Washington has dramatically changed in the best way.

I first went to Washington in the 60s.  There were still WWII quonset huts on the Mall and along the Potomac.  When JFK came into office, he said that the District did not resemble the so-called world class city it was diplomatically, and needed to change.  He order the Pentagon to remove those huts.  The Pentagon said it would, but in usual bureaucratic style, they meant ...when we feel like it... or on our schedule, not yours.  As a result, the huts were still there after he died, but are now long gone.

Now the District is quite beautiful and must make Americans justly proud.  It is however, a fortified city.  Between every street and the sidewalks are prodigious posts every few feet,  Other places have giant planters full of heavy rocks.  Every underground parking entrance has at least two armed guards and those giant steel platforms that rise up with big dragon's teeth to prevent any intrusion.

Motorcades and their concomitant inconveniences for locals, are an accepted part of life.  One morning, President Hollande went by with at least 30 + motorcycles and vehicles.  Not long after, the Vice-president's long motorcade passed; the president's and V.P.'s always include an ambulance and a decoy limo - which Hollande's did not have.  The V.P. usually does nor go to work until after rush hour to avoid delaying traffic (they block intersections 4-5 ahead and often clear sidewalks at certain points).

Presidential helicopters can be seen frequently overhead.  There are presently 23 of them.  When the Pres. is moving, they often use up to five as decoys.

One could suggest that after 41 years in Toronto, I am tired of it.  I am appalled at the mediocrity of so much here.  Unless you are spending $200 for lunch for two, or $300 + for dinner, service is often what you would expect in a village the size of Owen sound.  It is not casual, it is sloppy, thoughtless, undisciplined, untrained, and amateurish.  The same can often be said of the food.

In Europe, even in seemingly poor places like Romania, service and food are serious matters.  In most of  New York and certainly DC, restaurants seem to actually train employees and require some class and seriousness about food and service.  Toronto seems to live life in an old T-Shirt, sweat shirt or flip flops manner.  In Toronto today, you are just a transaction, a table number, a credit card.  In both NY and DC this autumn, every single wait person looked me/us in the eyes and treated us like customers.

The lesson is - if you want fine food at moderate prices served by friendly and competent personnel, get out of Toronto, and probably Ontario.

The Top image is the Korean war memorial - which I had never seen.  It is just to the left to the Lincoln and across from the Viet Memorials.  It is life-sized soldiers carrying rifles, marching through fields.  It is v. impressive.  The day I was there, a Korean-U.S. military ceremony had just ended.  I would say about 24 or more highly decorated Korean generals and admirals walked down the path toward me.  Just to the rear, was their host, a 3 star U.S.A.F. (Lt.) general. Never in my life had I ever seen so many general staff officers in one place - even in the Air Force.

The next three photos are the "new" Canadian embassy which is directly behind the National gallery of art.  I had never seen it and was thinking it was a few years old.  That was until I looked at the cornerstone and saw that our dear Brian Mulroney blessed its opening in 1988.  It is a far more beautiful structure that the photos indicate as it would take many photos at different angles to illustrate it adequately.

The Washington monument is a standard photo.  I took it only to show what fine weather I had and also that after its earthquake damage of some years ago when it had to be largely rebuilt, it is back in full view.  Now it is the Capitol in the distance covered in scaffoling.