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| Day 1 in Washington, D.C. started off with a drizzle. I first headed to the White House. It was not as big as I expected. |
The weather was clearing up as I was walking toward the US Capitol. I saw a lot of media gathered outside the Capitol perhaps preparing for the 4th of July event on the next day. It took me several minutes before I found out where the entrance for visitors was. It was at the far back of the Capitol building. |
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| With a reservation printout in my hand, I joined the queue at the visitor center. The tour group I joined was about 10 people. A guide in a red blazer first led us to the room where we viewed the film about a brief history of America. |
The Rotunda was the most impressive space in the Capitol building. Such historic paintings as ''The Landing of Columbus'' and "The Declaration of Independence" were shown there. |
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| Having looked up the ceiling of the dome, I was so amazed at a fresco entitled "The Apotheosis of George Washington" painted by an Italian artist, Constantino Brumidi. |
13 maidens forming a circle, I heard, represent the 13 original colonial states. |
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| The most prominent person in the painting was a woman fighting for liberty with a helmet, sword and shield, assisted by an eagle. It reminded me of "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugene Delacroix. |
A little past the noon hour, the sky had turned blue outside. As I looked back at the Capitol building, that fresco adorning the dome was keeping running through my head. |
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