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| Evening reception in DC |
Leaving LA to Washington DC, another time zone, another world altogether: from the laid back California to the seriousness of the Capitol and Foggy Bottom a.k.a The State Department.
The flight with American Airlines took some 5 hours from LAX airport to Ronald Reagan airport. With flight tickets that were unbelievably expensive for a short commune, the inflight service was certainly nothing to talk about. Beverages and a biscoff ( Speculoos in Netherlands ) were offered in Economy class. Business class was not any better too.
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| George Washington Main House |
A chilly and overcast evening greeted me as I stepped out of the airport. Wrapping my baby pink wool overcoat tightly around me, I was glad that I had packed it along for the trip. The ride to Kimpton Hotel Glover Park took took a shorter time than normal as there was light traffic on a Sunday evening.
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| At George Washington Estate |
The room at Glover park was spacious and overlooked Wisconsin Avenue NW, which, unfortunately made it a bit noisy in the mornings. However the free flow of coffee and tea offered in the lobby was one of the perks offered by the hotel. There was a bicycle you could rent from the hotel but in this chilly weather, I was glad to have a girlfriend in DC who offered to drive me around.
Ab came to pick me up every morning as she lives nearby in the embassy district. The first thing she showed me was Ivanka Trump's and Obama's residences as these were in the neighbourhood. She pointed out the gated fences, security posts and more importantly the Secret Service sitting in their vans close by. It was like watching a movie except this was real.
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| Arlington National Cemetery |
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| Reflections Pool |
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| We-fies buddy |
The weather forecast for the next five days was cloudy with temperatures dropping to a low 3 degrees. On an unexpected sunny morning, Ab drove me to the George Washington estate in Virginia, which was a leafy area with rolling hills right next to the Potomac river. Set against this backdrop, are the houses where the Washington's entertained their guests and lived. Around the main house, are the out houses where their servants and indented labour a.k.a slaves lived. The buildings are re-created to show how they lived and worked.
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| Lovely Autumn colours |
I also had a chance to visit several monuments in DC and the Arlington National Cemetery. The admission ticket to the cemetery included a guided tour in a trolley bus which was much appreciated especially on a cold afternoon. Past American presidents, war hero, soldiers and many notable citizens are buried there. As America continually has war casualties, burials are still taking place every day...
One of DC's highlights is the
Smithsonian Institution with its 19 museums which are open to the public and free of charge. I visited The American History museum and the National Museum of the American Indian. I thoroughly enjoyed the American History museum with its Ruby slippers from the wizard of Oz movie which Judy Garland wore, to a reconstruction of Julia Child's kitchen among other more serious historical paraphernalia. A more sober and sinister tale unfolded at the American Indian museum, as we followed a guided tour on US American Native Treaties and learned about how treaties were made and broken.
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| Julia Child's Kitchen |
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| Ruby Slippers |
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Bat Mobile at American History Museum |
On a wintry day, when DC was under a blanket of snow, I took refuge in the nearby shopping outlet mall. I have to concede that shopping is cheaper in the US for American brands like Guess, Michael Kors, Coach etc..Much to Ab's disappointment, I did not ring up too much at the till. Nonetheless, i reassured her that I will be in London in a month's time, where shopping is also good.
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| Pupusas |
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| Trying my hands at Pupusas |
I didn't have high expectations in the food department. I was more interested in eating American favourites like Hamburgers, Pizzas and Tex-Mex food. So it was a treat to be able to taste Native American foods at the
Mitsitam cafe at the American Indian Museum and EL Salvadorian Pupusas which Ab's cook prepared specially to welcome me.
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| Native American Fare |
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| hamburgers... |
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