Washington DC 2010

Sunday 5th September Washington

Arrived to Union Station - OMG amazing!! Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Jumped in cab and had another lovely friendly USA citizen who was obviously so proud of his country!! Our hotel room was not ready so we walked around Dupont Circle and up Embassy Row. Wow the buildings were fabulous, talk about wealth!! Room was not ready, still, when we came back so we had a few very expensive drinks in the hotel lobby. $20 a shout, for one wine and one beer! Oh well, only on a holiday like this once in a lifetime (until the next one:)). Finally got into our room and only just unpacked when we got a blocked and overflowing toilet. OMG the water wouldn't stop and it flooded into the room! We had to be moved, temporarily, into one room, but the room ended up being so wet they had to move us into another room. Rather than have a king bed we got 2 queens in our new room. I was happy, I like having a bed to myself!! Ordered in after our day of travelling and had relatively early night.

Monday 6th September

Was a public holiday and unlike NY not much was open in Washington. Walked a few shops and again it was so hot! Bought some clothes so we could come back and have a swim. Went down to the pool where all the beautiful people were sunning themselves and swam a few laps and lay back and relaxed. Went for a walk up to Adams Morgan, where we were told all the best restaurants were. We also took our laundry - we walked and walked and walked and nothing took our fancy and when we looked for the laundry we ended up in some pretty dodgy backstreets. It has been so hot and humid that we worked outselves into a lather without finding the laundry. Walked down the long 18th St back to Dupont Circle and had some Mexican in Conneticut Avenue. Our day tours start tomorrow.

Tuesday 7th September

Got on the Hop on Hop Off tour about 11am and we decided to do the full tour so we could see what sites we wanted to get off we wanted to do the next day. BUT ended up jumping off at Arlington Cemetary - the Nation's largest resting place for US forces, including the Civil War victims (US Army and Confederates). Over 350000 grave sites and all perfectly formed headstones. Really sombre but beautiful resting place. Arlington house overlooks it all and it belonged to a man, Lee, who left a 32 year career with the US Army to fight with the Confederates because his family were in Virginia - he chose his family first. Lost his beautiful house and the US Army took it over as their home base. This house overlooks the Capitol Hill and they did so a cannon could not be set up at the house and blow up
the Capitol. Full on but interesting history. It is also the resting place place for JFK and his brothers and
Jackie O. Jumped back on the bus and got off again in Chinatown. Had some Pu Pu Tray and orange chicken and walked back to bus stop and jumped on the bus and went to Union Station. We stayed there and even though the bus was delayed we took off on our night tour of Washington. Pretty good but Roosevelt's 4 room memorial needed to be done during the day. Lincoln memorial was amazing so of course my batteries ran out! No fear we were doing the tour again on Wednesday. Came home late, and ordered in.

Wednesday 8th September

Again on the tour with the psycho driver from hell - doing 80k's up side streets where the trees constantly tried to beat you up! Got off at Lincoln memorial again so I could get some photos and walked along the reflection pond to the Washington Monument (Obelisk). I was going to go to go to the top but the line was ridiculously long. Went to the African Museum, the Smithsonian Castle (had lunch) and over to the Natural Museum of America (where Night at the Museum was shot). Fantastic place and we spent a few hours there. Again super hot, jumped on bus, back to Union station and had to change bus again for our hotel bus. Had City Lights Chinese - twice in 2 days, love China!!

Thursday 9th September

Got on local Metro Circulator and went to Georgetown. Beautiful boutique shops and a million restaurants, very similar to Sydney's Paddington. Went to water edge and did a 2 hour cruise that went to Alexandria (Virginia) - nice and relaxing. Ended up in error in Rosslyn Virginia but the guy was cool and let us travel back to Dupont Circle where we found the quickest route to our hotel (of course, it is our last night!!). Heading to Boston tomorrow - can't wait!

Friday 10th September Washington and Boston

Up the earliest this trip. Our sleeping and eating habits are bad!!! Eat first time about 2.30pm and then about 10pm and sleep in until about 10am. Up this morning early though at 7am and Washington is beautiful at that time.

Clear skies, crisp temperature - just lovely. Down to the fabulous Union Station again to jump on the 9am Acela 2178 Express to Boston. So looking forward to Boston - hope it is as beautiful as I remember!!