We drove to the nation’s capitol today.  We were here last year so we kinda knew our way around.  Parking wasn’t bad at all, probably because it was the weekend.  The west front side of the capitol was fenced off while they build scaffolding and make preparations for Obama’s inauguration.

Scaffolding Going Up for Inauguration

There is no back side to the capitol building. It has a West Front and it has an East Front.  The East Front was not closed off.

East Front Entrance to the Capitol Building

We went inside to the gift shop, but did not take the tour today.  We had done that last year.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was our next visit.  This is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America and it’s one of the ten largest churches in the world.  There are over 70 Chapels and Oratories.  There are little chapels for different countries, each showing how Mary appears in their own culture.  We took the free guided tour which took nearly two hours.  Here are some of the pictures:

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Crypt Level

Upper Church

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Balcony and the Big Organ

One of the Chappels

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Viet Nam

Germany

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Memorial Hall

I do not know who this is from Mankato. It stood out, so I took the picture.