Was short on sleep again. I woke up at 5am and couldn't go back to sleep so I went online. By 9am, I started getting ready. Checked out of the hotel by 11am and headed to Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.
It was already after noon when I got there. It was hot. The parking was diverted to a neighboring lot, which was mostly gravelly. I wanted to do the "National Treasure Tour" but it was already sold out for the day, so I just paid for the admission, which included a tour of the mansion.
I knew I wouldn't have time to do everything, but I think I covered the major points. There were a couple of short films to watch at the orientation building. And the host was funny. He said that photography was allowed everywhere else except the inside of the mansion and the inside of the museum and especially not the infamous dentures, which I didn't see anyway.
After the films, I headed for the mansion tour right away, passing by the Liberty Bell replica, which a young boy volunteered to ring. The wait for the tour was supposed to be 25 minutes but it was mostly in the shade of the trees. Yay for Washington planting those trees.
Instead of leading groups of people around, the tour guides stood at key areas of the mansion, and they just kept repeating the blurbs as the line of people go through. I went through part of the virtual tour online the night before, so I kinda looked out for the items mentioned in the virtual tour.
After the tour, I walked around behind the mansion to take pictures of the gorgeous view of the Potomac, then I headed to the old tomb and the new tomb and ended up at the museum.
At the entrance of the museum, there's a big relief of Washington's face that seemed to follow you as you moved side to side. Nobody mentioned it but I noticed it as I was looking for a good angle to take a picture. Then I mentioned it to a lady near me, and she mentioned it to her son, and pretty soon, a lot of people were walking sideways to see the face move. :D
The stuff inside the museum are very interesting. There were jewelry and clothing and tools. And there were also samples of the china for each presidency.
After the museum, I had a bit of time, so I went to the food court for a very late lunch. Then off I went to the airport. I had to return the car by 5pm to avoid being charged for another day. But my flight wasn't until 8:40pm so I had a long wait. I got a book of sudoku puzzles and was breezing through them. (They were easy ones.)
The first leg from DC to Las Vegas was 4.5 hours and I slept through most of it. I even slept through the beverages. But I was awake enough to notice that the flight attendant in the PA system said, as we approached Las Vegas, "On behalf of the flight crew, we welcome you to Lost Wages." :D
The flight from Las Vegas to SeaTac was also very full but I was lucky enough to have an empty seat between me and the guy on the aisle seat. I thought I could stay awake, but as soon as we started pulling out of the terminal, I promptly fell asleep. I woke up briefly as we took off. Then forced myself to stay awake when they served beverages. A few more sudoku puzzles, then back to sleep.
When I got to baggage claim, I saw my luggage just coming by on the ramp, so it was perfect timing. Went over to the ground transportation area and called for a shuttle to the parking lot. There was an older couple who were picked up by their shuttle. And then the same guy who sat near me on the plane also arrive. But my shuttle got there first.
At the parking lot, there were three sheriff cars. The driver said there had been an accident. My car's hood was up and I wondered if it was my car. Well, long story short, apparently, someone purposely ran over a pedestrian and the shift manager of the parking garage was an eye witness so he was being interviewed. Meanwhile, as he was getting my car ready, he realized that my battery was dead, so he jumped it with his own car.
And, for some reason, there was a clicking noise as though my emergency blinkers were on, but they're not. And all the lights were flashing. Well, I was obviously upset. I had just gotten an oil change the day before my flight out and my car was just fine when I left it there. And to add insult to injury, they didn't wash my car, even though I already paid for it. And I'd have to email them to get a refund.
Anyway, he charged it again for a longer time but realized that it won't hold a charge. He said that sometimes the car stalls after a while, so he offered to drive to where I was if I got stalled on the way home. I said that was fine, I had AAA. Well, at least, he was very professional and very helpful.
I bet one of their employees turned my blinkers on all week and that's why my battery died.
I got home safely with only one brief scary moment when the car jerked and all the lights flashed again. The clicking noise persisted until I got home. When I turned off the engine, the light started flashing again. I guess, my battery is really dead. Will have to call AAA later today to get towed to the dealer. *sigh*
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monuments and memorials
What's the difference between a monument and a memorial? That's the question posed to us by Melvin, the tour guide of the TourMobile twilight tour. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Huaying suggested that I get up early for the tours because the price is the same and they go from 9am to 5pm. You get off where you want and reboard another tourbus later. Well, I only had four hours of sleep (I had to take care of a few things online in the morning) so I figured I wouldn't last from 9am to 5pm anyway. Besides, I could only do the twilight tour on Monday, since I have an online class on Tuesday night and I fly out on Wednesday night.
Kiss and Ride
So I didn't leave the hotel until 11am or so. I headed to the Van Dorn Street station, which was the closest Alexandria station with parking. It was only five miles or so from my hotel. When I got there, there were signs for "Kiss and Ride" (isn't that cute?) and "Park and Ride". Since I was alone and didn't have anyone to kiss, I followed the Park and Ride signs. Well, it turned out that the lot was full and there was no street parking. So I searched my GPS for the next nearest station and found the Huntington station which had a multi-level garage.
