A Clear Autumn Day on the National Mall, D.C.

I spent a day in Washington, D.C. in mid-November, walking the National Mall. It was a perfectly clear and bright day. I started at the Lincoln Memorial, where the sun was just cresting the top of the structure, making it glow against the deep blue sky. There were plenty of other people out, sitting on the steps or walking around the grounds.

From there, I walked the length of the Reflecting Pool. The water was incredibly still, giving a near-perfect mirror image of the Washington Monument down the entire expanse. Looking back, the Lincoln Memorial was reflected just as clearly. It was a quiet walk along the water's edge.

I continued on to the World War II Memorial, with its fountains and pillars, the Washington Monument always in view. Nearby, the smaller, domed District of Columbia War Memorial was surrounded by trees still holding onto their yellow autumn leaves, a nice reminder of the season.