Day 14 - 24th April

Today we took the Big Bus to the Smithsonian Zoo, at the zoo there was 2000 animals to be seen! we spent from 10:30 till 12:30 here to try and see as many as we could, first of all we all went to see the Panda's we were very lucky to see Bey-Bey the baby panda eating right in front of us, he was so cute and we watched him for ages!
From there we all separated and explored all different areas of the zoo. We saw Elephants, Zebras Gorillas, Tigers, Leopards, Snakes, Tortoises, Sand cats and so much more! It was the most incredible Zoo that most of us have ever been to and the best way to finish our trip in USA.
While we were waiting on the bus a Police car drove inferno of the intersection and blocked us off, all of a sudden heaps of Police on motor bikes came in a convoy, we knew immediately what was going on. The French President was here! we were told that Trump was hosting the French President for dinner today. We were in the right place at the right time and saw all the emergency vehicles and the limo that had the President in it. What an experience!
After the Zoo we took the bus back in to town to grab some lunch and then headed to Madam Tussauds. The first of the wax figures was all the Presidents of America. They were so well done and I kept having to double check some of the figures to make sure I wasn't going to try take a picture with a actual person!
At the end of the Museum there was an opportunity to get a wax figure of your hand which some of us did, it was very cool to watch.
A relaxing evening means that we can all wind down and pack ready for our big day of travel ahead.

Day 13 - 23rd April

Today we took the Big Bus to the Washington Memorial and walked around the National Park and the Tidal Basin to see all the monuments. We saw the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. It was such a beautiful day for a walk and we got lots of great photos. After that, half the group went to the Air and Space Smithsonian Museum and the other half to the Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust Museum was very emotional and we were able to follow a specific persons experience from pre-Holocaust to post-Holocaust who's name was Daniel. When we got into the paid section of the Museum we started at the top of the building and worked our way down following the timeline as we progressed through. There was a bridge that went over a river of actual shoes from the victims which was awful to see.
For dinner we went to &Pizza where we could choose our topping and watch the pizza being cooked, it was like Subway and the students loved it.
In the evening we got back on the Big Bus and took a night tour of the city. It was much different to the New York one because the Washington tour was more about the history of the city, Presidents and the monuments, we got off at the Lincoln Memorial and had a small walking tour which included the Korean War Memorial. Our tour guide Ellen was so great and knowledgable!
What an amazing day touring around, tomorrow we are off to the Zoo and Madam Tussauds

Day 12 - 22 April

Today we said goodbye to New York and headed to Washington DC on the bus, we stopped off in Lancaster to have lunch at The Good and Pleanty and had a tour in the Amish villages. Our lunch was incredible! when we arrived they had all the food ready and were bringing it out on plates that we helped ourselves to, there was corn, peas, fried chicken, bread with spreads, mashed potato, picked veggies that they call Chow Chow, sweet coleslaw, chicken salad, butter egg noodles and more. The students stuffed their faces with all the great choices, for desert we had their famous Shoo-flie Pie which is made with a molasses filling, also we had homemade ice-cream and chocolate pudding. We wobbled back to the bus where Diane and Eric Hammaker gave us a wonderful tour around the villages, it was very cool to see the Amish driving their horse and buggies around, we didn't see many of the Amish people because they were all in church but saw their houses and farms.
When we arrived in Washington we walked to the White House, it is incredible to the the difference in environment here, everything is so clean and the buildings are low rise. The White House is right in the centre of the city! We snapped a photo at the back and then tried to see the front but could not get as close. Local burgers for dinner and a good sleep for all out sight seeing tomorrow!

Day 11 - 21st April

Today we had a cycle tour around central park, we were split into two groups and it seems that we both had slightly different tours. A bit dangerous with 30 kids on the road, watch out New Yorkers!
We got to see all the amazing sights in the park at a cruisey pace. After out cycle tour we walked to the Central Park Zoo where were split up and explored all the amazing animals, they even had a Grisly Bear and a Snow Leopard!
We sent everyone off for their final free time in New York, teachers visited the church, students, well.... they just shopped. The Trump Tower was cool to see, there were fully armed guards out the front, the first we have seen in the city.
In the evening we went on a night bus tour to see the city for the last time, New York at night is absolutely amazing with all the lights illuminating the buildings. The Empire State Building had some sort of display happening and they lights were changing which was fun.
After our night tour when we got back there was a truck limo that pulled up and a group of 12/13 year olds girls got off and were acting like they were 18! it was an interesting experience for the kids to see how New York kids live and luckily for all you parent back home they were all outraged at their fortune and behaviour.