Apparently, I wasn't the only tourist in town because the station manager was busy answering questions from two other families. I got a Smartrip card, which I needed to get out of the garage. Right off the bat, Metro gets $5 just for the card. So you pay $10 and you get a $5 value. Parking costs $4.50/day. So I had to add more money to for train fare. I asked another agent on the loading platform which train to take to get to the White House and she advised me to take either of the trains parked there (whichever would leave first), exit at King Street for the red line train and get off at MacPherson. I decided to get off at Federal Triangle, where the Old Town Trolley Tour map said to get off for the White House Visitor Center.
Federal Triangle turned out to be more than a Metro stop. There was a food court and just outside was a plaza where there was a performance of African drummers and dancers. I was about to enter the Ronald Reagan Building to cut across, when I noticed that they were going through a search process, so I asked someone behind me how to get to the White House Visitor Center. He directed me to Pennsylvania Avenue and said that it was a block or two away.
It turned out to be easy to find. There were about as many tourists on the sidewalks as there were locals. You could tell them apart by the way they dressed (casual vs. business attire) and the way they walked (more leisurely vs. more hurriedly). Of course, the strollers and the cameras were a dead giveaway.
The White House
You go through a security screening just to enter the visitor center. I have no idea why. There was nothing there that you wouldn't find in any other tourist museum anywhere else in the country. There were two corners showing the same video about the White House. There were displays with pictures along one long wall. There was a chair from the Blue Room. Some china. A gift shop. A model of the White House. And that was it. There was a police kiosk and a ranger kiosk, but, apparently, there were no tours. The ranger said that you'd have to apply for a tour of the White House six months in advance.
So, off I went north on 15th Street towards the White House. I hoped to at least see it from the outside. Meanwhile, I took pictures of the Treasury building and other interesting buildings. Along the way, a caravan of black cars, preceded and followed by police cars with blaring sirens, drove past going south. Soon, it was followed by another caravan going north.
I couldn't find where the White House was and I turned left on a small street where I saw a number of people turn. It turned out to be Pennsylvania Avenue, which was the back side of the White House. There were police everywhere! On foot, on bikes, on cars.
I asked one if it was okay to take pictures and she said it was. I only took a few. The White House wasn't as big as I thought it was, although it was supposed to have 132 rooms.
Washington to Lincoln
Then I headed south on 17th Street towards the Washington Monument. There were still a lot of police, especially in front. We were forbidden to turn into State Place. Instead I ended up at the Ellipse, which was right in front of the White House. But I was so focused on heading towards the monument that I didn't think to turn around to look. It was later in the twilight tour that I realized I could have seen the White House between the trees if I walked a little more towards the center. Well, there were tourists stopped by police there anyway, so I decided to keep going.
I walked back to 17th Street where there was a line of vending vans (roach coaches) that alternately sold food or souvenirs. I had a hotdog and ice tea, then walked down a bit to buy some souvenirs for the kids -- a sack bag saying "You don't know me... Federal Witness Protection" for Ian, a couple of smaller sack bags with the presidential seal for Cooper and Stoney, and a pink onesie saying "Future President" for Kihra.
Then I kept walking south and turned into the Washington Monument area and got REALLY close. Then I headed west to the WWII Memorial, where I found the Philippines listed among the states and territories. Then I walked along the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial. It was after 5pm and my feet were killing me.
I figured I'd make my way to the Union Station where I would have dinner and catch the twilight tour.
The guide in a booth inside the Lincoln Memorial said that I could go back to 17th Street (the equivalent of 6 blocks away) and catch a bus. I asked the water vendor outside to see if he knew a shorter alternative and he took out a map showing that the nearest Metro was in Foggy Bottom, eight blocks north on 23rd Street. Well, at least the Metro was more of a certainty. I knew that it would take me right to Union Station. So, off I went and trudged 8 blocks on my achy feet. People were getting off work so it was busy. I had to get off at Metro Center to catch the red line to Union Station.
Union Station
The Union Station is really beautiful, especially the main hall. Outside the Metro area, there are shops and cafes and a huge food court. It looks more like a Las Vegas hotel without the slot machines. And just as busy. Apparently, there are other train companies like Amtrak that use it as a station, too. The Amtrack area is like an airport terminal with numbered gates and public announcements reminding people to keep their handcarries with them.
After paying for my ticket for the TourMobile twilight tour, I found an Indian cuisine restaurant in the food court and got chicken saag (spinach) and chicken korma with rice and naan. I would have gone with the chicken curry but it said that it's spicy and I couldn't risk it.
A young man approached me asking if I could help him. I couldn't understand what he was saying because it was so noisy. Then he was called by someone behind him and he left. I think he was panhandling but he didn't look like he needed it. He was dressed better than I was.
