DC Delights

“E pluribus unum” – Latin for "Out of many, one".

At the age of 34, I went on my first solo trip. A solo trip not to a nearby village or city but to Washington DC. It was just my third week in the USA and I took the brave decision to travel on my own to explore DC. I was ably guided by my sister and all the reservations were taken care of by her. All I did was to step into the flight from Memphis to DC.

I came across the motto mentioned at the top of this blog during my orientation program at the Capitol Hill but I feel this motto not only applies to the political history of the United States but resonates in every aspect of DC. The journey to DC was uneventful and I landed at the Ronald Reagan airport with no hitches. Armed with a Google Maps extract of the Metro journey, I made my way to the Metro Station which was literally a hop, skip and jump from the airport. One can actually see the coaches whiz past if you lift your head up a bit as you exit the airport. Having travelled on the London tube a fair few times, the metro journey felt like a piece of cake. The coaches felt roomier as I rode the train during the off-peak time. The trains seemed to be well maintained and the ticket/pass system is very easy to navigate through the machines.

Six metro train stops and a brisk fifteen-minute walk later I landed in front of my Airbnb accommodation. A cute, cosy and clean basement room welcomed me. This was again a first time experience for me with AirBnB. A quick wash and clean got me ready for the first leg of my journey - to Alexandria. Armed with another Google Maps extract I headed towards a Metro station on a different line but the weather Gods had a different plan in mind. As I stepped out I was treated to a loud orchestra of thunder and lightning. I retraced my steps back to the BnB and picked up an umbrella which I had spotted as I settled in. Out I went again, ready to brave the weather. However, as I walked a few yards, the skies opened up. It was not just rain, it was a DC downpour. My my!!! I have never witnessed such heavy rainfall. I barely made it back to the room. There was no way I would risk travelling to an unknown place in such weather. My grumbling tummy politely reminded me that it was time to eat. Rustling through menu cards kindly provided by my host, I finally chose a Thai restaurant that was 7 minutes by walk. I must confess that I hate water and all forms of getting wet including a swimming pool and a mild drizzle. I am not sure what came over me to pick up the thin umbrella and walk to the restaurant in the deluge. But, I must say, the food from ‘Aroi’ on Rhode Island Avenue was worth getting massively splashed by heavy vehicles. In spite of the umbrella I was wet head to toe but certainly enjoyed the spread of spring rolls, crispy tempura, pad thai noodles and Thai green curry. Mmmm, the very thought of it makes my mouth water!!! 

The next day I was over-enthusiastic to make up for the loss of the previous day and had an early start although my Capitol Hill viewing slot was at 10.40 AM. Another 15-minute walk took me to the Rhode Island Ave Brentwood station. Being a bit traditional I was not comfortable with Google Map extracts of the Metro on my phone. I was dismayed to see all the paper map holders empty in the station. Luckily, I was able to talk to a station employee and get hold of a map. On a closer look, the DC Metro appeared far simpler than the London tube. I was less nervous and more comfortable with this form of transportation now. Just two stops took me to the Union station. The building is beautiful and big. The Columbus circle just outside of the Station makes a good spot for some beautiful clicks. My first destination of the day was the Capitol Hill. Struggling a little bit with Google Maps and after a couple of false starts I helplessly looked up. Lo, behold! The Capitol Hill Rotunda towered up majestically over the tree line. This is when I realised that all you need to do is put your head up and crane your neck to find the next tourist spot on your list; wherever you are in DC. The National Mall has the Capitol Hill at one end and the Lincoln Memorial at the other. The two-mile space in between is filled with innumerable gems. The many places come together as a single entity on the National Mall.I managed to spend almost two days just on the National Mall and yet failed to put a dent on the places and sights on offer.

The Capitol Hill yields itself to some really good pictures. Even a photo averse person like me went crazy clicking selfies and the Rotunda from a 100 different angles. The guided tour is very informative and sheds light on the past the reason why Washington DC was chosen and created as the capital of the USA. The Capitol Hill Cafe offers an excellent menu; one that is not to be missed. After the tour of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Library of Congress was the next stop on my list. Just a quick note to non-Americans travelling to the Capitol Hill - carry your proof of Identity (preferably your passport) if you want a pass to visit the Senate and House of Representatives. After spending a good few hours in the Architectural marvel, I made my way down the National Mall towards the Washington Memorial. The hot summer does not make it easy to walk but the leafy promenade does provide some shade. 

