By Gabrielle Gabbay
Washington D.C. This is not only the Capital of the United States of America, but endless amounts of American history took place in this very city. The beautiful structures scattered through the city tower over the streets which are filled with people of all different cultures and backgrounds. Whether you’re a diplomat, citizen of D.C. or just a tourist trying to find the coolest places to visit, the city has quite a lot to offer.
My first trip to Washington D.C. was with my class at Denver Jewish Day School. As a Junior in the school, I got the opportunity to travel on many school trips with my class including a trip to Durango, Colorado, Los Angeles, and even as far as Israel; however, this trip was meaningful for me in a different way than the other places I visited. When I first saw the Washington Monument I was with a few people from my class and I realized that I had absolutely no idea just how tall and elegant looking this narrow building actually is until I was standing directly adjacent to it. This monument was not even the best part. The monument sits in the middle of a strip called the National Mall where numerous iconic monuments and museums sit at the disposal of the general public. Though it was a rainy day, the air was still warm so I decided to walk from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument. After walking the strip, I took the Metro, Washington D.C.’s subway system, to Georgetown and sat with a few of my friends to eat at a very endearing cupcake shop near George Washington University.
A few days before, I, along with my class, got to attend an annual conference called AIPAC. AIPAC is a pro-Israel lobbying organization that educates individuals on the foreign affairs between Israel and America and encourages them to advocate for Israel by lobbying their fellow congressmen and senators, in their individual states, to support Israel. This conference gave me the opportunity to listen to many speakers including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Vice President Mike Pence, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the current events of Israel and how the United States is involved in the present affairs in Israel and the Middle East. On the final day of the conference, I went with my class and a few other Denver community members to the House of Representatives and the United States Capitol to actually talk to our Colorado Senators, Congressmen, and their staff about what they are doing to help advocate for American support in Israel. I not only got to learn how I can make a difference as an American citizen, but I became aware of how meticulously beautiful the Capitol is both on the inside and the outside.
America is filled with many amazing places and famous locations. Washington D.C. is definitely one of my favorite places in the United States. Whether you are looking to visit all of the historical sites, the trendy little places, or just walking around, Washington D.C. will surely keep you entertained and busy.
Gabrielle Gabbay is a student at the Denver Jewish Day School and an intern for ColoradoGrandparent.com.