Two Mules, a Barge, and a Market

On our very last weekend in DC, we crammed in a couple more adventures.




We've been wanting to do a boat tour on the Potomac but it was pretty expensive. And then I saw this barge tour of the C & O Canal which was only $5. So we figured a barge is a boat, right?





One of the tour guides in old-timey clothes by a canal lock.





Our tour guide, Chuck, was an energetic fellow. Although there wasn't much to talk about on the canal, as you could tell when he explained to us that a boat moves easily on water because of the lack of a newfangled notion called friction.




One thing we did learn is that families would actually live on these barges. These are their living quarters. Very cozy.


The barges are actually pulled by two mules who walk along a towpath next to the canal.


We also checked out the Eastern Market this weekend, which is a big farmer's market and flea market that happens every day during the summer.

It was pretty entertaining, although not as fun as the farmer's market in Madison.

On our last night in DC, we went down and saw the major monuments (Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and World War II) at night. We've been meaning to do this all summer, but usually after a day of museums, we were too tired to hang around until dark. We both loved these monuments when we saw them in the daytime, but they were absolutely amazing at night. The video above is taken at the fountain in the World War II memorial. Directly west is the Lincoln memorial where you can see him all lit-up, and directly east is the Washington monument bathed in large flood lights. It was very beautiful. The Jefferson (which isn't shown) was great too; he doesn't have a wall behind him like Lincoln does, so despite being aglow with lights, he's silhouetted by the night sky. It was a fantastic way to spend our last night.