Washington DC (back in july)

Summary of time:
• Walk to White House – its much smaller in real life than on telly.
• Walk National Mall & Memorial Parks.
• Lincoln Memorial
• Visit Botanical Gardens & a couple of the Smithsonian Museums.
• Watched the Presidents Own – Marine Band

Handy hints –
 Good map and decent shoes.
 Decide on which museums you want to visit, and allow a good couple of hours for each to really get through them, the Smithsonian’s are free, but do give a donation. NB no food or drink allowed in museums, so lunch at cafes or stalls outside museum if there all day.
 Be prepared for expensive drinks - $6 per pint!!
 Various tourist places require bag searches or airport terminal style checking (bags scanned and going through detectors), so allow time for these, they vary in length of time, depending on number of visitors etc
 Each corner of the block has signs giving the number start number of that block, and each block starts 00 (eg 1000, 1100, 1200)

Being conscious of having to get my ticket, and making sure i allowed enough time, but wanting to avoid the rush hour, i was up in plenty of time. No hassle getting down on the Metro, and despite only being one member of staff at the greyhound ticket place the queue moved through.....but being me and over anxious about leaving enough time, i had allowed plenty of time, and had a while to wait before i could queue for the bus (another bus was leaving from that stop before). When in the queue, up until the time of the bus going, the queue kept getting longer, and longer.....there was more than 1 bus load in the queue, poss more than 2 bus loads! Doing a quick count i was in the first 40, so i was on the bus for certain. When it came time to loading up, found out they would be at least 2 buses going, but a lot of people were getting dropped off before Washington. No real hassles with the journey...nice and sunny outside, but air conditioning was on, so felt cold!
Arriving in Washington was a different story as i am still getting knots in stomach, till i get to the hostel, nervous of going wrong. Get my bags, and the instructions out, its a small bus station, and find the right exit, turning right out of the station, and head in the direction signposted. Walked 3 blocks but couldn’t see the station, so stopped and asked directions, i had actually missed a right turn (not on instructions!). The person i stopped was so pleased that they had been able to help. Getting to the station, ticket sorted and through the entry machine....escalators not working, just about to lift case to carry it, when someone offered to carry it for me, and wouldn’t take no for answer. Got to destination station no problems, out of the exit and trying to work out north, when someone else came and asked if i needed help...and pointed me in the right direction. The men of Washington dc are very helpful.
Settled into a private room, it was time to venture out, armed with a map from the hostel with places to eat. Washington felt so spacious after New York, wide streets, buildings not so tall (10 – 15 floors), and even big gaps between buildings.
Washington DC – DC stands for District of Columbia – was the agree midpoint of the original 13 colonies of America, and the compromise for both North and South for the federal city, which was created for this purpose.
My little planned route was going to take me to the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave), standing in Lafayette Square, it was the view you often see on TV, and it looked so much smaller than i expected. Passing the Treasury, which sits on the East side of the White House, it was then a short walk down Pennsylvania Ave (which leads to Capitol – the Congress building), looking for the Elephant & Castle for the recommended Fish and Chips. The numbers on the map did not relate to the actual place, and someone else kindly pointed me in the right direction. Dinner ended being Roast Beef and Yorkshire (with onions, mash and veg) with Gravy. I had to ask for extra gravy, they don’t know how to serve the right amount...but it was so good. I felt very safe walking around even with it getting darker.
Next day i wanted the post office for stamps, and knowing that the numbers on the map were not slightly right, and not having worked out the numbering on the blocks, i couldn’t find the post office, but had a great wander up and down various streets, eventually getting back to White House. This time i went west of the White House, and then round the bottom (south) to see the gardens where the helicopters land. From here (and most places) i saw the Washington Monument...it’s a big obelisk (555ft 5inches tall) and does have steps that you can go up. So off i went wandering towards it, i then ambled west through the parks. The sun was out and it was warming up, so i found an ice lolly (bought one, not just picked it up off the ground), and sat by one of the various memorials in the park. Continue on the walk through the park and on to Lincoln Memorial, a rather nice colonnade building, with a rather large statute of Abraham Lincoln in. On the walls, they had his inauguration speeches (or part of) – the Gettysburg Address – it was awe inspiring reading them.
