Sunday, May 11, 2014
Le Cafe du Parc
Today is the centennial celebration of Mother’s Day. This morning, the hotel had a wax figure of Woodrow Wilson in the lobby to greet everyone. He had issued a proclamation which established the first Mother’s Day. There were groups of people in 1914 costumes milling about the lobby and a couple of musicians played period tunes.
The weather was sunny and warm with a cloudless bright blue sky. We had a leisurely Illy coffee and pain au chocolat outside at the sidewalk cafe, then took a taxi to the National Gallery of Art.
Rotunda of the National Gallery
It was strange to enter a museum and not be expected to pay an admission fee, but we probably do support the museum through our taxes. The National Gallery has an excellent collection of art from around the world in an austere building.
Taking a Break in the East Garden
We saw works of art by some of our favorite artists: Renoir, Rembrandt, Monet, Matisse, Botticelli, Sergeant, Cassatt, Degas, etc. There were three Vermeer paintings and the only Da Vinci painting in North America. After several hours, we had a light lunch at the Cascade Cafeteria. We splurged on some excellent gelato for dessert, then passed through the tunnel to the contemporary art building.
Tunnel Connecting the Buildings
Contemporary Art of the National Gallery
Unfortunately the exhibit galleries were undergoing renovation, so we just walked around the huge atrium, took photographs of the space, and then left the gallery. We walked to Pennsylvania Avenue and took a taxi back to the Willard. After resting for a few hours, we went to the historic Ebbets Grill for dinner and I had my last crab cake for this trip. I eat crab cakes only in this part of the world, within a few miles of the Chesapeake Bay. Crab cakes from Maryland are definitely worth the trip.
The Atrium