4th of July

I have been anxiously awaiting the 4th of July in Washington DC.  I packed a water bottle, a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, my camera, and a book and headed down Independence Avenue toward the Capitol building about 9 am this morning.  First I stumbled upon a parade in my neighborhood.

Then I continued walking to the "real" parade on Independence Avenue.  Here are some highlights.

I stayed on the National Mall all day so that I could hear the National Symphony and watch the fireworks.  About 6 pm I found a place on the Capitol steps and ate my peanut butter sandwich and read my book while I waited for the evening performance.  There were a lot of people there and I could not get very close and the granite steps got very hard, but I am glad I waited.  It was lots of fun to see, hear, smell, and feel the people, food, music, and fireworks!