On our way to view the Phillips Collection we stopped for a few minutes with Ghandi, positioned across from the Indian Embassy.
The Phillips Collection is housed in a Georgian Revival house that has been expanded and renovated to hold an eclectic mix of artworks. There were pieces by Renoir, El Greco, Modigliani, Klee, Kandinski, Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Van Gogh, O'Keefe and Raoul Dufy. Photos are permitted in most galleries but "no flash"!
The Artist's Studio by Raoul Dufy
From here we walked along Massachussetts Avenue admiring the architecture and the many embassies with colourful flags. Mixed in between the embassies are lavish homes that announce their political affiliation with sculptures of donkeys(Democrat) or elephants (Republican).
We aren't sure which political affiliation is reflected by the Woolly Mammoth in this courtyard!
Along our walk we also passed several old police and fire call boxes that have been converted into free standing pieces of artwork by local artists. Some include sculpture and others incorporate paintings. These boxes were originally used from 1880-1950's to call for police or firefighter assistance.
St. Jerome the Priest (The Greatest Doctor of the Church)
by I. Mestrovic at the Croatian Embassy
Arriving finally in the Adams Morgan area, we stopped a guy who was walking down the street with a loaded flatbread that resembled a wrap. He pointed us toward Amsterdam Falafel where we had scrumptious, delicious falafel wrapped in flatbread with 20 different toppings/fillings! It has been consistently voted the "Best cheap eats in DC" since opening in 2004.
Our next stop was the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Temple and Museum with two sphinxes denoting Wisdom & Power mounted at the entrance. Unfortunately we could not tour the building because a private function was taking place.
Wisdom Sphinx at the Scottish Rite Freemasonry Temple
Next door was a garden full of pre-Halloween creations.
We also stopped in at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church which is the oldest "black-owned" church in the USA, built by freed slaves in 1886. The choir was rehearsing along with the organist and we were the only visitors!
Stacks of magazines line the entrance doorway to exhibition area
We stopped at the National Geographic Museum but decided not to view the exhibition. Once again our calves and feet were aching. It was time to rest with a coffee before heading back to the hotel. If we have the energy, we will walk to a Mexican restaurant for dinner later.
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