Sunday, January 18, 2015

Visiting Washington, D.C.: White House, Capitol and Monuments

I have been announcing my travel images from the United States for a while now, so I guess it's time to finally deliver them. This was back in 2005, in a time where film photography was still at large, the idea of a fast internet connection a dream and mobile phones had a couple of years before becoming smart. It's interesting how things can change over the years. Revisiting these images was very strange for me. Somehow it seems unbelievable that 10 years have passed since then.

The whole trip was organized by Legacy International which is seated in West Virginia. They hosted us and payed for our whole visit. I had to pass an exam in order to get into the Legacy International program, and eventually 15 of us were invited by the organization. I spent three weeks in the USA, two in various cities in West Virginia and one of them in Washington D.C., the later of which I will be showing you today.


click on the images for a bigger view


United States Capitol

The United States Capitol, atop Capitol Hill is the seat of the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government, completed in the year 1800. During our visit we had a chance to go inside and get a private tour. Like the principal buildings of the executive and judicial branches, the Capitol is built in a distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Though both its east and west elevations are formally referred to as fronts, only the east front was intended for the reception of visitors and dignitaries.

The whole travel group in front of the White House


The White House

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. I had often seen it on TV and in books, but coming up to the iron fence that surrounds the premise of the White House, had a surreal effect. I took this image with my camera and kept standing there, gazing onto the light dusting of snow that covered the grounds. The complex is protected by the United States Secret Service and the United States Park Police.



Behind the City

The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district, which included the pre-existing settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria. Named in honor of president George Washington, the City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital.




The Washington National Mall

The National Mall is home to ten of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution offering a variety of exhibits ranging from art to space exploration. Other major attractions include the national monuments and memorials, the U.S. Capitol Building, the National Gallery of Art and the U.S. Botanic Garden. The Mall is a national park with landscaped gardens and expansive open spaces that are often used for public events.



The Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the early Continental Army and the first American president.




Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is the largest of the many reflecting pools in Washington. It is a long and large rectangular pool located on the National Mall, directly east of the Lincoln Memorial. What I like about Washington D.C. is that all the major visiting spots are fairly close by, and you can take (as I did) a walk from the Capitol Building all the way to the reflecting pool and monuments. The pool is lined by walking paths and shade trees on both sides.


I hope you enjoyed this trip to Washington D.C. as much as I loved visiting it. The whole journey to the United States was a life changing experience for me, and I hope to bring you more images from it next time.


35 comments:

  1. I find it interesting that you had to take an exam as a prerequisite to visit the US. I am a citizen of the US, and I have visited the capital when I was a teenager with a school trip. I am afraid I didn't appreciate the city as I would today. I should return soon. Thanks for seeing the city with a different eye.

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    1. Maybe I have to clarify. The exam was not needed to enter the US, it was needed to be chosen into the programe by Legacy Inyernational. Of course I could have visited the States without it.

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  2. I was surprised about the exam. Although I have visited the US I didn't ever get to see Washington so thank you for sharing these pictures.

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  3. I for one and so glad film is gone and digital rules. i visited DC in 1952 but i was 8 years old. i remember getting a spanking on the steps in front of Lincoln sitting in his big chair because i refused to go on... i know you enjoyed all that travel with Legacy since you love traveling.. a big feather in your cap to be chosen for the program...

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  4. Hello Mersad, it is interesting to see your views and photos of Washington DC. I only live an hour or so away and have visited WASH DC many times.. Traveling with the Legacy Int'l sounds awesome, especially since it was free... Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  5. I was there when I was a child (maybe 10 or 11), but we didn't go inside the capital. I really only remember it being very hot, Lincoln (huge statue!), being inside the Smithsonian museum and wishing we had days to spend there because it was so huge we only saw a small part. That was almost 50 years ago, though. I don't remember those pyramids being there. I'm sure it has changed a bit. I'm really curious as to how this was a life-changing experience for you. :)

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  6. Thank you for sharing your trip to the US as well as the historical and judicial aspects! I'm glad that you had the opportunity to visit! Have a great week.

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  7. must have been a really neat experience for you. you look like you've aged maybe 10 months since then - instead of 10 years. :)

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  8. Washington D.C. is such an interesting city. You visited some of the best spots.

