Washington D.C. for a Week; Or the Best $22 Value I've Ever Received Traveling
Mar 6th, 2007, 01:00 PM
#21
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By this time the old guy (60 last month) is starting to stiffened up and I've built up my stamina by sleeping much more than home. (8 hours on this trip and not 6, if I'm lucky. I am a life long semi- early awakening insominac.) So guess who is pushing who on our last days. LOL!
Well, now we are BRAVE. We decide to do Alexandria and also some additional venues at the other end of things (opposite direction) all in one day. We wanted to get an entire day in at Mt. Vernon but we will do that on an East Coast drive trip someday instead. If I live long enough. We just spent too many hours at Smithsonians. He still wants to go back to the Tomb of Unknowns again too. On this day and every other day actually. He identifies.
Off we go- and I get fruit to carry besides the other this time. We take the LOONNNGER Metro all the way out to King Street. It IS getting to be almost 45 degrees out and it is NOT raining or snowing or sleeting. Hurray! We ask a young girl directions and she is tops on telling us not just where, but how far and what will "turn". King St. from the station is not very "clear" and there are other streets involved. One you pass is called "Diagonal St." Honestly, real imagination there, huh!
We in Chicago would call it, Archer. Sorry, that is an inside joke.
Well we ENJOYED the walk down to the Potomac, just as my poster said we would. THANK YOU. All of you!
We stayed by the docks for ages and just sat in the sun. It was glorious, plus Ken had to inspect all the boats and had to start getting that fisherman look in his eyes. He was incredulous at not having to take out the big docks for winter, even with the ice. And that some of the boats had ice rips on them. He has two boats, now he wants 40 footer for L. Michigan to replace the bigger one he uses there now. Won't happen.
We toured the Torpedo Factory and I loved it. So did Ken. We also found the Alexandria Archeology Society inside and had the docent run us through all the privy "finds" from digs on rebuilding there. But I had her beat on my Cahokia Mound artifact ages. She really laughed. I had one on me.
Liked some of the art, did not like some of the art. We talked to mothers with strollers, we walked down to some of the housing, we talked about eating.
I had two ideas- and have been trying to get him to do tapas in Chicago for about 5 years now. Well I pulled a coup on this memorable day and shimmied him into Las Tacas Tapas Bar on the walk back from the River.
He refuses to read 5 page menus, so I ordered for us. Actually underordered as we were going to go out at night too- but we shared Sangria and 5 small tapas dishes and they were terrific. Now I have him won over for tapas big time. One of the great lasting perks of this trip. It isn't the ethnic flavors but the "too many" choices thing that gets him aggravated. And that he always likes mine more than his. But he's getting there. Almost knows how to order now too. Now if only he could hear them. Ears are ruined and accents or soft talkers, it's always me in the middle, interpreting to each other. Usually both ways. Doesn't anyone in D.C. drink Beck's??
We got back on the Metro on King Street and decide that we can get the other Library of Congress buildings in yet. So now we are on a multi, multi stop ride. About 4 stops in we get into a lively conversation with a D.C. native who is marketing her kids' book and she is a real prize. Kind of like a Black Female Robin Williams on uppers. We laughed so hard that I was sad when she left. I still have her card for possible purchase of some Curriculum books.
So we get off within 1 block of the Libr. of Congress (are we good or what!) and I get 2 marvelous hours seeing all my favorite parts of the Jefferson Building and some of the Adams. I got to see the main reading room IN PERSON AND through the glass gallery. No pictures though, as strictly forbidden because of the possible flash on the cherry wood and walls etc. Ken is bored but goes to survey the side halls and event rooms and ask people questions that make them nervous.
We go to the Capitol building and then decide to leave. There is an area about 3 acres behind and to the side that is blocked off and it was busy from end of day etc. We decided to neighborhood pop up to observe, and then return home to do 19th Street Asian. (This we had sampled late one night, and wanted to try another for a full meal.)
We ended up at Singapore, and had a marvelous seat window. I had the best dish of my trip, although all the others were 8's or 9's. I had the specialty of the house after the Miso Soup. It was called Balinese Shrimp. Ken's was good too- he had some Scallops / Seafood too- but mine was phenomenal. He thinks it was the best shrimp we had with the most unusual and spicy combo items that we have had since Biloxi.
