Leone,

I've enjoyed your posts and appreciate your comments. I'm bringing my parents to DC for four days in late September. Can you give me specific blocks in Georgetown for us to visit? My parents can't walk great distances and it would be helpful to know which area is most representative of Georgetown in terms of architecture, restaurants, etc.

If you're feeling especially chatty, I'd appreciate the same info on the Embassy Row area.

Thanks in advance.

Your fan,

Arabella

ttt

Very kind, Arabella. For Georgetown, as a former resident, I wouldn't walk very much, especially since your parents are not big walkers. If you look at a map, the heart of G'twn. is bounded by 28th Street NW, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, stopping at about S Street NW. P Street bisects this area, and is a decent street to walk - fairly level. The numbered streets are basically going uphill from M. I'd suggest driving around G'twn., working your way up and down the numbered streets within that bounded area. There will not be much traffic, so you can stop and look at houses that interest you ... there will be many. It will take you 20-25 minutes. Then, if you feel like a walk, park on P and walk from 28th to Wisc.

Many people think a walk along M Street or Wisc. Av. would be neat, but basically it's a crowded business area, full of bars and t-shirt places, plus some restaurants. And these two streets are crowded with traffic most of the day and evening. M Street was a rather neat experience some years ago, but G'twn. has changed, a lot. There really is not much to see below M Street, down toward the Potomac river.

Mass. Ave. is the heart of Embassy Row, and a car is needed. Drive from DuPont Circle to Wisc. Avenue, and along this route you'll see many embassies, as well as the V-P's home (what was formerly the home of the Chief of Naval Operations many years ago).

I hope this helps you. Another neat drives are down G-W Parkway through Old Town Alexandria, and then down to Mount Vernon. King Street from Washington to the river is the heart of Old Town.

I hope you and your parents have a terrific trip. Take care, and Ciao, L

Whoops ... another neat drive is ... sorry. Ciao

I knew you'd be able to help, Leone. Many thanks!

Arabella

You're most welcome. Two other ideas: in Old Town, just off King Street next to the river, behind the Torpedo Factory (ask anyone), is a boat you can ride up river to pass National Airport, all the monuments, and eventually into a port at G'town, a few blocks below M Street. It is a great ride, past the Kennedy Center, Lincolcn Memorial, etc. Not expensive, and it takes perhaps 90 minutes. Comfortable ride, and in late September, the weather should be nice.

And, if you're up to it, you can do a series of terric monuments at one time, in two hours, but it will require a bit of walking, but you can take it slowly: Vietnam Wall, Lincoln, the Korean and finally, the new FDR ... with the Tidal Basin and Jefferson in the near distance. It is a fabulous series, all different, and all especially emotional, I find. But you'll need to take it slowly. You can also drive to the FDR and park nearby, as an option.

Hope this helps. DC is a special town ... very low architecturally, as you'll see from the water ... by design.

Have a nice afternoon. Ciao.

Leone,

Have you had to resort to writing fan letters to yourself on this forum. Arabella-sounds like a name you would come up with.

When dispensing D.C. advice you should always remind people to bring along their bullet-proof vests along with some crack money. Also, you left the Marion Barry statue off your list of monuments to tour.

Very funny, M, well, part of it actually. But I am happy to tell you Marion's statue must await the WWII monstrosity, plus a statue for Ron Reagan. Hopefully you know the other part was unnecessary. Have a good day. Ciao

Will a statue of Bill Clinton be erected?

Bill looked pretty good by comparison. BTW, did you see USA Today's poll Tuesday reported 57% think W's doing a decent job, but 16% believe W's too liberal. I can report it's impossible to down egg salad when you're laughing. Ciao

If there is a statue erected of Bill Clinton, I think it would be appropriate for the statue to be a pose of him with his pants down since that is how he spent most of his 8 years in D.C.

...now that would be quite an erection, wouldn't it?

Will he be holding a cigar?

And I thought the Geo Washington monument was quite an erection.

Of course, Billy's crooks way to the left.

And the mottos on the base of the staute would be "Kiss it" "I did not have sex with that woman__________
(your name here)"

And "I did not inhale".

And you know, of course, about the Martha Washington monument.....?