Today we took a much needed break from shopping and provisioning as my credit card had heated up and was in danger of melting due to overuse; this proved serendipitous as it was the American holiday of Thanksgiving and all the stores were closed in any case. The weather was quite cold but sunny and without too much wind so we hopped into the rental car and drove from Annapolis to Washington, D.C.

We found the Capitol, Mall and Washington monument without too many problems, but were quite surprised in that there was absolutely no parking available - not due to crowds but because there were no parking spaces to be found. We finally did find a space which looked available within easy walking distance of the Mall but I have to admit that somehow I didn't trust it and fully expected to have to get my rental out of some D.C. impound yard after it was towed.

Our intention was to see parts of the Smithsonian, alternating between art and technology; but our first stop was the Smithsonian National Air & Space museum and that was so large and time-consuming that we didn't have much energy afterwards and barely broke step when going through the Freer and Sackler gallery

Bernd and Carmen posing on the mall with the United States Capitol building in the background. [38°53'21.7"N 77°1'12.6"W (facing E)]	The Washington Monument with a group of tag football players on a cold and clear November day. [38°53'22.54"N 77°1'29.13"W (facing W)]	This is Ad Astra, meaning "to the stars", by Richard Lippold. [38°53'19.12"N 77°1'11.94"W (facing E)]	The famous Spirit of St. Louis, flown by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 for the first non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]
A replica of the Viking Lander, which landed on Mars in 1976. Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	Carmen getting to touch a piece of the moon brought back and displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	The first private vessel to reach space, it was designed by Burt Rutan and financed by Paul Allen. Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., this replica of a lunar module shows what landed on the moon, a total of 7 such modules landed. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]
The insides of a part of the European Space Station, displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	A replica of the original 1903 Wright Flyer displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	A radial engine displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	The Golden Record of the first Voyager space probe, launched in 1977 and scheduled to be in the area of Ophiuchus in about 40,000 (give or take a couple). Bernd and Carmen are reflected in the glass covering. Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]
The unmanned combat drone/vehicle displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	Aircraft hanging from the ceiling in one of the Smithsonian's hall. [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	Displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., this is an original Supermarine Spitfire flown by the British in WWII [38°53'17.4"N 77°1'11.91"W ]	The Capitol building of the U.S.A. on a cold but clear November Thanksgiving day. [38°53'21.85"N 77°1'11.06"W (facing E)]
This feisty and hungry squirrel accosted us outside of the Smithsonian Air & Space museum in Washington [38°53'19.09"N 77°1'38.71"W (facing SW)]	The impressive and imposing Washington Monument hiding behind the trunk of a tree on the Washington Mall. [38°53'18.9"N 77°1'38.83"W (facing W)]