eggwards: (Default)
eggwards ([personal profile] eggwards) wrote2005-06-14 12:01 pm
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DC Burns Like White Marble

I'm sunburned again.

Of course so is Laura.  We walked, and walked some more doing the tour of the Mall in DC.  After figuring out the train system in Baltimore (the light rail made us late to making the train to DC at one station, so we had to backtrack to the other station to make out trip out), we made it into DC's Union Station, and then out on the DC Metro to the Smithsonian.

From there we walked to the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, the FDR Memorial, then all the way back to the Smithsonian to go back to the Metro.  By that time I was so hungry and dehydrated that I was getting dizzy. 

We went to DuPont Circle to find restaurants, but not knowing the neighborhood, we only found Burger King and Ben and Jerry's.  Still, it was serviceable and helped me get going for round two.

Back to the Mall we went, seeing one side of the White House, where I felt really unmoved, probably because of the occupant.  Then we went to the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial which is very, very haunting.  We tried again to see if the line at the Washington Monument's line was shorter, but it was already closed for the day.  It was sad that the grounds around it were totally torn up, taking away from the look of the whole thing.

One more swing around the White House (where the grounds around the Ellispe were also torn up - trying to keep the protesters away?) I saw where all of the reporters set up for their shots, but yesterday was very empty due to u\other, more celebrated, but less important news.

We got back to Baltimore on a delayed, and very full train with a lot of regular commuters. Ed picked us up at the station and we went out to Little Italy and had a great meal.  We just don't have districts like that in Texas Cities as we didn't have that kind of immigration (not to say there isn't differences in areas, but not usually in European folks).  We came back to the apartment and slathered on the aloe.

Today is looking at Baltimore, and a trip out to Camden Yards for the Oriels/Astros game which should be great, then tomorrow I have to get on the rail to the airport at an ungodly hour to go back home.
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[identity profile] eggwards.livejournal.com 2005-06-16 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The rail system in the area made everything pretty convenient, really. The only complaint is that there isn't a bus or metro stop out at the Jefferson Memorial (or FDR which is even farther out). They could really use something out there on a hot day.

For me, it was my first train trip that wasn't light rail, or a miniature train running around a park.

[identity profile] werecub.livejournal.com 2005-06-14 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
The architecture firm i work at is involved with teh Washington Monument project. Right now they are re-landscaping and renovating the old ticket house.

[identity profile] eggwards.livejournal.com 2005-06-16 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Laura is very impressed. She's now interested in which firm you work for! Again, I'm sorry that we didn't get to run into each other while I was in the district.

Otherwise, Laura works for CSD in Baltimore and does mostly hospitals and medical. If you'd like to get her contact info, just email me using the same address I emailed your gmail account. I'm sure she's like to say hi, and talk about Tulane, since she worked with their AIAS chapter there when she was an officer.

What does D.C. stand for in Michael's book?

[identity profile] bearpawly.livejournal.com 2005-06-14 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmm.

My recent D.C. experience is restricted to the immediate area around The Washington Post and McPherson Square, and passing through at night to or from meetings with bears (thought that did afford great views of the Jefferson Memorial when crossing the Potomac).

Re: What does D.C. stand for in Michael's book?

[identity profile] eggwards.livejournal.com 2005-06-16 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, mine was much, much more chaste, unfortunately, having family around with me. While there was definite eye candy, there just wasn't the opportunity. We both would have liked the cub who was placed in the seat next to me on the flight back.

To me DC is full of monuments and statues to past accomplishments.

[identity profile] airbearma.livejournal.com 2005-06-16 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
I really want to go back to DC sometime soon to see the new Smithsonian Air and Space exhibits at Dulles. I would enjoy seeing most of the City again. My last time there was about 8 years ago with [livejournal.com profile] bearzilla

[identity profile] eggwards.livejournal.com 2005-06-16 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm, didn't know they had moved some stuff out to Dulles. We didn't have the time to tour some of the Smithsonian, so that will have to be saved for another trip, though the Air and Space museum would definitely be a destination.