With all eyes on Washington and the White House race, NEIL DARBYSHIRE visits the US capital...
and is impressed by its history and architectural grandeur Neil visits Washington during cherry blossom season - 'a truly glorious sight' Scroll down for the best things to see and do in the city...
READ MORE: Six of the best car-free islands to visit, from the USA to Greece By Neil Darbyshire For The Mail On Sunday Published: 09:50, 11 July 2024 | Updated: 09:50, 11 July 2024 e-mail View comments Standing in the great rotunda of Washington’s Capitol building, the sacred heart of American democracy, there’s an almost palpable sense of awe. You feel it in the crowds of US citizens who bring their children to pay tribute here. In the guides, the security staff, even those who man the cloakrooms.
Our loquacious tour leader, Danny, sums it up neatly: ‘This is the Capitol, dude. Nowhere like it.’ Thanks to strict building height regulations, the dome of this secular cathedral, topped by the 19ft-tall Statue of Freedom, is reassuringly visible across the city.
This has special resonance as Joe Biden and Donald Trump begin their battle for control of the White House to see who will have bragging rights across this great city. For a working parliament, it is remarkably accessible. Even as random visitors, my wife Isabel and I sit in the public gallery to hear a key Senate debate.
A Republican is railing over government spending at a time of spiralling national debt. Sound familiar? .