Twilight tour
Close to 6:30pm, I headed outside to catch the TourMobile bus. I saw two busses and the driver of the second one showed me where I should get in line. (The driver of the first one was missing.) But I figured I had a little time to take pictures of the outside of the station. When I got back, several others were already on the bus and the conductor was taking tickets. When I got to the front of the line, he asked me where I was from. After I said Seattle, he said, "Oh, the *other* Washington." I sat all the way in the back.
The bus is a regular large bus with an extension/trailer. They took out the window panes and instead had plastic curtains over the windows, like the ones you'd see in a softshelled Jeep. Melvin, the conductor, came around and retracted the curtains since it wasn't raining anyway. He said he hated those himself. When the driver of the second bus walked by, I asked which was the best side for taking pictures and he said that the other side (left side) was, until after the Jefferson Memorial. So, I moved to the left side. And a good thing too, because the bus was almost full. And soon we were off for a three-hour tour... a three-hour tour.
Melvin turned out to be a very funny and very entertaining tour guide. It rained for a short while as we wound our way through the streets towards the Jefferson Memorial. We drove around the Capitol, which I missed earlier. There was a museum that supposedly had the only DaVinci paintings and sketches in the US. And Melvin talked about a couple of displays in the Smithsonian Museum of Gems -- the Hope diamond and the largest sapphire in the world. He told us about one of his tours when a girl blurted out that her companion is the granddaughter of the donor of the sapphire.
Jefferson and Roosevelt
When the rain let up, we got a beautiful sunset and a double rainbow. And the sky was just perfect for good pictures. We stopped at the Jefferson Memorial for about a half hour, when we roamed on our own. Then we went to the Roosevelt Memorial, where Melvin gave us a quick tour through the four different areas, representing each of Roosevelt's terms in office. On one side, there was a small field with lots of fireflies and he told an anecdote about a family from California who, upon seeing the fireflies, remarked, "It's just like Disney!"
Faces on the wall
After the Roosevelt Memorial, our next stop is the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial right next to it. Melvin said that after dark is the best time to view the Korean War Memorial. (I skipped it earlier in the day.) The reason was that, in the daytime, it's easy to miss the faces on the wall. So, out of curiosity, I went to see it. And it was amazing. The faces were photorealistic, but in negative so they looked (perhaps appropriately) like ghosts. It was hard taking a picture of it because the light is so subtle, my camera refused to take a picture. And a flash would just ruin the whole thing. So it's something that has to be seen in person.
But before you get to the wall, you'll see several statues of soldiers as they're crossing a field. Melvin said that at nighttime, it's easier to feel as though you were right in that field with them. And when it rains and the water streams down from their parkas, the sculpture pulls you deeper into it and gets another dimension of realism added to it.
While we were still on the bus, Melvin mentioned the polished black marble in rows, but I didn't hear all of it because of noise. It wasn't until I was heading towards the Lincoln Memorial that I realized what they were meant for. The reflection of the street lamps on the black marble made them look like long pools of water. Just like in rice paddies. And *that* caught my breath.
But I only had 15 minutes, so I went to the walkway between the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial to take a picture of both the memorial and the Washington Monument with its reflection. The colors were incredibly more dramatic than earlier in the day. Times like that, I wish I had a tripod. I went up the steps a little bit to get a better view of Lincoln's statue (there were still a lot of people hanging out at the steps), then I headed back to the bus.
The final stop is the WWII Memorial and I decided to stay in the bus. My feet couldn't take anymore. Besides, it was already 10pm. The wind was blowing cold but it was a beautiful night. At 10:30pm, the group came back and we headed back to the Union Station, passing by a bridge heading towards Arlington National Cemetery so we could see the "eternal flame" where Kennedy is buried.
Falling in love
So what's the difference between a monument and a memorial? There were two guesses among the passengers. The lady behind me heard from another tour guide that the Washington Monument is the only monument and everything else built after that was a memorial. A teenager ventured that a monument is for a single person, whereas a memorial is for an event or a group of people. The real answer: A monument is built to honor a living person, and a memorial is built to honor a deceased. The Washington Monument was started while George Washington was still alive, although it was completed after he died.
Anyway, if you ever go to Washington, DC, take a twilight tour with Melvin. He was born in the city, he graduated with a Pharmacy degree in the city, he performed in a theater in the city, his father is buried in the Arlington Cemetery, he eats, lives, and breathes the city. And he loves the city so much, he'll make you fall in love with it too.
Huaying suggested that I get up early for the tours because the price is the same and they go from 9am to 5pm. You get off where you want and reboard another tourbus later. Well, I only had four hours of sleep (I had to take care of a few things online in the morning) so I figured I wouldn't last from 9am to 5pm anyway. Besides, I could only do the twilight tour on Monday, since I have an online class on Tuesday night and I fly out on Wednesday night.
Kiss and Ride
So I didn't leave the hotel until 11am or so. I headed to the Van Dorn Street station, which was the closest Alexandria station with parking. It was only five miles or so from my hotel. When I got there, there were signs for "Kiss and Ride" (isn't that cute?) and "Park and Ride". Since I was alone and didn't have anyone to kiss, I followed the Park and Ride signs. Well, it turned out that the lot was full and there was no street parking. So I searched my GPS for the next nearest station and found the Huntington station which had a multi-level garage.