Our food in Chicago is so good, that we are jaded, I think. But our seafood is NOT as good as the coastal South OR D.C.
We return late and sleep.
Last I will post summation, the dirt on the Quincy, and several other facts that will stay with me from this trip.
As this one: the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns have to be between 5'11" and 6" tall. AND they have to have a 29 inch waist with ALL the pieces of the dress uniform / jacket etc. on. They do NOT drink alcohol at any time.
The one we talked to was awe inspiring. BUT, talk about having anorexic role models for WOMEN. The man was a thread. OF IRON.
And as of last year, now over 50% of the population of the USA lives within 50 miles of an ocean. FOR THE FIRST TIME. Dependent people. No farmers among them and nary a one in ten that grows a tomato. Yeeeeks!
Well, now we are BRAVE. We decide to do Alexandria and also some additional venues at the other end of things (opposite direction) all in one day. We wanted to get an entire day in at Mt. Vernon but we will do that on an East Coast drive trip someday instead. If I live long enough. We just spent too many hours at Smithsonians. He still wants to go back to the Tomb of Unknowns again too. On this day and every other day actually. He identifies.
Off we go- and I get fruit to carry besides the other this time. We take the LOONNNGER Metro all the way out to King Street. It IS getting to be almost 45 degrees out and it is NOT raining or snowing or sleeting. Hurray! We ask a young girl directions and she is tops on telling us not just where, but how far and what will "turn". King St. from the station is not very "clear" and there are other streets involved. One you pass is called "Diagonal St." Honestly, real imagination there, huh!
We in Chicago would call it, Archer. Sorry, that is an inside joke.
Well we ENJOYED the walk down to the Potomac, just as my poster said we would. THANK YOU. All of you!
We stayed by the docks for ages and just sat in the sun. It was glorious, plus Ken had to inspect all the boats and had to start getting that fisherman look in his eyes. He was incredulous at not having to take out the big docks for winter, even with the ice. And that some of the boats had ice rips on them. He has two boats, now he wants 40 footer for L. Michigan to replace the bigger one he uses there now. Won't happen.
We toured the Torpedo Factory and I loved it. So did Ken. We also found the Alexandria Archeology Society inside and had the docent run us through all the privy "finds" from digs on rebuilding there. But I had her beat on my Cahokia Mound artifact ages. She really laughed. I had one on me.
Liked some of the art, did not like some of the art. We talked to mothers with strollers, we walked down to some of the housing, we talked about eating.
I had two ideas- and have been trying to get him to do tapas in Chicago for about 5 years now. Well I pulled a coup on this memorable day and shimmied him into Las Tacas Tapas Bar on the walk back from the River.
He refuses to read 5 page menus, so I ordered for us. Actually underordered as we were going to go out at night too- but we shared Sangria and 5 small tapas dishes and they were terrific. Now I have him won over for tapas big time. One of the great lasting perks of this trip. It isn't the ethnic flavors but the "too many" choices thing that gets him aggravated. And that he always likes mine more than his. But he's getting there. Almost knows how to order now too. Now if only he could hear them. Ears are ruined and accents or soft talkers, it's always me in the middle, interpreting to each other. Usually both ways. Doesn't anyone in D.C. drink Beck's??
We got back on the Metro on King Street and decide that we can get the other Library of Congress buildings in yet. So now we are on a multi, multi stop ride. About 4 stops in we get into a lively conversation with a D.C. native who is marketing her kids' book and she is a real prize. Kind of like a Black Female Robin Williams on uppers. We laughed so hard that I was sad when she left. I still have her card for possible purchase of some Curriculum books.
So we get off within 1 block of the Libr. of Congress (are we good or what!) and I get 2 marvelous hours seeing all my favorite parts of the Jefferson Building and some of the Adams. I got to see the main reading room IN PERSON AND through the glass gallery. No pictures though, as strictly forbidden because of the possible flash on the cherry wood and walls etc. Ken is bored but goes to survey the side halls and event rooms and ask people questions that make them nervous.
We go to the Capitol building and then decide to leave. There is an area about 3 acres behind and to the side that is blocked off and it was busy from end of day etc. We decided to neighborhood pop up to observe, and then return home to do 19th Street Asian. (This we had sampled late one night, and wanted to try another for a full meal.)
