This was my second trip this year to Monticello and I enjoyed being the "expert", although Bernhard's awareness of U.S. history far exceeded my knowledge of German history. Here we are on the Montcello's back lawn.

Last April, the trees were just blossoming and the vegetable garden was just being planted. Now, the fall colors were out and most vegetables had been harvested. Either way, the grounds at Monticello are worth a visit. Of course the grounds visit is required because the waiting time for the house tour was almost an hour-and-a-half.

This visit, the highlight of the grounds for me was the variety of flowers still in bloom. Here are a half-dozen, all, like other plantings at Monticello, raised from strains originally planted at Monticello in Jefferson's time.

********* Steven F. Udar-Hazy Center *********

********* Air and Space Museum *********

After a few hours for the drive from south to north in Virginia, we only had time for a quick spin through our second major tourist attraction. The Udvar-Hazy Center was named after a Hungarian-American immigrant who made his fortune in Southern California and decided to give something back to his adopted country by funding the building of this extension to the downtown Air and Space Museum. I'd been here before, but would always volunteer a return.

We managed to get a few pictures, including enough to prove that Bernhard had indeed been here. No, this was not the Lufthansa plane he would take back to Germany in a few hours.

After this, it was a ten minute hop to neighboring Dulles International Airport, where Bernhard's real plane would pick him up for the long return to Germany. I was glad I was able to show an appreciative guest two American attractions. America may not have many castles, cathedrals and Rathauses, but, given a day off work, there are places worth visiting.