Apparently, I wasn't the only tourist in town because the station manager was busy answering questions from two other families. I got a Smartrip card, which I needed to get out of the garage. Right off the bat, Metro gets $5 just for the card. So you pay $10 and you get a $5 value. Parking costs $4.50/day. So I had to add more money to for train fare. I asked another agent on the loading platform which train to take to get to the White House and she advised me to take either of the trains parked there (whichever would leave first), exit at King Street for the red line train and get off at MacPherson. I decided to get off at Federal Triangle, where the Old Town Trolley Tour map said to get off for the White House Visitor Center.
Federal Triangle turned out to be more than a Metro stop. There was a food court and just outside was a plaza where there was a performance of African drummers and dancers. I was about to enter the Ronald Reagan Building to cut across, when I noticed that they were going through a search process, so I asked someone behind me how to get to the White House Visitor Center. He directed me to Pennsylvania Avenue and said that it was a block or two away.
It turned out to be easy to find. There were about as many tourists on the sidewalks as there were locals. You could tell them apart by the way they dressed (casual vs. business attire) and the way they walked (more leisurely vs. more hurriedly). Of course, the strollers and the cameras were a dead giveaway.
The White House
You go through a security screening just to enter the visitor center. I have no idea why. There was nothing there that you wouldn't find in any other tourist museum anywhere else in the country. There were two corners showing the same video about the White House. There were displays with pictures along one long wall. There was a chair from the Blue Room. Some china. A gift shop. A model of the White House. And that was it. There was a police kiosk and a ranger kiosk, but, apparently, there were no tours. The ranger said that you'd have to apply for a tour of the White House six months in advance.
So, off I went north on 15th Street towards the White House. I hoped to at least see it from the outside. Meanwhile, I took pictures of the Treasury building and other interesting buildings. Along the way, a caravan of black cars, preceded and followed by police cars with blaring sirens, drove past going south. Soon, it was followed by another caravan going north.
I couldn't find where the White House was and I turned left on a small street where I saw a number of people turn. It turned out to be Pennsylvania Avenue, which was the back side of the White House. There were police everywhere! On foot, on bikes, on cars.
I asked one if it was okay to take pictures and she said it was. I only took a few. The White House wasn't as big as I thought it was, although it was supposed to have 132 rooms.
Washington to Lincoln
Then I headed south on 17th Street towards the Washington Monument. There were still a lot of police, especially in front. We were forbidden to turn into State Place. Instead I ended up at the Ellipse, which was right in front of the White House. But I was so focused on heading towards the monument that I didn't think to turn around to look. It was later in the twilight tour that I realized I could have seen the White House between the trees if I walked a little more towards the center. Well, there were tourists stopped by police there anyway, so I decided to keep going.
I walked back to 17th Street where there was a line of vending vans (roach coaches) that alternately sold food or souvenirs. I had a hotdog and ice tea, then walked down a bit to buy some souvenirs for the kids -- a sack bag saying "You don't know me... Federal Witness Protection" for Ian, a couple of smaller sack bags with the presidential seal for Cooper and Stoney, and a pink onesie saying "Future President" for Kihra.
Then I kept walking south and turned into the Washington Monument area and got REALLY close. Then I headed west to the WWII Memorial, where I found the Philippines listed among the states and territories. Then I walked along the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial. It was after 5pm and my feet were killing me.
I figured I'd make my way to the Union Station where I would have dinner and catch the twilight tour.
The guide in a booth inside the Lincoln Memorial said that I could go back to 17th Street (the equivalent of 6 blocks away) and catch a bus. I asked the water vendor outside to see if he knew a shorter alternative and he took out a map showing that the nearest Metro was in Foggy Bottom, eight blocks north on 23rd Street. Well, at least the Metro was more of a certainty. I knew that it would take me right to Union Station. So, off I went and trudged 8 blocks on my achy feet. People were getting off work so it was busy. I had to get off at Metro Center to catch the red line to Union Station.
Union Station
The Union Station is really beautiful, especially the main hall. Outside the Metro area, there are shops and cafes and a huge food court. It looks more like a Las Vegas hotel without the slot machines. And just as busy. Apparently, there are other train companies like Amtrak that use it as a station, too. The Amtrack area is like an airport terminal with numbered gates and public announcements reminding people to keep their handcarries with them.
After paying for my ticket for the TourMobile twilight tour, I found an Indian cuisine restaurant in the food court and got chicken saag (spinach) and chicken korma with rice and naan. I would have gone with the chicken curry but it said that it's spicy and I couldn't risk it.
A young man approached me asking if I could help him. I couldn't understand what he was saying because it was so noisy. Then he was called by someone behind him and he left. I think he was panhandling but he didn't look like he needed it. He was dressed better than I was.
