I was really going to D.C. to visit my darlings, who'd moved there from L.A. back in November. I just figured we would sightsee a little. I didn't know I'd get SO inspired and fall in love.
Arriving in Baltimore at 6:15 in the morning on Thursday, I squinched my eyes to see my fabulous friend, armed with coffee and ready to show me the town. Once we were back at the beautiful apartment, the rule was made: no more car.
From there until yesterday, after my battle with United Airlines (who apparently said I never showed up on my first flight so they "zeroed" out my second flight, leaving me with the possibility of more time in D.C.) we were on foot or on train.
The trains in D.C. are super clean. There are no food or drink allowed and one will get ticketed if you try to cheat the system. Taking the metro to the downtown the first day, we got out to arrive at "the mall". When I was told we were going to the "the mall" I of course thought we were in for a day of shopping. Nope.
The National Mall is actually an open park of sorts, filled with amazing gardens, little trails and the pond (the one you've seen in millions of movies and TV snippets), where we fed some VERY obese ducks. It is also the area surrounded by the Smithsonian museums (who knew there were more than one?? I didn't!), monuments and memorials. On one side was the Washington Monument and directly east, the Capitol of the U.S.
At one of the Smithsonians, I was able to sneak a peak at the Hope Diamond (until one of satan's spawn stuck there grubby little head in my way!) There will prolly be better pics with the coming days, but you get the gist --
Everywhere we walked, there were doses of history and unbelievable architecture. In Georgetown, we went to the Old Stone House or "the oldest house in D.C." The house was built in 1765 (it has that attic-musty smell) but has all of its original ornamentation, flooring, etc. Beyond this unique little piece of history, Georgetown was breathtaking.
Walking around the city was mesmerizing as there is just so much to see. The homes are like fortresses and all of the buildings look old school and charming. Of course, there is history oozing from every orifice! And because there'd been rain, the air was crisp and there was so much green and CLEAN air.
I guess what struck me was the passion in the air. There isn't a "look at me, look at who I'm trying to be" or anything of the like attitude. It's about rules, amendments and rights, everywhere. Milling around the outskirts of the White House were a myriad of different groups, doing their "Power to the People" rights thing. Hitting the streets were the "suits," bustling about to lobby for this or for that. And truly, whether or not you believe in what some of these people have to say (including the dude in the White House), there is just something to be said for the rules of the past, present and future that isn't just something one person conjured up, but something for the ages.
There is SO much more to say, but I am still a little overwhelmed and my calves are still trying to adjust to their permanent sore-state from ALL of the walking :)
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