Mount Vernon

Last Sunday we travelled down to Washington ... in fact just outside the city on the banks of the Potomac ... to Washington's home at Mount Vernon. He was a farmer ... indeed, slave owner, as was Jefferson and we heard a lot about his development of the property, his military and subsequently political careers, his family, and life at the times. It was a fascinating day and well presented by the managers of the property, a private foundation. Americans are getting very good at historical presentations. Indeed, we're off to Gettysburg on Saturday for a re-enactment of the famous civil war battle there and one of the best political speeches ever, Lincoln's Gettysburg address. His mere 64 eloquent words were among the most inspirational in history.

Mount Vernon is the equivalent to a UK stately home, only much more downscale and frugal. One can view most of the rooms and outhouses, but famous works of art are barely visible and the furnishings are mostly modest. However, Washington's achievements were grand compared to most of the English aristocracy, and therein lies the magic. Mount Vernon itself is in a beautiful setting high on the banks of the Potomac, as the picture reveals.

Late in the afternoon, we visited the Arlington national ceremony and visited some of the more famous grave sites, including JFK's, his brother Robert's, and the tomb of the unknown soldier where we witnessed an elaborate changing of the guard. It's some cemetery as several hundred thousand lie buried there and it lies close to the banks of the Potomac.

AS