Twilight tour
Close to 6:30pm, I headed outside to catch the TourMobile bus. I saw two busses and the driver of the second one showed me where I should get in line. (The driver of the first one was missing.) But I figured I had a little time to take pictures of the outside of the station. When I got back, several others were already on the bus and the conductor was taking tickets. When I got to the front of the line, he asked me where I was from. After I said Seattle, he said, "Oh, the *other* Washington." I sat all the way in the back.
The bus is a regular large bus with an extension/trailer. They took out the window panes and instead had plastic curtains over the windows, like the ones you'd see in a softshelled Jeep. Melvin, the conductor, came around and retracted the curtains since it wasn't raining anyway. He said he hated those himself. When the driver of the second bus walked by, I asked which was the best side for taking pictures and he said that the other side (left side) was, until after the Jefferson Memorial. So, I moved to the left side. And a good thing too, because the bus was almost full. And soon we were off for a three-hour tour... a three-hour tour.
Melvin turned out to be a very funny and very entertaining tour guide. It rained for a short while as we wound our way through the streets towards the Jefferson Memorial. We drove around the Capitol, which I missed earlier. There was a museum that supposedly had the only DaVinci paintings and sketches in the US. And Melvin talked about a couple of displays in the Smithsonian Museum of Gems -- the Hope diamond and the largest sapphire in the world. He told us about one of his tours when a girl blurted out that her companion is the granddaughter of the donor of the sapphire.
Jefferson and Roosevelt
When the rain let up, we got a beautiful sunset and a double rainbow. And the sky was just perfect for good pictures. We stopped at the Jefferson Memorial for about a half hour, when we roamed on our own. Then we went to the Roosevelt Memorial, where Melvin gave us a quick tour through the four different areas, representing each of Roosevelt's terms in office. On one side, there was a small field with lots of fireflies and he told an anecdote about a family from California who, upon seeing the fireflies, remarked, "It's just like Disney!"
Faces on the wall
After the Roosevelt Memorial, our next stop is the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial right next to it. Melvin said that after dark is the best time to view the Korean War Memorial. (I skipped it earlier in the day.) The reason was that, in the daytime, it's easy to miss the faces on the wall. So, out of curiosity, I went to see it. And it was amazing. The faces were photorealistic, but in negative so they looked (perhaps appropriately) like ghosts. It was hard taking a picture of it because the light is so subtle, my camera refused to take a picture. And a flash would just ruin the whole thing. So it's something that has to be seen in person.
But before you get to the wall, you'll see several statues of soldiers as they're crossing a field. Melvin said that at nighttime, it's easier to feel as though you were right in that field with them. And when it rains and the water streams down from their parkas, the sculpture pulls you deeper into it and gets another dimension of realism added to it.
While we were still on the bus, Melvin mentioned the polished black marble in rows, but I didn't hear all of it because of noise. It wasn't until I was heading towards the Lincoln Memorial that I realized what they were meant for. The reflection of the street lamps on the black marble made them look like long pools of water. Just like in rice paddies. And *that* caught my breath.
But I only had 15 minutes, so I went to the walkway between the reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial to take a picture of both the memorial and the Washington Monument with its reflection. The colors were incredibly more dramatic than earlier in the day. Times like that, I wish I had a tripod. I went up the steps a little bit to get a better view of Lincoln's statue (there were still a lot of people hanging out at the steps), then I headed back to the bus.
The final stop is the WWII Memorial and I decided to stay in the bus. My feet couldn't take anymore. Besides, it was already 10pm. The wind was blowing cold but it was a beautiful night. At 10:30pm, the group came back and we headed back to the Union Station, passing by a bridge heading towards Arlington National Cemetery so we could see the "eternal flame" where Kennedy is buried.
Falling in love
So what's the difference between a monument and a memorial? There were two guesses among the passengers. The lady behind me heard from another tour guide that the Washington Monument is the only monument and everything else built after that was a memorial. A teenager ventured that a monument is for a single person, whereas a memorial is for an event or a group of people. The real answer: A monument is built to honor a living person, and a memorial is built to honor a deceased. The Washington Monument was started while George Washington was still alive, although it was completed after he died.
Anyway, if you ever go to Washington, DC, take a twilight tour with Melvin. He was born in the city, he graduated with a Pharmacy degree in the city, he performed in a theater in the city, his father is buried in the Arlington Cemetery, he eats, lives, and breathes the city. And he loves the city so much, he'll make you fall in love with it too.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Cruising the Potomac
I found a cruise that originates at Alexandria on a tour guide book that the hotel clerk gave me. David had suggested doing the cruise on Sunday because there would be too many tourists in DC on weekends. It was after 2pm when I got to the Alexandria waterfront. I found a garage only a half block from the ticket booth.
I got my ticket and had about an hour left before the boat got there. For a short while, I watched a group of entertainers dressed in 19th century costumes teaching tourists how to square dance. Then I went into the Torpedo Factory next door.
