seeking someplace to sit down, we go into the audatorium and watch a film on the Museum. Looks cool- we'll come back here tomorrow and see if we can get rejected again.
After the movie we try to salvage the day with our last stop, Arlington Cemetery. Back to the subway again. To our suprise it is actually open. I was half expecting them to be renovating it or something. We purchase tour tickets and head off on a sightseeing bus.
