taxation without representation

Luckily I had spare time in Washington on a beautiful sunny day. An ideal excuse to walk around and take in the sights.

The central area is very walkable and there is a famous sight every few metres. I was based in the Fairmont and decided to start from the eastern side of the town and work my way West; so an early morning taxi to Union Station, a quick coffee and then a short walk to the Capitol to start the day.

Orientation in DC is pretty easy, with the numbering and lettering of streets in a grid (the hotel was on 24th and M, for example), and then diagonal avenues named after the states (eg Pennsylvania). Most of the buildings are low rise maybe ten stories at maximum and since the Brits burned the city in around 1814, everything now needs to be stone outside (no timber).

I checked off a few ideas on a map and just started my quest to see as many of the popular sights as possible, deciding to stay outdoors as the weather was fine. Atop the Capitol, you can just make out the statue of Freedom, complete with an eagle's feathers as a head-dress. The statue of freedom looks away from the city.

I noticed also that the registration plates (tags) on cars bear the slogan 'taxation without representation' - Washington doesn't get its own political representatives, despite all of the Senators and Congressmen in this place!