We ended up at Singapore, and had a marvelous seat window. I had the best dish of my trip, although all the others were 8's or 9's. I had the specialty of the house after the Miso Soup. It was called Balinese Shrimp. Ken's was good too- he had some Scallops / Seafood too- but mine was phenomenal. He thinks it was the best shrimp we had with the most unusual and spicy combo items that we have had since Biloxi.
Our food in Chicago is so good, that we are jaded, I think. But our seafood is NOT as good as the coastal South OR D.C.
We return late and sleep.
Last I will post summation, the dirt on the Quincy, and several other facts that will stay with me from this trip.
As this one: the guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns have to be between 5'11" and 6" tall. AND they have to have a 29 inch waist with ALL the pieces of the dress uniform / jacket etc. on. They do NOT drink alcohol at any time.
The one we talked to was awe inspiring. BUT, talk about having anorexic role models for WOMEN. The man was a thread. OF IRON.
And as of last year, now over 50% of the population of the USA lives within 50 miles of an ocean. FOR THE FIRST TIME. Dependent people. No farmers among them and nary a one in ten that grows a tomato. Yeeeeks!
Mar 6th, 2007, 01:46 PM
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We were there from about 1 to maybe 2:30 or quarter to three. Oh, I'm sorry we missed each other.
When we have another GTG in Chicago this summer, and we will- I sure hope you come. Weren't the Archives great!
ms go, watch WTTW, channel 11 tonight at 7:30 pm Central time, if you can. Others too! Your PBS station may have it. Chicago Southwest Suburbs: Birthplace of Chicago is on tonight and there's a highlight of my college and it's Aviation start during WWII. Lewis and the entire I & M Canal Archives and the reasons for them may be detailed. I haven't seen it yet, but these Archives are kept HERE. Come see them the next time we have a good display. I'll post. We just had a wonderful 300 photographs from late 1800's of Lockport and the I& M Canal corridor.
Good things close to home, as well.
When we have another GTG in Chicago this summer, and we will- I sure hope you come. Weren't the Archives great!
ms go, watch WTTW, channel 11 tonight at 7:30 pm Central time, if you can. Others too! Your PBS station may have it. Chicago Southwest Suburbs: Birthplace of Chicago is on tonight and there's a highlight of my college and it's Aviation start during WWII. Lewis and the entire I & M Canal Archives and the reasons for them may be detailed. I haven't seen it yet, but these Archives are kept HERE. Come see them the next time we have a good display. I'll post. We just had a wonderful 300 photographs from late 1800's of Lockport and the I& M Canal corridor.
Good things close to home, as well.
Mar 6th, 2007, 05:59 PM
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JJ5-what a fantastic trip report! I am headed out to D.C. in April with 19 high school students from WY. I am sure that all 19 will be much like Ken! Most have never even been out of the state. You have given me some great ideas, even though we are sadly on a very structured EF tour!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Mar 7th, 2007, 08:47 AM
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Now the stream of consciousness ending, so many thoughts for such a wonderful city.
First: the Quincy. Althought the place was fairly reasonable (yet STILL nearly $200 a day by the time the taxes are added, even without a car- THAT would have been $28 more per day to park), I would never rec it. Why?
Because they are doing a rehab and it shows but MORE than that, it SOUNDS. The bed was tremendous- but you hear back up noises and dumpster loading/undloading all night with the taking out of all the rooms that are being ripped to the rafters. And, I believe, it will not end, even after the rehab is over. Why? Because the back up of Quincy's block is a cul de sac alley triangle with three city blocks all facing outwards (a condition that happens within D.C. "star ray" set up more than a few times) and it is HORRIBLE for too many reasons to list here. Primarily because it is constant noise, sirens, trucks, and heavy refuse dumpster consolidation at the "mouths" of these triangles- for HOURS- just where the Quincy stands- exactly. So between 3 am and 5 or 6 am you have constant back up or hydralic lift noise (they don't let the trucks into those narrow spaces during business working hours- YUP)that reaches your room CLEARLY. Saturday and Sunday nights not- mercifully. We were too tired to let it get to us, but we have some real jokes that I could not type here.
