Sunday, September 22, 2019
The students awoke bright and early and after breakfast at the hotel, they boarded the bus.
The first destination of the day was the National Zoo. The tour director always anticipates the unspoken question about why they visit the zoo when there is so much (more) to do in Washington DC.
It’s not just so the kids can see the pandas. Apparently, it’s one of the few things open in Washington DC on a Sunday morning, it’s free and it’s a good way to walk off some energy before the students attend mass.
It’s not so easy to selfie with an animal.
Then it was time for mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Several of our students brought up the gifts during Mass.
They had lunch in the basilica cafeteria and then went on the tour.
It looks like quite an elaborate place!
Back on the bus they went to head to the John Paul the Great Center. This was a new addition to the itinerary since Walker’s trip.
Mason captured this photo of the scepter gifted to Pope John Paul from workers in Poland in 2000. The top is shaped like the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica.
From there, they headed to the mall but not to shop. They toured the National Museums of Natural History and American History.
At the Natural History Museum, the docent had a stick bug and they were allowed to pet it.
Mason enjoyed the Bat Mobile and Hope Diamond, American History artifacts.
Then they took a little break to hydrate.
To keep things moving and on schedule, dinner (or supper, as it’s called out here) was delivered to them at the WWII Memorial.
They explored the Washington Monument,
The Korean War Veterans Memorial,
and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at dusk. Then, after a very full first day, they headed back to the hotel to rest up for day two.
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