T H E   U . S .   C A P I T O L   B U I L D I N G

Washington, D.C.

Hmmm, what's down this corridor? Ahhh, the first Senate Chamber, 1800-1808. It looks pretty small. This must just be the entry court? In any event, I notice a page is giving a specialized tour to two important looking people. Yup, I shouldn't be wandering around in here.

I really want to go back upstairs to the Capitol Rotunda to get more pictures. I recall being told earlier that visitors are not allowed back upstairs because you have to be part of a guided tour. In any event, it seems like it's worth a shot.

Near this large door is the stairway back up. I see some security folks near the stairwell and figure I'll pretend to be interested in this door then just make my way for the stairs. Well, not a good idea. I make my move and quickly get thrown to the floor by the security cops, they cuff me and drag me into a small office that's really stuffy. I notice torture instruments on a nearby table... Oh, wait, that's just my paranoid terror fantasy.

What actually happens is I make a run for the stairs and slip by the security guards, they start shouting but I figure I'm fully committed to my mission so I make it to the Capital Rotunda where I take my pictures while running around the rotunda. After I get my panoramic pictures, because, after all, I was running around and around, I make a mad dash for the door, make it to the outside, then run away. They never catch me... Oh, wait, that's just my security escape fantasy.

I guess I'll just leave it to your own imagination as to what happened when I approached the stairwell. As you can see, I don't have any more pictures to share with you. So, I guess I didn't make it back into the Capitol Rotunda... or did I?

In summary, my tour of the U.S. Capitol Building was interesting but kinda lacked substance. Aside from the Capitol Rotunda and the Statuary Hall, not much else was going on with it. Too bad we weren't allowed to witness both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives in governmental action. Maybe it's because all they actually do is play Twister and shoot darts? They certainly wouldn't want that secret to get out.

I rate my tour of the U.S. Capitol Building a 4 thumbs-up.