Also I would pick a better area for non-knowledge usage. I know that means nothing, is unclear, but I don't really know how else to describe it. Not that the area is not busy, safe, and enjoyable by night and day! Just that it is not an area where you can view what is IN the buildings from the outside easily or know where the entrances are in some cases (private/semi-private). Marketing and many other features are quite different than other prime downtown cities- it is much more zoned so that there are no arches, motif neon etc. etc. Maybe because it is the .gov town and here there are numerous places privately held by .gov association and lobbying seekers, I guess? Or maybe because it is a city where the Capitol building has to be the highest edifice and therefore all are NOT skyscrappers but rather square 8 or 10 story buildings in majority? NOT buildings that have their own city grocery or spa or drug store inside each, that's for sure. NOT like a skyscrapper which contains whatever you need IN it (each is really a small town within itself in a skyscrapper), as in Chicago or NYC, for instance. So although a Washington Square may have a grill with bacon and eggs served sit down in it on the 6th floor, you just don't know it is there in the D.C. business downtown, and you can't tell from the outside in many aspects- until you search and ask. And the people outside do not know what is in the buildings at times either. And that's the majority of the time right where we were. Near the colleges, Embassy Row etc. and near the Smithsonians this was not the case as often. Also near Dupont it was majority tourists and that is set up more for them/ usage wise. But I always prefer not to be in a tourist rhelm, and I usually stay in residential areas myself. For instance in SF, I stay in Pacific Heights. So that is my opinion on D.C. lodging circa 2007.
And do not take that as an entire negative, as there were some superlative positives.
For instance, I found at night especially that it was a top notch, highly "dressed" and highly mannered behavorial norm. People were kind, articulate, mannerly, and often the opposite of abrupt. Great chic, in a big city atmosphere! The clubs, pubs, smaller restaurants, absolutely had "regulars" and I LOVE that. We REALLY got the feel of D.C. hearing some of the schmmoooz conversations. You can't help overhearing, because of placement/densities in venues like Smith & Wollensky etc. Also we enjoyed seeing outside dining with overhead heaters being enjoyed with stylish fur coats etc.- very different from home. We know cold, and don't try to pretend like it is fun to eat cold sushi in a wind tunnel. LOL!
Lots and lots of private company or high end structures in D.C. that contain 12 Orthodontics Offices, or 10 Investment Firms, etc. etc.! There were some great food choices but breakfast and lunch were 90% Au Bon Pain, Cosi, or Corner Bakery kinds of places. Nothing wrong with that, but I missed a Lou Mitchells or an ANYTHING of that order- sit down.
BUT it was a perfect place to stay for a first trip as it was both viscerally and location wise, central to a Washington D.C. experience. Next time I would stay over by the Archives area or in Alexandria by the river and 100s of great trendy and diverse restaurant choices that are CLEAR from the outside. And I will do it on a drive trip weekend when the rooms are about 1/2 the price of the weekdays, and I might use Priceline or Hotwire. In general, some of the places available in D.C. are HORRIBLY overpriced for what you get, IMHO. I entered about 5 or 6 hotels to just look, saw two rooms. With a 17% added tax NOT in the room price, and lots of other added fees- D.C.lodging during the week is a rip off, IMHO. Supply and demand, I do understand. But a $400 a day room in D.C. is comparable to an $80 a day room in St. Louis or a $220 a day room in Chicago. So I would try to do Priceline and weekends for any future D.C. drive trip. We don't spend any time in a room except to sleep, and love budget choices that are clean- don't require or need lots of "stuff" or services. I just wish many prime American cities had more of these, as they do in Europe.
We walked the last morning and got a good sit down breakfast in a building with doctor, art etc. offices and CVS in it about 3 blocks from the Quincy after asking numerous people. We called our own taxie to Reagan. We flew home between two storms, some of the flights the day before were cancelled and a whole bunch the day after were. We were left on the tarmac about 20 to 30 minutes getting out of Reagan because of a gate availability /exit problem and that put us about 1/2 hour late getting home- which was nothing. We had 5 babies under 3 months on our flight home, everybody on the plane was talking about it. They DIDN'T cry much at all. We used the Midway park and fly which is a shuttle at 47th St. and quite a bit from the Airport, but even with that we were in our car and out of there picking up Sydney at the Pet Hotel before 4 pm. Off the plane and to luggage pick up was about 5 minutes, shortest I have EVER experienced. Nothing like O'Hare, in my experience anyway.
The poor dear chirped and sang, and talked, and chirped and sang and wouldn't leave our presence for two days after we got back. He even went down to do the treadmill with Ken and was on his shoulder in the dark basement, something he normally hates.
He missed us.
