5.08.2012 – 5.08.2012  33 °C

Our morning began down at the International Spy Museum. I was dead keen to test out this museum because who doesn’t love 007 and his gadgets??? What a museum! I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much—a gadget or two, a story about the KGB.. you know the style of museum I’m talking about fairly small and not much to it… How mistaken was I? (If you are ever in DC you cannot afford to miss this museum—Absolutely worth every penny)

Ok, so on entering the museum we were all given covers that we needed to memorise in order to complete our missions. Next, we entered spy school where we were taken thru the art of lock picking (I’ll test out my skills when I get home!), bugs and how rooms are bugged with both listening and video recorders, how to detect other people spying on you, how to and where to drop off secret information… Each station was setup with some sort of interactive exhibit where you could test your hand at your new skills! The three of us are definite budding spies!!!

From the school the next step was to get an appreciation for the types of tools of the trade (this was actual equipment that was used by both sides during the Cold War). We saw lipstick guns, umbrella guns, micro camera’s in watches/ buttons—basically in anything! Shoe phones (yep they did use shoe phones!), brief cases with everything under the sun installed inside.. Honestly, anything you’ve seen on 007 or Get Smart was probably used by one of the sides during the Cold War! The highlight of the gadget section was one of the DB9’s used in one of the 007 movies. The old gun metal grey DB9 had machine guns that fired from the front blinker lights, changeable license plates, tyre shredders that came out of the tyre hub caps and a bullet proof shield for the back of the car.. Very cool! Sadly, no photos in any part of the museum so I couldn’t get a shot of this totally cool car!

The last section of the spy museum was walking thru a history of spying. Everything from secret cyphers used back in the 15^th C thru to modern day spying 21^st C style. Most of this part was concentrated on WWII and the Cold War so there were plenty of accounts of double agents and cypher cracking on both sides. D&I were even able to spot a double agent on one of the exhibits! (I’m telling you.. maybe this is my new career choice!)

After spending at least three hours in the museum we finally made it to the gift shop! The spy museum has the best gift shop I’ve ever seen… Gadgets galore! Funky infrared goggles, invisible ink, cypher cracking books, tiny cameras, audio bugs.. If it is something cool that is related to spying than you will find it in this shop.. V Cool!!!!

After spending more money, we headed out and down the road to find some lunch. It was actually really late by the time we got out of the museum so it was well past lunchtime but we did find a Mexican restaurant open, so in we went for some Tacos. We had, had a great plan, that was to attend the 4pm session of the Dark Knight Rises at the Imax theatre at the Smithsonian.. Hmm.. plan didn’t quite come off.. by the time lunch was over it was almost 4pm and we were no-where near the Smithsonian…

We decided to instead have a rest and head out for the 7pm session of Dark Knight Rises. M&I raced D to the Smithsonian—we walked D decided to take the subway.. Well to put it mildly the feet were faster than the train! M&I actually sauntered down to the Smithsonian and were there way before D turned up!!!

What can I say, we had an awesome evening watching the movie. DKR on Imax is fantastic! Great story, great action= great night out at the movies!

Song of the Day– U2, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me