Goldenbackpacker.com

WASHINGTON DC- STAY FOR LESS "$$"

WASHINGTON , DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA , is the USA Capital & most Powerful City in the World. It was “Politically” created at the time of the Revolutionary War & George Washington 's inauguration in 1790, when the Northern States debts were assumed by Congress if the new US Capital was sited in the South. Maryland ceded 70 sq. miles & Virginia 30 sq. miles on the Potomac Rivers convergence with the Anacostia & its name refers to Christopher Columbus who discovered America .

It is the official homes of the US President (Executive) House of Reps & Senate (Legislature) Supreme Court (Judiciary) the 3 elements of the US Constitution to provide “checks & balances”

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – H I WASHINGTON DC at 1009 on 11 th Street NW (just off K Street, 5 blocks from the White House) tele 202 737 2333 – www.HIWashingtonDC.org - $24 pn in 8 x dorms incl sheets & muffin breakfast, sep showers & wc's. Good S/C kitchen & dinning room on 2 nd floor & lounge mega TV & sitting areas on 1 st . This is an ideal Hostel, location & facilities, but to GB its “Faulty Towers” meaning things do not always work, door locks, TV etc as the place is a little run down & worn!

Reserve – Washington International Student Centre at 2451 on 18 th Street, Adams Morgan (a long walk from Dupont Circle Metro) tele 202 667 7681 – www.hostelworld.com (agency) - $23 dorms. S/C kitchen, free pick up from bus/ rail stations & Internet. This Hostel is way out of town GB attempted to check it out but gave up a long walk at Florida Ave, use in emergencies only as reports not good.

FOOD for s/c can be found at the excellent – Capitol Supermarket – further North on 11 th Street. It has a great selection of good value fresh & dry foods also wines & beers & you'll also meet the locals.

TRAVELLING AROUND is best on foot along the Mall, White House & Reflecting Pool strip but the excellent Metro system will get you to the outer regions. The one stop tickets cost $1.35 but the machines are complicated – put $2 in then press buttons up & down to show $1.35 then press the clear button to get a ticket & change.

FREE SIGHTS TO SEE

1. White House – 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Home of the US President. First built 1792 then white 1817
2. Capitol – built1793, where the Senate is LawMakers & House of Representatives are Tax Takers
3. Lincoln Memorial – comp 1922, impressive, solemn, inspirational with 36 Union State columns
4. Mall & Reflecting Pool – planned by L'Enfant a French member of Washington's Colonial Army
5. Washington Monument – 1884, 555 ft. high with elevator to 500 ft. free ticket at 15 th St. Kiosk
6. Nat. Mus. American History – 1 st US History, 2 nd Star Spangled Banner 3 rd American Presidency
7.Nat. Air & Space Museum – 1903 Wright brothers Flyer to Apollo 11 Moon command module
8. Nat. Mus. American Indian – new 2004 with exhibits & displays of the Native American Indians
9. White House Centre – historical maps, designs, pictures, photo's, models & video of WH
10. Old Post Office – 1100 Penn. Ave , pavilion interior & free lift to top of 270 ft Clock Tower views
11. Martin Luther Library – G Street with 1 st free Internet & 2 nd reading, research & rest
12. Ford's Theatre – orig. 1861,Lincoln assassinated on 14 Apl. 1855 in “Our American Cousin”
13. Potomac River – walk across Arlington Bridge from Lincoln Mem. for refreshing views
14. Arlington Nat. Cemetery – 600 acres of famous US graves incl. JFK & Jaqui. L'Enfant & UKS
15. Pentagon – largest “Admin” building in World, built WW11 in 16 months, 284 Rest Rooms, 25k E

Smithsonian Institution – established in 1855 by the illegitimate son of the 1 st Duke of Northumberland it is now the Worlds largest Museum & Research Complex with 18 Museums & Galleries, the National Zoo & 9 Research Centres located in & around Washington DC

* Milly (HI) Dominic, Mike, Nathan, Dan, Alex, George W