Quick visit to the White House

Made a quick incursion into DC, where I'd not been in now three months: I miss the city!

The first thing that struck me is that all businesses, restaurants, post office, government offices, and even parking garages, are boarded up within 2-3 blocks radiating from the White House, with only one opening at the door to allow for access. I spent 36 years working a block from the White House and this sight was so very eery...

The next thing was the much larger security perimeter around the WH, fully encompassing a little park as a buffer zone.  So much for the People's House! However, I thought it ironic that the security fence now serves as a place from which protesters can hang their signs (see extra)-- so much so that the WH is almost completely obscured (main pic shows just its roof peeking over the top of the fence).  I'm assuming that also means that the main occupant of the place cannot look out anymore: ha! :)

There were few people (a gathering of Roman Catholics doing a prayer and reading the names of victims) and a few others milling about. At this time of the year and day, the whole area would normally be bustling with tourists and business people...