(no subject)
The white house was a really nice, albeit short trip. It was the first time I remember being “on the list” of a place to get in. The security guard asked to see all of our ID’s before going in and of course the staties had to one up us by flashing their badges, of course KidKyoto topped them all by showing his diplomatic passport. But after the gate we were at the east wing!
It wasn’t really a tour per se-we were just allowed to walk down a designated path that started with a hallway showing candid shots of families that had lived their before. Who knew one of the first ladies had a pet raccoon. Another odd picture was of Barbara and the king of Jordan playing with newborn puppies-cuties. Along the wall there were presidential portraits, since we were far out of the main action these were of unpopular to almost forgotten presidents like Martin Van Burin, and Polk, and I am sure others that I don’t know either. Just before you get to the first staircase that brings you to rooms in use there is Hillary’s portrait- I guess Bush put it as far as he could. Also a portrait of Martin Luther King. In this hallway was a tea room and a library occasionally used for press conferences.
Upstairs is where the action is. We started at one of the large staterooms, empty but with large carpets covering a dance floor (perhaps the one where John Travolta and Princess Diana were photographed dancing? This was in the lower hallway). There was George Washington (saved from the 1812 fire and the oldest relic in the house) and Martha’s portraits. Flanked by two others that I didn’t recognize. The room, and entire house was filled with the scent of flowers- fresh cut and replaced every three days according to the Secret Service.
Speaking of the Secret Service, some looked very glum that their job today consisted of staying on the other side of velet ropes making sure that the tourists don’t do anything dumb. Anther was way into it showing us Martin Van Burin’s daughter (what a looker!) a candle snuffer retrofitted with electricity, so-and-so’s china etc.
The next set was the red, green and blue rooms. Of all of them the green was the one I liked the best with its green silk washed wallpaper and a direct view of the Jefferson monument through wavy glass panes- made from when they blew glass over sand as opposed to today’s molten tin. The blue room looked most, presidential and quite regal.
At the end there was another state room decorated for dinner service under a massive chandelier, refitted from candles to electric. The table was covered in a flat mirror that came close to the edge, but leaving enough room for a plate, so you didn’t have to look at yourself sipping soup.
On the hallway out we saw the portraits of the recent republican presidents, Regan, Ford, and Andrew Johnson. I don’t recall seeing Carter or Nixon there-but Bill Clinton was the last, across a grand piano with gold eagle legs before we went outside.
It wasn’t really a tour per se-we were just allowed to walk down a designated path that started with a hallway showing candid shots of families that had lived their before. Who knew one of the first ladies had a pet raccoon. Another odd picture was of Barbara and the king of Jordan playing with newborn puppies-cuties. Along the wall there were presidential portraits, since we were far out of the main action these were of unpopular to almost forgotten presidents like Martin Van Burin, and Polk, and I am sure others that I don’t know either. Just before you get to the first staircase that brings you to rooms in use there is Hillary’s portrait- I guess Bush put it as far as he could. Also a portrait of Martin Luther King. In this hallway was a tea room and a library occasionally used for press conferences.
Upstairs is where the action is. We started at one of the large staterooms, empty but with large carpets covering a dance floor (perhaps the one where John Travolta and Princess Diana were photographed dancing? This was in the lower hallway). There was George Washington (saved from the 1812 fire and the oldest relic in the house) and Martha’s portraits. Flanked by two others that I didn’t recognize. The room, and entire house was filled with the scent of flowers- fresh cut and replaced every three days according to the Secret Service.
Speaking of the Secret Service, some looked very glum that their job today consisted of staying on the other side of velet ropes making sure that the tourists don’t do anything dumb. Anther was way into it showing us Martin Van Burin’s daughter (what a looker!) a candle snuffer retrofitted with electricity, so-and-so’s china etc.
The next set was the red, green and blue rooms. Of all of them the green was the one I liked the best with its green silk washed wallpaper and a direct view of the Jefferson monument through wavy glass panes- made from when they blew glass over sand as opposed to today’s molten tin. The blue room looked most, presidential and quite regal.
At the end there was another state room decorated for dinner service under a massive chandelier, refitted from candles to electric. The table was covered in a flat mirror that came close to the edge, but leaving enough room for a plate, so you didn’t have to look at yourself sipping soup.
On the hallway out we saw the portraits of the recent republican presidents, Regan, Ford, and Andrew Johnson. I don’t recall seeing Carter or Nixon there-but Bill Clinton was the last, across a grand piano with gold eagle legs before we went outside.