The Torpedo Factory really used to be a torpedo factory. They even had a couple of torpedoes lying around. ;) But now, it houses a large group of artist studios, where artists create and sell their work. The entrance from the wharf side brings you in through the back of the building. There are two intersecting hallways that form a cross. The front-to-back is the shorter one. One end of the long hallway had a semi-circular staircase, whose bannister had panels made of sculptures and other art. There are three floors (I only got to see the bottom two) and each room housed one or more artists. There were the traditional painters and sculptors. There was a place that made dreamy fabric art and beadings. There was a potter who made vases that looked like women's dresses. But the best I saw were ceramic tile works shaped and decorated like kimonos. Next to them was a book describing how the artist made it. However, at around $4,000 each, they were out of my price range. ;)
When I got out, I saw a crowd around the gazebo, so I went over to check it out. There was a woman balancing on a stretched rope (low on the ground, of course) and juggling knives and lit torches and other tricks. She introduced herself as the "amazing and beautiful Signora Bella".
Soon the Matthew Hayes ferry arrived and a group of us hopped on.
Well, the boat trip wasn't that impressive. We were so far from the shore that it was difficult to take pictures of anything. The most interesting part was watching two imposing government helicopters as they flew overhead. The Lincoln Memorial from the water is an amazing view, however.
Forty-five minutes later, we were at Georgetown. The Georgetown wharf was packed full of people, probably hundreds. There were outdoor restaurants and cafes with tables outdoors and they were all packed full. You'd think there was a festival going on.
I walked out to K Street and beyond, and found the building with the gold dome that David and I passed by as we were driving through Georgetown. I took a picture of that and turned down that street.
I saw a TourMobile bus at the same corner but decided against it since it was already 4:30pm. I kept walking, looking at the restaurants after I remembered I hadn't had lunch yet. There were a lot of expensive Italian and French restaurants, as well as burger joints and bars. Then I found a tent sign that offered crepes and bubble tea and pointed down a side street. I like crepes and I *love* bubble tea, so I went down that street. This was a street of tiny but charming old brick houses packed against each other. The cafe was one of those houses. Well, as the sign suggested, the menu was a strange mix of French (crepes) and Thai (satay and curry), and wherever bubble tea originated. I had the impression the bubble tea came from China. But the combination works.
I had the chicken satay crepe with mango-flavored bubble tea. And, oh, my, the chicken satay crepe was incredibly wonderful! The satay was the perfect blend of flavor and spice, the chicken was moist, and the crepe was perfectly made. And the bubble tea was very refreshing.
After that, I continued down the street and came upon a bridge. I stopped and took pictures of what initially looked like a dam. Then I realized, it was a lock. I followed the creek downstream and found more locks. I saw a few people sitting on benches, enjoying the nice day. There were three people having lunches by the creek. Joggers. Walkers. But generally a very quiet area. The locks ended near a minor freeway. I continued up to that minor freeway and a short block later, there was an exit to the right with a tunnel. A car turned into that exit so I knew that it went through. I followed, feeling a bit nervous. But it was a short tunnel and I saw that it lead back to K Street. As I was walking through the tunnel, a police car came to the intersection just after the tunnel and backed up into the tunnel. I guess, it was where they park to catch errant motorists.
A block or two down, I crossed K Street and headed towards the water. I was close to the wharf. After lingering around the boat house taking pictures, I headed towards the ticket booth for the cruise and traded in my ticket for an earlier return trip. Then I sat on the pier until the boat arrived.
The return trip was more relaxing since I wasn't trying to take pictures anymore. There was a noisy crowd of people on the boat, but it was generally a more relaxing trip.
Back at the wharf in Alexandria, I followed a group into the food court and got a gyro with baklava to go. Great service and good food. Yummmmm.
I got my ticket and had about an hour left before the boat got there. For a short while, I watched a group of entertainers dressed in 19th century costumes teaching tourists how to square dance. Then I went into the Torpedo Factory next door.
The Torpedo Factory really used to be a torpedo factory. They even had a couple of torpedoes lying around. ;) But now, it houses a large group of artist studios, where artists create and sell their work. The entrance from the wharf side brings you in through the back of the building. There are two intersecting hallways that form a cross. The front-to-back is the shorter one. One end of the long hallway had a semi-circular staircase, whose bannister had panels made of sculptures and other art. There are three floors (I only got to see the bottom two) and each room housed one or more artists. There were the traditional painters and sculptors. There was a place that made dreamy fabric art and beadings. There was a potter who made vases that looked like women's dresses. But the best I saw were ceramic tile works shaped and decorated like kimonos. Next to them was a book describing how the artist made it. However, at around $4,000 each, they were out of my price range. ;)
When I got out, I saw a crowd around the gazebo, so I went over to check it out. There was a woman balancing on a stretched rope (low on the ground, of course) and juggling knives and lit torches and other tricks. She introduced herself as the "amazing and beautiful Signora Bella".
Soon the Matthew Hayes ferry arrived and a group of us hopped on.
Well, the boat trip wasn't that impressive. We were so far from the shore that it was difficult to take pictures of anything. The most interesting part was watching two imposing government helicopters as they flew overhead. The Lincoln Memorial from the water is an amazing view, however.
