Kathleen

Just returned from a trip to Washington DC. What a shame! What use to be a wonderful place to vacation has now become an armed camp. Police and National Guard are everywhere. Each looking more bored than the next. I walked around the Capital and you can not even get close to the building any more. 100s of police and national guard. The White House area is basically shut down also. Most tours of government buildings have been eliminated. The Mall reminds one of a banana republic. How did they find all these policeman! Each of them look at everyone who walks by like they are planning a terror attack! I have never seen so many mean looks in my life. Half the roads in Dc are closed due to security concerns.

We left DC a few days early. It was to painful!

Kathleen

The last poster has not been to DC in the last few weeks. It is in fact an armed camp, terrible!

ejones

i was there this past weekend and it was horrible. i couldn't wait to leave. i was nervous the whole time.

Leone

Well, I'm in DC everyday ... but I suppose what I see 10 hours per day naturally has to count less than the rantings of two folks who CLAIM to have visited recently. Is it my imagination, but I don't recall anyone posting negatives about NYC ... that great city is being supported. We also suffered a smaller loss, and DC needs your support as well. We are certainly not an armed camp ... it is horrible for people to post so irresponsibly. I am not going to waste anymore time on this issue. I trust most posters will be able to sort this out for themselves. Ciao

Roger

Everybody knows that Leone and I don't always agree. But in this case, we generally do. Except for some government buildings, things are back to normal. Haven't seen a military vehicle for weeks and very few military men. AS it is Indian summer here in DC, I saw more scantily clad coeds in the George Washington University area than one usually sees this time of year. A nice site to see. Attended Mass at St. Matthews with the wife and littl'uns yesterday- no military. Had dinner at Tony Chengs- no military there either.

SisterAgnes

Roger-You need to go to Confession for lusting in your heart!

Roger

For my evil thoughts, I should go to Confession daily. I know. I know.

Leone

Wow, Roger, but we agree on two ... Tony Cheng's on H Street. Has to be the largest wok I've ever encountered. Anyone visiting DC ought to give themselves a treat and eat there ... they start you with vinegar, cabbage and cayennes peppers, plus peanuts ... and with a Myers dark rum it just gets wilder. Fab food ... and if you tip the cook he just piles it on. That's Tony Cheng's ... now there's a ciao we can all relate to. L

Ann

Damn it! I wanted to take my guests on that USDA tour next weekend. My holidays are already ruined.

Roger, as a former scantily clad GW co-ed, we used to make fun of dirty old men like yourself (and at that point, we considered anyone over 28 to be old) who liked to gawk at us.

Avoid the comb-over.

I live and work in Alexandria, but I ventured into our fair city over the weekend, and didn't notice any differences.

I'm still upset about the USDA. Is the EPA open for tours?

L

FLASH - USDA south building closed, but north open. Catch the IH exhibit, plus the new retrospective "Dirt ... There At The Beginning." So, take heart - your Thanksgiving is saved after all. But of course the biggest secret is what the Prez does with that turkey he saves each year. Supposedly the Secret Service drive it to a fine farm where the little ole couple (Federal pensioners, no doubt)give it a warm, safe home. Oh, right! Our plan this year is to form a motorcade Thursday morning, and provide safe escort for said turkey. See, Ann, it's going to be a great holiday after all. Once past this holiday, our next worry will be the beavers and the cherry trees. Ciao

Roger

Now first things first, Ann. I'm 41 and don't need a comb over. My hair is graying, however. My wife thinks I'm handsome and she's the only one who counts. By the way, you didn't dance at the old 1720 Club did you? Just kidding. More seriously, Tony Cheng's is a great place for out-of-towners with limited budgets to dine. The upstairs seafood section was filled to the gills yesterday, Leone. Jumpin'.

Ann Is Funny

Thanks for the laugh, Ann. Also enjoyed your "driving to Ireland" post on the inane It's-quicker-to-drive thread.

bennie

Kathleen does have a point - there were a significant number of bored looking policemen around the perimeter of the White House. But they were hardly giving anyone the evil eye. (I am not sure it is possible to look bored and give someone a mean look simultaneously) As a matter of fact one member of the Park Police stationed outside the WH initiated a chat with us. He was quite friendly and humorous. Pointed out lots of interesting tidbits. I would not let the presence of police stop you from enjoying the sights. The police are there to protect you.

xxx

Heard this morning that the White House will be closed to the public throughout the entire holiday season. I guess Kathleen wasn't entirely wrong in her preception.

Jack

Security at all costs will do nothing but drive our economy deeper and depper in recession. The idea that hiring 1000s of security guards will make up 100% safe is silly.

If hiring enough policeman would have eliminated crime worked we would be crime free.

By closing most of the streets around the capital and many of the tourist attractions, we only give into terror and wreak our tourist driven economy.

Washingtontraveler

I have to agree. The number of police in Washington DC is shocking!

Leone

Oh really ... shocking, is it? My, you are easily shocked. My goodness, one could almost hear the jackboots. LOL, but DC is open for business, and that means tourists. Yes, the White House will be closed for tours ... so what ... how many of you planned to stand in line? Look, go see the USDA instead ... for details, see my earlier posting. Or delay coming to DC, and head for Crawford instead, if you're hot to spot the Prez. Another suggestion: use this opportunity to visit the NTSB ... I know some of you were posting about the AA crash investigation ... this is your chance to see where the real work takes place. Or see the fenced area on 17th ... for the WW II memorial. Or the open pit where the new American Indian museum will stand. Look, just think of me as an informal welcome wagon ... we look forward to your visit, and don't listen to those simpletons who reek of fear and fantasy. DCA is open, and you'll have an air marshall onboard. New era, and we're ready. Lets get back to the real issue, such as the safety of walking form Union Station to your hotel ... that one always generated a lot of heat. And have a great Thanksgiving, one and all. Ciao

Amy

As an individual who works in the Capitol building, I personally feel that my place of business is the #1 terrorist target in the country. I am glad they closed the roads around the Capitol. People can still take the metro, the buildings are open to the public, so what does it hurt that you can't drive within 3 blocks of the Capitol? It's not like the entire city is closed. I also go to GW for grad school, and that part of the city functions as normal.

DC is fine

Just got back from DC. All these people were staring blankly into space and walking very stiffly. I asked someone if they were still afraid and they said no, they were part of an Al Gore lookalike contest.

xxx

Looks like Kathleen is busted! I'm sure she will have fun explaining to her boss that the reason the radio station switchboard is lit up is because of her posting on a travel website on company time.