Neither rain nor clouds nor cold will sway the tourists from their appointed rounds.

Doesn’t matter if the temperature was 42 degrees, the sky was cloudy, and it was raining.  Still the visitors were visiting.

Lafayette Square, on Pennsylvania Avenue, is where you can see the front of the White House.  

It’s behind two layers of metal crowd control racks, a short stone wall, and a ten-foot high, spike-tipped metal fence.  And don’t forget security in front of you, behind you, on buildings in front and back ... and still the visitors come.

Years ago, you used to be able to drive down Pennsylvania avenue, past the White House on the left, and wave.  Now, years later, it’s a big park and plaza. The Avenue is closed to traffic, protected by two-foot high metal traffic barriers. It’s welcoming, not overly restrictive.  But in the past two decades, it's clear something's been lost.