The day started with Matt taking off early to get tickets for a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (aka the Money Factory) while Charlie and I replenished our supplies at the grocery store a few blocks away. The girls got to sleep in a little bit. We left around 10 and made our way to the White House Visitor Center via Uber. We couldn’t bring the stroller this morning due to very strict rules and limited things you can bring in the White House.
We finished in the White House Visitor Center early, so we made our way across the street for the security check. We had to present ID to multiple secret service agents, I was quizzed on the kids birth-dates, and an interesting area where we think there was secret service dogs behind a wall sniffing everyone as they walked through 1 by 1. After a standard metal detector- we were in! We were able to see the 1st floor of the East Wing. The Red Room, Green Room, East Room, Library, Movie Theater, all designed and kept as they have been for years and years. Beautiful, but so different than how we live today. We were told the living quarters on the 2nd and 3rd floors are much different and updated for modern living.
We had a quick lunch at District Taco (recommendation from the Roberts), which was delish then took a cab back to the AirBnb for a quick nap. We had to wake up Charlie to be able to get to our tour of the “Money Factory”. We once again pressed our good luck by showing up at the doors at 3 pm exactly- which was when the tour was starting. We just made it as they last people on our tour were going through the door. We got to see $5 and $20 bills being made. And learned that only DC and Fort Worth make paper money, the other mints are for coins. We also learned that they produce 1.1 billion dollars per day- 24 hours a day and 5 days a week. It was a fun and interesting little tour.
After the tour we stepped out into gorgeous 65 degree sunshine. We shed our coats and made our way around the mall with a few stops of the major monuments on the way (WWII Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial). After the stroll around the monuments, Matt convinced us to walk the 1.5 miles back instead of getting an Uber during rush hour by reminding us of an ice cream place just a block away from the AirBnb. Ice Cream Jubilee was worth the walk!
The cherry tree blossoms are starting to open up with peak viewing expected to be on Monday, so we are expecting a pretty good display Saturday. We are also excited to see the Capital tomorrow as well as a new Cordina tradition of a Fat Tire bike tour (which we have done in Paris and Barcelona in the past year).
Beautiful day to see the White House 
Yep – its white. 
The grounds. 
View from the White House 
MAGA – Cordina 2020 
Charlie agrees – the White House tour was great. 
Outside the mint. 
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 
Enjoying the sun at the WWII Memorial pool. 
WWII Memorial dipping Charlie’s feet in the water. 
Cherry blossom peak is expected April 1st. Blosssoms are starting to open. 
Vietnam Memorial – unfortunate number of names. 
We were impressed that the sculpture was actual size. 
Just Desserts (for a lot of walking).
Wow!
What a trip!
Amazing what all you fit in in one day! Love you guys!