I haven't had many chances to post this week, and when I had time, the stupid blogspot was under maintenance or some other issue.
This week I've done the tour of the Capital Building, sat in the House Gallery, and the Senate Gallery (since I was in the building).
I've been out on the Mall, and the Smithsonian Air and Space museum.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Storming the Capital
Tour the Capital Building? Check!
Sit in the House Gallery and look at a big empty room beause they just recessed for a few hours? Check!
Sit in the Senate Gallery and watch Senator Franken get distressed by whatever he was reading while a dozen people milled around him, because apparently his committee or whatever was on recess for an hour? Check!
Wander briefly through the Library of Congress? Check!
Almost, but not quite, make it to Chef Spike's restaurant at 303 Pennsylvania Avenue? Check! (Stupid, frickin' "mysterious packages" had the entire frickin' block cordoned off!)
Have a great time? Check!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C.!!
We arrived in Washington, D.C., this evening. We're here all week for the GI Film Festival. This festival honors the US military (not necessarily celebrates, which is an emotionally charged word that can be misleading, but does honor the commitment, sacrifice and patriotism of the men and women in service).
We're staying at the Americana Hotel. Nice enough place. Walking around the neighborhood, the small building that is the Americana, and the age of the interior fixtures, gives me the impression it has been here far, far longer than any of the buildings nearby. Kristi coined the phrase "hotel envy" and I had to agree with her that the Mariott, Sheritan, Holiday Inn, etc. do look nicer. They also cost twice as much, and considering we're not planning to spend that much time in the room, it just wasn't worth the price of another set of plane tickets for the flashier hotel.
We walked around a bit to find the nearest Metro stop (about two blocks away, puts us on the blue line or the yellow line, so we have lots of flexibility).
We're very close to the Pentagon. It would be a long walk to get there, but it is within walking distance.
While our hotel shuttle was driving us from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (I believe this was the one blown up in Die Hard 2 - somebody help me out here), part of me kept thinking "Yep, it's a big city," but another part continued to see it as distinctive and unique. Every big city has it's own feel and flavor.
Tomorrow (Monday) begins the Festival's opening ceremonies!
We're staying at the Americana Hotel. Nice enough place. Walking around the neighborhood, the small building that is the Americana, and the age of the interior fixtures, gives me the impression it has been here far, far longer than any of the buildings nearby. Kristi coined the phrase "hotel envy" and I had to agree with her that the Mariott, Sheritan, Holiday Inn, etc. do look nicer. They also cost twice as much, and considering we're not planning to spend that much time in the room, it just wasn't worth the price of another set of plane tickets for the flashier hotel.
We walked around a bit to find the nearest Metro stop (about two blocks away, puts us on the blue line or the yellow line, so we have lots of flexibility).
We're very close to the Pentagon. It would be a long walk to get there, but it is within walking distance.
While our hotel shuttle was driving us from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (I believe this was the one blown up in Die Hard 2 - somebody help me out here), part of me kept thinking "Yep, it's a big city," but another part continued to see it as distinctive and unique. Every big city has it's own feel and flavor.
Tomorrow (Monday) begins the Festival's opening ceremonies!
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