Once again I put my head up and squinted in the sunlight to spot the Washington Memorial. Maps can certainly be deceiving as there is a fair bit of distance between every landmark. I walked past a number of museums which deserve a visit. However, I made my way into the Smithsonian Art Gallery. This cool and huge building holds the only Da Vinci painting in America. An art lover can easily spend half a day in this gallery. I peeled myself away from the Masters and continued my walk towards Washington Museum. I was slightly disappointed as it was closed for refurbishment and was not able to ride the elevator to the top of the structure. Fair game!!! You cannot get anything. I trudged towards the White House next. I got the directions wrong and ended on the rear end of the White house. Nevertheless, there were scores of tourists taking pictures and a heavy barricade in place. By this time it was approaching tea time and I started to lose patience a little. I hailed an Uber (another first for me!) to take me to the Lincoln Memorial.

The gigantic statue of Abraham Lincoln is a sight to see. Although there is generally a huge crowd at this landmark, you feel a sense of calm when you stand in front of the statue. One does truly feel humbled and dwarfed when compared to the achievements of this great man. By this time, my legs were screaming at me for some rest. Nine hours of being on the feet were about to take its toll. I decided to call it a day and headed to the Information Center to ask for the easiest means to get back to the Union Station. The gentleman at the desk politely pointed me to the Circulator bus stop at the head of the Korean War memorial. Circulator buses are free electric buses that ply circularly along 15 landmarks for people to hop on and hop off. Picking up a bottle of ice-cold water from one of the innumerable water vendors, I made my way back to the Union station on the Circulator. It was a welcome change for my aching feet to rest for a while and enjoy the sights from the bus. On my way back from the Metro station I rode the Metro bus back to the BnB. The various elements come together as one to form a very good transportation system in DC. My Fitbit clocked 23,113 steps for the day!!!

The final day in DC dawned with my flight slated to depart at 8 PM. I decided to chalk out a rough plan for the day. Originally, I was supposed to travel to Virginia but there was so much left to see on the National Mall that I decided to head back there. I got back to the Union metro station and straight away headed for the Circulator bus. I was not going to stress my legs again today. My first pit stop was at the Thomas Jefferson memorial. Once again, the towering statue of Jefferson and his quotes gave me a humbling feeling. These political quotes are relevant even to this day. Strengthened by my new friend, the ‘Circulator’, I hazarded another trip to the White House; this time wanting to see it from the front. As you stand in front of it you realise that it is in direct line of sight of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Memorial. Only the truly worthy should occupy the White House if this is what they are offered as front door view!!! 

I had decided to skip the Smithsonian National History museum as I could not bear to see the dinosaurs without my six-year-old who is fanatically passionate about dinos. However, I felt my trip to DC would be incomplete without this visit. Thus, I ended up in the Natural History Museum. I first hit the cafe and energised myself with a huge portion of Spinach and Ricotta penne bake. Being rebooted I conquered the museum with ease. It is certainly eye-opening in terms of human origin and evolution. I am sure my son will visit this place someday to do his bit of exploring. With a reasonable time left for the flight’s departure, I ventured into the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum as well. Although it sounds like an overdose of museums I decided to make the best of the time I had left and ploughed along. 

After a satisfying two days, I made my way back to the Ronal Reagan airport. My flight was on time and I settled down with a tasty flatbread. Boarding was on time and everything seemed to be under control. Then came the announcement that due to bad weather our flight was in a line of 20 other flights that were delayed to take off. As I peered out of the window I was greeted by a beautiful sight. I could clearly see the Capitol Hill Rotunda in the dark sky adorned by frequent lightning. The night sky was lit up every time a bolt of lightning struck. I had a clear view of the runway and was able to count down the 20 flights taking off and an equal number landing. Before I knew we were 90 minutes late when we took off!!!