We took another DC outing yesterday, Parking in Bethesda is problematic so as we did the day before, we hailed an Uber to a Red line station and hopped on the metro ending in DC a couple blocks from The Mall. What should have been a short walk across the Mall to our destination turned in 20 minutes. Because of all the construction for the 250th jubilee there was detour after detour.
The weather is moving into the unpleasant zone. Low 90s and while not overly humid the atmosphere felt stuffy. A 20 minute walk at 10:30 in the morning left us “glistening”.
The National Museum of African Art was a mix of old and contemporary from around the African continent. An interesting thing to note is that the entire museum is underground. The entrance is modest and from the outside the building appears small in contrast to the surroundings. Entrance is in on the ground floor. The exhibits began on the first subterranean flor and continued down for two more levels.
The moment I stepped in, I was acutely aware that I was on a different continent.
By the way, all the museums we’ve been to fall under the Smithsonian umbrella and admission is free.
There was a special exhibit on view called We Are Here with displays illuminating LGBTQ art from around Africa.
We made a stop for lunch at the Moongate Cafe which lives on the ground floor of the National Museum of Asian Art. Rice bowls were the thing. I had a spicy ahi bowl and an iced masala chai latte, a super refreshing drink.
Behind the museum is what’s know as the Smithsonian Castle in which resides the Smithsonian Visitor Center. One of the items on display was the desk where Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Between the African Art and Asian Art museums is the Enid A. Haupt garden. The design of the Haupt Garden incorporates motifs that nod to the two museums it flanks. There are elements that evoke Islamic garden traditions (near the Asian Art museum) along with African design patterns.