Forty-five minutes later, we were at Georgetown. The Georgetown wharf was packed full of people, probably hundreds. There were outdoor restaurants and cafes with tables outdoors and they were all packed full. You'd think there was a festival going on.
I walked out to K Street and beyond, and found the building with the gold dome that David and I passed by as we were driving through Georgetown. I took a picture of that and turned down that street.
I saw a TourMobile bus at the same corner but decided against it since it was already 4:30pm. I kept walking, looking at the restaurants after I remembered I hadn't had lunch yet. There were a lot of expensive Italian and French restaurants, as well as burger joints and bars. Then I found a tent sign that offered crepes and bubble tea and pointed down a side street. I like crepes and I *love* bubble tea, so I went down that street. This was a street of tiny but charming old brick houses packed against each other. The cafe was one of those houses. Well, as the sign suggested, the menu was a strange mix of French (crepes) and Thai (satay and curry), and wherever bubble tea originated. I had the impression the bubble tea came from China. But the combination works.
I had the chicken satay crepe with mango-flavored bubble tea. And, oh, my, the chicken satay crepe was incredibly wonderful! The satay was the perfect blend of flavor and spice, the chicken was moist, and the crepe was perfectly made. And the bubble tea was very refreshing.
After that, I continued down the street and came upon a bridge. I stopped and took pictures of what initially looked like a dam. Then I realized, it was a lock. I followed the creek downstream and found more locks. I saw a few people sitting on benches, enjoying the nice day. There were three people having lunches by the creek. Joggers. Walkers. But generally a very quiet area. The locks ended near a minor freeway. I continued up to that minor freeway and a short block later, there was an exit to the right with a tunnel. A car turned into that exit so I knew that it went through. I followed, feeling a bit nervous. But it was a short tunnel and I saw that it lead back to K Street. As I was walking through the tunnel, a police car came to the intersection just after the tunnel and backed up into the tunnel. I guess, it was where they park to catch errant motorists.
A block or two down, I crossed K Street and headed towards the water. I was close to the wharf. After lingering around the boat house taking pictures, I headed towards the ticket booth for the cruise and traded in my ticket for an earlier return trip. Then I sat on the pier until the boat arrived.
The return trip was more relaxing since I wasn't trying to take pictures anymore. There was a noisy crowd of people on the boat, but it was generally a more relaxing trip.
Back at the wharf in Alexandria, I followed a group into the food court and got a gyro with baklava to go. Great service and good food. Yummmmm.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A cathedral after the wedding
Huaying had asked her friend David to take me on a tour of Washington, DC. So after the wedding, we headed off across the Potomac River. Of course, even with a GPS, we still got lost. But we got to drive through Georgetown, which is a long stretch of little shops and cafes with a gazillion undergrads in seductive shorts and mini-skirts, walking around with large shopping bags.
Eventually, we found Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, where we were charged $16 for parking. The building itself was a large rectangular structure, which wouldn't be impressive if it weren't for the fact that the exterior and interior walls were made of white marble, and the interior floors, of varnished hardwood. The first floor had the Hall of Nations where flags hung from the high ceilings. On another corridor, there was a sculpture of the head of President Kennedy, and on each end of the corridor were theater stages where they had performances that were free to the public.
We took the elevator to the top floor, which was mostly empty except for the cafe staff and a couple of security guards. There was a very wide terrace that went all the way around so you could get a 360-degree view of the city. And that's what we did. David pointed out different monuments and significant buildings. Most of them are too far to get a good picture of without telescopic lenses, but it was a great idea to go there to see most of the city.
One of the places he pointed out was the National Cathedral, which took 80 years to complete because everything was handcarved. It was at the highest point in the entire city. And, since it was still early and it was not likely that the cathedral would be part of the bus tours, we decided to go. David admitted he had an ulterior motive for suggesting the cathedral -- he lived only a couple of blocks from it, so I could just drop him off.
Well, even though we couldn't go inside, we were able to walk around it and take lots of pictures. There was so much detail. Each relief was different. So was each gargoyle. And the sun cooperated, so I got good contrast between light and shadow.
Afterwards, we plotted my route using the GPS, then I dropped David off and headed back to the hotel. After getting lost again, of course.
Eventually, we found Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, where we were charged $16 for parking. The building itself was a large rectangular structure, which wouldn't be impressive if it weren't for the fact that the exterior and interior walls were made of white marble, and the interior floors, of varnished hardwood. The first floor had the Hall of Nations where flags hung from the high ceilings. On another corridor, there was a sculpture of the head of President Kennedy, and on each end of the corridor were theater stages where they had performances that were free to the public.
We took the elevator to the top floor, which was mostly empty except for the cafe staff and a couple of security guards. There was a very wide terrace that went all the way around so you could get a 360-degree view of the city. And that's what we did. David pointed out different monuments and significant buildings. Most of them are too far to get a good picture of without telescopic lenses, but it was a great idea to go there to see most of the city.
