TEN DC PLACES SAGA 2:

NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN:

Right at the base of the Capitol building, it's a lovely place to spend some quiet time.

Containing different climates from around the world, it presents many types of plants.

A great place to take a small lunch.

Next, A Special Place for Art.

NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD SAGA 4:

CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO
(One of Four Wonders I've Seen.)

In 1972, I went on a ship cruise to the Yucatan in Mexico.

Included on the optional excursion list was Chichen Itza!  Well, it was not optional to me. I had to see it.

It's a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization. Its heyday was around 600AD. 

click to see: CHICHEN ITZA

It's a glorious site:

Notice the lady bumping down. That was like me!

RATTLESNAKES!!!

A Jaguar

Sacred Jaguar Throne.

My Sterling and Turquoise Souvenir (2 inches wide).

While I was on the cruise ship TIME MAGAZINE did article on cruising. On the COVER was a picture of a cruise ship's deck. I WAS IN THAT PICTURE! Albeit I was only as big as an ant because it showed the entire deck.

NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD SAGA 3:

MACHU PICCHU, PERU
(One of Four Wonders I've Seen.)

In May of 1988, Ed and I decided to go to Machu Picchu in Peru, one of The New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

It's such a storied and mysterious city. It is pre-Columbian, built in the 15th Century. It was unknown to the outside world until 1911, often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas." It was confirmed that the Spanish did not see Machu Picchu by the fact that the Throne was not desecrated like all the others the Spanish discovered.

click to see: Machu Picchu

The scale from the pictures is deceiving.

Not until you are among the ruins do you really experience just how large it is.

When I first experienced it, it was the most mystical time of my life

  ---a revelation.

We climbed and climbed until exhausted—amazed and fascinated.

It's 8,000 feet in altitude! It was difficult to breathe. In fact, the Peruvian Government makes you stay down in Cusco (half-way up) 70 miles south, the night before.

You arrive via a narrow-rail, switch-back train to the valley below and are bussed to the top.

We were going to stay overnight at the small accommodations facility, but they couldn't find our reservations, even though we had pre-paid in the States months before. We wanted to see it at sunrise, but alas had to return the same day.

TEN DC PLACES SAGA:

I lived in Washington, DC for 32 years during my architect years with the U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. I was living on Capitol Hill all that time so I could walk to work. I discovered many neat places. Here are my favorites:

P.O.V. ROOFTOP SKY TERRACE RESTAURANT, W WASHINGTON HOTEL, DC:

On the twelfth floor, it has a beautiful panoramic view of The Treasury Building, White House, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, up Pennsylvania Avenue and beyond into Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia!

A fantastic place 'to meet'.

Next, a Neat Place to Relax.