Veering to Vernon or wincing with Washington
![DSCN3428](https://www.ramblingabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dscn3428.jpg?w=150)
Mount Vernon was George Washington’s home. It is a lovely plantation mansion built on the shores of the Potomac River 90-minutes away from Washington DC by boat.
The boat trip out to Mt Vernon was interesting in itself. Quite a few of Washington DC’s interesting buildings sit facing the river – from the Naval Research facility with its mysterious roof domes, to the US Intelligence something with its complete lack of windows, to General’s Row where the top-ranking brass get mansions of their own, to the War College which looks a lot like a power station.
![DSCN3432](https://www.ramblingabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dscn3432.jpg?w=150)
As you leave Washington behind there are more and more trees with a tinge of Autumnal red just setting in. Dotted amongst the trees are the houses and estates of the better-off locals providing an interesting contrast with the surrounding greenery. It’s not quite the fall colours we’ve been seeking, but you can see where it’s going.
![DSCN3440](https://www.ramblingabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dscn3440.jpg?w=150)
Mount Vernon was interesting in itself as a lovely old house and well-preserved indicator of how the rich and famous of the time lived when supported by over 100 slaves. There are some great little touches in the house – a key to the Bastille presented by Lafayette and Washington’s chair, complete with food-pedals that powered a fan above his head. The attached museum was also fascinating with a lovely clear presentation of his life and times. The highlight, rather strangely, was seeing his dentures – impossible to look at without wincing.