The White House, Washington DC

[firth1974 2,659]

Probably the most overrated place I have seen. Nothing like what you see in the movies.  But beside that, DC is a stunning place to visit as a tourist. 
Took these photos back in January of this year, and it was frickin’ freezing!

[keyman 1,413]

Try and look like you're enjoying yourself - just a teeny weeny little bit? ?

Nice pics as always ?

[Samsonite 181]

Were you using a ultra-wide angle lens? I've been there and it looks larger, much larger than that in "real life." Looks like they have turned it into a fortress. You use to be able to walk right up to the north entrance and take a tour* (ground floor only). Those days are long gone.

*ditto the Capital Building. I've walked right into the Supreme Court Building, looked around, looked into the hearing room, and bought a souvenir in the gift shop and didn't see a single uniform anywhere, but, as I said, that was a long time ago.

Edited August 14, 2022 by Samsonite

[firth1974 2,659]

12 minutes ago, Samsonite said:

Were you using a ultra-wide angle lens? I've been there and it looks larger, much larger than that in "real life." Looks like they have turned it into a fortress. You use to be able to walk right up to the north entrance and take a tour* (ground floor only). Those days are long gone.

*ditto the Capital Building. I've walked right into the Supreme Court Building, looked around, looked into the hearing room, and bought a souvenir in the gift shop and didn't see a single uniform anywhere, but, as I said, that was a long time ago.

All photos taken on my iPhone. The white barrier around the front was apparently to hide the huge hole in the WH lawn. The water pipes froze and exploded, so they dug the water fountain out and covered the hole with the white fencing

[awesum4 2,333]

I love the guy with "SECRET SERVICE" on his front....not much of a secret is it.

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by awesum4

[Samsonite 181]

Things change, but at one time the U.S. Park Service was actually in charge of White House security. The Secret Service protects the President. But, as I said, things change. ?

[Shooter 864]

On 8/14/2022 at 4:17 AM, firth1974 said:

Probably the most overrated place I have seen. Nothing like what you see in the movies.  But beside that, DC is a stunning place to visit as a tourist. 
Took these photos back in January of this year, and it was frickin’ freezing!

Ahhh that brings back memories.  Back in the 1974 I left Rhode Island with 4 pals in a Chevy Vega to drive down to the Charlotte Speedway for a Rock Festival.  Only about 800 miles so about 16 hours each way stuck in a car with 4 other guys.  While there some chemicals were ingested and we did not sleep for the entire 3 days.  I was driving back and we got off the highway in DC to buy some beer.  I can not believe in my condition I was still able to drive and beer seemed like a good idea.  We should have been dead or in jail.  Anyway I get lost in the city trying to find the highway again and accidentally take the back driveway up to the white house.  Now these are the days before we had walls and shit just a cou9ple of bored Secret Service agents sitting outside.  They stop us and decide they don't need this shit but no beer lads and took it.  I of course instantly get lost again (did I mention LSD was a factor) and find myself driving back up the same entrance.  The two agents are enjoying our cold Busch beer.  Heck it was August and I bet it tasted good.  They just shook their heads and pointed out.  We left.  What happened in Baltimore after that was interesting but for another day. 

A picture of the torture chamber (a Vega not the actual one).

[js007 795]

DC was a different place back in 1974.  Back then, you could drive a car down the street right in front of the White House, so that’s what I did one night. I think we were half drunk after visiting some Irish pub. Anyway, I was there in my MGB to visit a friend who was then working for one of the senators.  The Watergate hearings were still going on and that was the talk of the town.

[Jon77 7]

Thanks for the pics. Brings back memories when I lived in Virginia during middle school. Visited DC when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It was beautiful