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    1. I actually visited so much more, but film cameras back then limited me in the amount of images I took.

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  9. The photos are gorgeous and it is really interesting to think of how much has changed technology-wise in a decade.

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    1. I agree. Editing these images and digitelizing them, really made me appreciate the comfort and ease of digital photography.

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  10. Superb captures of Washington DC, Mersad!! It is a beautiful place, isn't it!! I haven't been there in quite some time, so this was a great visit for me!! Thank you for sharing! Hope you've had a great weekend and that you're ready for the new week!!

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  11. Enjoyed seeing photos from your trip to the US. I visited Washington DC as a teenager, way back in the late 70s.

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  12. Congratulations for having passed the exam and then getting to travel for free! It looks like you learned a lot about the U.S. capitol. I bet you now about Washington, D.C, than most Americans (or Canadians) know about Sarajevo! :)

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  13. Wonderful pictures. D.C. is one of my favorite cities and you captured it beautifully.
    :-)
    Traci

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  14. Wonderful images of DC. We visit often because our son, wife, and family live there. They're both Georgetown JDs and our son still professes at GU among other interests.

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  15. I love Washington DC, so this was a fun post for me to re-visit. Happy memories our my nation's capital and war memorials. Thanks for sharing--it's been a while since we've been home.

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  16. Fun photos from your memorable trip to Washington. Switch from film to digital has been amazing. It give us so much flexibility and control. But then photography is photography no matter what the technology. The real skill is in the eye and mind, and you've always had that.

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  17. Great photos of your trip. I was in DC back in the 1970s. I had my camera; but, yet I did not take photos. Wish I had now. The idea of shooting film is now so foreign to me. I love the ability to go crazy taking photos with digital camera. Less cost.

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  18. Must have been a wonderful trip. I've been to DC several times, but for meetings. I didn't get to do too much exploring. - Margy

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  19. Nice set of photos! I grew up in Alexandria and visited DC quite a bit. Worked there for a little while and took some photo classes at the Smithsonian. Glad you got to see it.

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  20. What a wonderful opportunity this must have been for you! Looks like you got lots of real nice pictures while you were there even if they were on film and not digital.

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  21. I liked all the photos, Mersad.
    I am glad you had a wonderful time in DC!
    These are memories to cherish forever.
    I hope I get a chance to see your beautiful country someday.
    Peace :)

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  22. Toll mit der Möglichkeit des Examens, dass du diese Möglichkeit wahrgenommen und vor allem auch geschafft hast (Hut ab). Du machst das vollkommen richtig denn wann hat man ansonsten solche Chancen. Kann mir auch sehr gut vorstellen das es dir gut gefallen hat. Wäre auch voll mein Ding. So mag ich den Kontinent eh. Danke dir für die tollen Bilder und dass wir daran teilhaben durften.

    Schönen Wochenstart und liebe Grüsse

    N☼va

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  23. Ujj, da hast du aber dich in 10 Jahren schon äußerlich viel verändert. :-)
    Liebe Grüße

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  24. My sister lived there for 10 years when she was single. I spent my summers there with her. She was a personal secretary to a Senator and I got to see a lot of things that no typical tourist saw. Even got to sit in on one of the Congressional meetings in the Senate chambers of the capitol...via the subway under the capitol. Now a days, with homeland security and all, I'm sure visitors wouldn't have the luck I had way back long ago.

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  25. Excellent photos as usual! I've only been to Washington D.C and it was very impressive.

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  26. I went one June 20 years ago with the family.

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  27. You were a good photographer even then. That is quite an experience for a young person. You were fortunate to be chosen.

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  28. It is neat to see your images from this side!

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  29. So enjoyed this post, your pictures amazing as usual!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  30. I hope to visit there one day. I love your photos.

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  31. Nice photos. I have always wanted to see that city.

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  32. I just left DC after living there for a year and a half--you always take where you live for granted, and now I wish I took wayyyyyyy more photos! I did go to the National Cathedral before I left though: http://www.becausetravel.website/blog/2015/8/12/washingtons-national-cathedral

    I hope you enjoyed your trip!

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