Washington DC｜Day 2 City Walk 🚶♂️✨

Took a taxi early to the East Building of the National Gallery of Art—a masterpiece by I.M. Pei (1978)! 🏛️ The 17-degree stone cuts are incredibly precise and refined, especially at an architectural scale. It seems many share this admiration—the frequently touched areas have developed a visible patina. The wall near the main entrance engraved with "I.M. PEI" shows even more wear, likely from countless architecture students paying their respects over the years. The glass ceiling here closely resembles the one at Japan’s Miho Museum. It’s amazing to think such sophisticated design existed as early as 1978! Inside, the collection focuses on modern and contemporary art—even spotting a Monet was a thrilling surprise! 🖼️🌅 From the B1 level, you can walk directly to the West Building. I recommend following the timeline-based route—start with the 19th-century paintings (the yellow section), which was the most impressive to me! You’ll see works by Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin, Degas, Morisot, Picasso, Matisse—an absolutely exhilarating lineup! 🎨🔥 After that, grab a light meal on B1, then continue through the other eras. Speaking of other highlights—there’s Da Vinci’s only authentic painting in the Americas! Though the girl in the portrait looks a bit unhappy (I love imagining the stories behind paintings—maybe she was in a mood that day, quite a contrast to Mona Lisa’s smile 😊). There are also 4-5 works by Raphael—a genius who peaked at 23 and passed away at 37. It reminded me of Wang Ximeng from Chinese art history—both gifted artists gone too soon. ✨ Other notable artists include Botticelli, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Dürer, and more. Outside, Constitution Avenue was buzzing with a colorful parade—such lively American energy! 🎉 Across the street is the National Museum of Natural History (one of the filming locations for Night at the Museum)—great for a quick visit, especially if you’re with kids (closes at 5:30 PM). 🦖 Walking west along the National Mall from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, I noticed planes from Reagan Airport flying overhead every 2 minutes—such a frequent sight! ✈️ Couldn’t miss the chance—time for some photos with the monuments! 📸 Have you visited the National Gallery or joined a DC parade? What was your favorite part? #WashingtonDC #DCCityWalk #VanGoghSighting #MonetMoment #DaVinciEncounter #RaphaelArt #NationalGalleryOfArt #IMPei #EastBuilding #ArtLovers #ArchitectureAdmiration #MuseumHopping #DCMonuments #PhotoOp #TravelDiaries #CulturalWalk #ArtAndHistory