One of the places he pointed out was the National Cathedral, which took 80 years to complete because everything was handcarved. It was at the highest point in the entire city. And, since it was still early and it was not likely that the cathedral would be part of the bus tours, we decided to go. David admitted he had an ulterior motive for suggesting the cathedral -- he lived only a couple of blocks from it, so I could just drop him off.
Well, even though we couldn't go inside, we were able to walk around it and take lots of pictures. There was so much detail. Each relief was different. So was each gargoyle. And the sun cooperated, so I got good contrast between light and shadow.
Afterwards, we plotted my route using the GPS, then I dropped David off and headed back to the hotel. After getting lost again, of course.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Washington (State) to Washington (DC)
It was difficult finding cheap fares to Washington, DC, because of the high gas prices, but I found one through CheapTickets.com for under $500. The problem is that it's not refundable, but then I just purchased travel insurance.
I didn't sleep and I had to pack in a hurry. By 3am, I was on the road to the airport. Harmony gave me the link to a cheaper parking lot than the one I found. The counter guy talked too fast. Either that or my brain is mush that I had to keep asking him to repeat what he just said. The shuttle driver was very friendly, on the other hand.
My flight was with US Airways and I couldn't reserve a seat online. It was a very full flight. Thankfully, I got the window seat in the bulkhead row, right behind first class. I only had 45 minutes to get to my second plane in Phoenix, so I figured I needed to be able to get out of the plane faster. Well, it took me a while (short on sleep, remember?) to figure out that US Airways load up their planes differently. From what I can figure, they assign zones so that people in the windows load up first, as opposed to loading up the back of the plane first.
Anyway, we arrived at Phoenix a bit early and we were only a few gates from the gate where I had to go. So I had time to grab some Asian Chicken Salad for breakfast.
On the second leg, I was on the exit aisle. Those window seats were the only window seats available. I think it was my first time sitting in an exit aisle. We were supposed to put all our bags, including our purses in the overhead compartment, but I kept mine right under my feet. It's not like it's going to get in the way, unless we had to open the exit doors. I slept a bit on this leg of the trip.
Reagan National Airport is pretty much like an ordinary airport. I didn't notice much in terms of exhibits, like sculptures and such. But then it's only a secondary airport.
I called Budget to get instructions how to get to their booth, caught a bus to the garage, picked up my rental car, turned on my GPS, and off I went.
Well, there's a point where the GPS kept beeping at me because the turns were right next to each other, so I missed the exit to 394S. So I ended up going towards Washington. I saw the obelisk almost as soon as I got out of the airport anyway. I just saw a bit more.
What struck me was how wide open the place feels. I mean, there are almost as many trees here as in Seattle, but there are no tall buildings, and the buildings are miles from each other. Well, there are probably more buildings behind the trees, but that's the impression I got from the freeway.
I guess I'll find out more tomorrow. I'm gonna try to go for a tourbus tomorrow and maybe a cruise on Friday.
I didn't sleep and I had to pack in a hurry. By 3am, I was on the road to the airport. Harmony gave me the link to a cheaper parking lot than the one I found. The counter guy talked too fast. Either that or my brain is mush that I had to keep asking him to repeat what he just said. The shuttle driver was very friendly, on the other hand.
My flight was with US Airways and I couldn't reserve a seat online. It was a very full flight. Thankfully, I got the window seat in the bulkhead row, right behind first class. I only had 45 minutes to get to my second plane in Phoenix, so I figured I needed to be able to get out of the plane faster. Well, it took me a while (short on sleep, remember?) to figure out that US Airways load up their planes differently. From what I can figure, they assign zones so that people in the windows load up first, as opposed to loading up the back of the plane first.
Anyway, we arrived at Phoenix a bit early and we were only a few gates from the gate where I had to go. So I had time to grab some Asian Chicken Salad for breakfast.
On the second leg, I was on the exit aisle. Those window seats were the only window seats available. I think it was my first time sitting in an exit aisle. We were supposed to put all our bags, including our purses in the overhead compartment, but I kept mine right under my feet. It's not like it's going to get in the way, unless we had to open the exit doors. I slept a bit on this leg of the trip.
Reagan National Airport is pretty much like an ordinary airport. I didn't notice much in terms of exhibits, like sculptures and such. But then it's only a secondary airport.
I called Budget to get instructions how to get to their booth, caught a bus to the garage, picked up my rental car, turned on my GPS, and off I went.
Well, there's a point where the GPS kept beeping at me because the turns were right next to each other, so I missed the exit to 394S. So I ended up going towards Washington. I saw the obelisk almost as soon as I got out of the airport anyway. I just saw a bit more.
What struck me was how wide open the place feels. I mean, there are almost as many trees here as in Seattle, but there are no tall buildings, and the buildings are miles from each other. Well, there are probably more buildings behind the trees, but that's the impression I got from the freeway.
I guess I'll find out more tomorrow. I'm gonna try to go for a tourbus tomorrow and maybe a cruise on Friday.