Then from the top of the steps i could see the Reflecting Pool (seen in many films – the one that came to mind was Forrest Gump) leading to the WWII memorial and Washington Monument. So walking along the Pool, you had to watch out for the Canada Geese, who were in the pool, along the edge, or feeding on the grass. Seeing the WWII Memorial, was awesome, seeing people paddling in the pools, but also appreciating what had been done for them. Then onto the Monument, i decided i wasn’t up for the climb, so i appreciated its height. The monument was actually built in 2 stages with two different types of stone. Continuing down the National Mall about halfway to Capitol, but it was getting so much hotter, so i went back to the hostel, shower, change and catch up on mail, and chat to family. A few hours later, it was off out for dinner, heading into Chinatown...although i had tapas...and as it was still only around 7, i walked on down to the National Mall, and headed towards Capitol. I could hear music playing, big band music, so wandered up to Capitol, and at the bottom of the steps caught the tail end of The Presidents Own (Marine Band) who were giving a free concert (1hr) whilst the sun was setting behind Monument. The next night they would be playing at the monument, so might catch them for the full set. Then it was back to the hostel, even though it was dark, i felt very safe, there were no homeless lying on benches, just people walking around. Near the hostel is the Capital City Brewery Bar, so i stop in for a pint or two or ...actually could only manage 2 (different types of pale ale). Only thing...i got asked for id, you have to be 21 to drink alcohol, but then i saw the bar man was checking everyone’s id!
My last full day in Washington and the weather was supposed to be getting warmer, so i planned to be inside for most of the day visiting some of the Smithsonian Museums, but first the Botanic Gardens.
The Gardens although small showed a diverse collections, several small well laid out areas.....orchid, country garden, desert, jungle, protected/endangered, children’s play zone, and outside there was a State Garden (showing plants from a particular state), First Ladies Pool, Butterfly Garden, Rose Garden.
From here, although only around 10ish it was warming up, so off to the Smithsonian Museums. These were set up because an Englishman (James Smithson), who hadn’t been to the USA, willed $4.1m to the country to found an “establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge” in 1826. The museums are all free, there are 12+ of them (some are closed for now), so rely on donations and funding. I headed to the Air and Space Museum. Great lots of things for little and big kids to play with/learnt about. The history of flying, the development of aircraft, the change to commercial flying (the change in stewardess requirements inc allowing stewards), and space exploration – study of stars & solar systems from earth, and is space. Lunch was not much choice, the museum was free to get in, but you were not allowed any food or drinks inside (water fountains were all around), so off to the cafe – MacDonald’s!!!! Those who know me well, know that i venture in one of these about once every 18months/2 years...this would make it twice in 6 months.
Going around the museum, there are things to push, climb in and on. I learnt loads, especially about the Wright Brothers. After a few hours, i decided for a change, so across the Mall to the Natural History Museum and to the Mammals and Underwater sections. The Mammals section had loads of stuffed animals...the Lion “roaring” high up and looking down made me jump though. I didn’t spend long in either exhibition, as it was mid afternoon, and the walk across had been in really warm temps, so i wanted to get back to shower and change. Coming out of the Museum, i was met by 2 fire trucks, and looking back at the Museum there were 5/6 firemen all geared up coming out....false alarm. There had been a bit of a burnt plastic smell in one of the shops....and i had commented when at the till, others had also commented....but there had been nothing about getting people out.
Later it was out for dinner again, and then off to the National Monument for the Big Band. I do love that music....i did stand up for the National Anthem (everyone else had and i didn’t want to be disrespectful). After the concert it was back to the hostel, to pack as tomorrow it was back to Boston.
Getting up early-ish, it was back to the bus station...but i knew my way. The 3 blocks to the metro brought on a sweat....it was so humid at 8.30 am! And then the 3 blocks to the bus station...i was glad of the air conditioning. The journey back to Boston was eventful, had to change bus in New York – no problems, just lots of traffic...Friday/Weekend traffic. Then back to the hostel...familiar territory.
Saturday it was all change....i would be getting a car for 4 weeks, a big adventure, with the vague plan of heading off around part of New England – Well Maine and Vermont at least.