Flying Visit to the US!

Last week, the day after getting back from skiing, I flew to DC to meet up with Eleanor and Matthew. We had a great time together, including lots of museums, dinner with Michael's relatives, and more!

We were struck by how like the Italian briscola cards
 these Native American playing cards are.
We read in the caption that they were modeled
 on Spanish playing cards. Aha!

I mostly focused on taking pictures of
 Matthew and Eleanor's being cute together, to be honest.

Space Ship 1! Privately funded, and I loved the folding wings.
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spaceshipone

I asked them to stare contemplatively at the Hubble telescope
(actually, this was a mockup used for various testing purposes).
Eleanor failed.

Take two was successful

I'd forgotten that the surface vehicles had mesh wheels.

James has been talking about dynamometers in class,
so I thought he'd like to know they were taken on space flights.

Moon sharks? Who knew?
Actually, this was in the astronauts' packs because they would be landing in the ocean...

We've also been talking about thermal properties of ceramics at home.
 Thought the sibs would enjoy this demo.

Trick or treating costume for future generations?
We were all smitten by these.

 For those who don't yet know, Eleanor scored a really competitive internship this summer. She'll be working to advise lawmakers on scientific matters, and will be living in Georgetown. Of course, we had to take a photo of her in front of her new office building!

Guess who might come for a visit?

The Washington Monument was still a long way off,
 and our feet were already tired. Time for a photo op!

Looking from one monument to another...

And then my camera batteries ran out, and it turned out that the charging cable I'd packed was the wrong one...in any case, we ended up visiting:

• The Air and Space Museum (twice, for Matthew and Eleanor)
• The Natural History Museum
• The National Gallery
• The Postal Museum
• Union Station
• Arlington Cemetery
• WWII Monument
• Washington Monument (outside, since it's closed indefinitely)
• Lincoln Memorial
• Ford Theatre
• Petersen House

I also went over to Dupont to meet up with a friend, and we ended up driving to Alexandria for the afternoon (thanks for coming, Michelle!). All in all, it was a fantastic 5-day visit. 

And now, back home to paperwork and everyday life! The roadworks in Todi have been nearly completed, and the weather is superb.

Love,

Alexandra