One last post coming, summing up the best jokes and things I forgot.
Oh yes, and don't read this if you get offended by every P.C. interpretation of connoted language or labeling that comes down the pike. But I was MUCH suprised by the following. Leno/ stand up / talk -you always hear about D.C. being a Black city and also much about tremendous diversity etc. And we found that in our experience of race, nationality, gender etc. for the Washingtonians we meet- regardless of any appearance factors of any kind, the D.C. people were much ALIKE to us. Outside of the turbanned cab drivers or few non-English speaking clerks we encountered- we find that Chicago is far, far more diverse than D.C. is for accents and language especially. And with far more evidence of constant and continuing present immigration, legal or not too. I can hear 5 different languages at my store OR in the park OR at my school. I didn't find it that varied there, except for that day in the Archives. Also on my home block is every shade of skin, people who have living relatives on each continent but Anartica and who dress quite, quite differently from each other. And I am the suburbanite. Something I had to ponder flying home among 100s of other thoughts about "us" as a country.
More fun stuff will be last. Be patient with me. And it will be last- I won't lie again. Yet, it may be awhile before it appears. Hope you all have occasion to read all those inspirational words on all those old yellowed sheets of paper someday IN PERSON!
First: the Quincy. Althought the place was fairly reasonable (yet STILL nearly $200 a day by the time the taxes are added, even without a car- THAT would have been $28 more per day to park), I would never rec it. Why?
Because they are doing a rehab and it shows but MORE than that, it SOUNDS. The bed was tremendous- but you hear back up noises and dumpster loading/undloading all night with the taking out of all the rooms that are being ripped to the rafters. And, I believe, it will not end, even after the rehab is over. Why? Because the back up of Quincy's block is a cul de sac alley triangle with three city blocks all facing outwards (a condition that happens within D.C. "star ray" set up more than a few times) and it is HORRIBLE for too many reasons to list here. Primarily because it is constant noise, sirens, trucks, and heavy refuse dumpster consolidation at the "mouths" of these triangles- for HOURS- just where the Quincy stands- exactly. So between 3 am and 5 or 6 am you have constant back up or hydralic lift noise (they don't let the trucks into those narrow spaces during business working hours- YUP)that reaches your room CLEARLY. Saturday and Sunday nights not- mercifully. We were too tired to let it get to us, but we have some real jokes that I could not type here.
Also I would pick a better area for non-knowledge usage. I know that means nothing, is unclear, but I don't really know how else to describe it. Not that the area is not busy, safe, and enjoyable by night and day! Just that it is not an area where you can view what is IN the buildings from the outside easily or know where the entrances are in some cases (private/semi-private). Marketing and many other features are quite different than other prime downtown cities- it is much more zoned so that there are no arches, motif neon etc. etc. Maybe because it is the .gov town and here there are numerous places privately held by .gov association and lobbying seekers, I guess? Or maybe because it is a city where the Capitol building has to be the highest edifice and therefore all are NOT skyscrappers but rather square 8 or 10 story buildings in majority? NOT buildings that have their own city grocery or spa or drug store inside each, that's for sure. NOT like a skyscrapper which contains whatever you need IN it (each is really a small town within itself in a skyscrapper), as in Chicago or NYC, for instance. So although a Washington Square may have a grill with bacon and eggs served sit down in it on the 6th floor, you just don't know it is there in the D.C. business downtown, and you can't tell from the outside in many aspects- until you search and ask. And the people outside do not know what is in the buildings at times either. And that's the majority of the time right where we were. Near the colleges, Embassy Row etc. and near the Smithsonians this was not the case as often. Also near Dupont it was majority tourists and that is set up more for them/ usage wise. But I always prefer not to be in a tourist rhelm, and I usually stay in residential areas myself. For instance in SF, I stay in Pacific Heights. So that is my opinion on D.C. lodging circa 2007.
And do not take that as an entire negative, as there were some superlative positives.
For instance, I found at night especially that it was a top notch, highly "dressed" and highly mannered behavorial norm. People were kind, articulate, mannerly, and often the opposite of abrupt. Great chic, in a big city atmosphere! The clubs, pubs, smaller restaurants, absolutely had "regulars" and I LOVE that. We REALLY got the feel of D.C. hearing some of the schmmoooz conversations. You can't help overhearing, because of placement/densities in venues like Smith & Wollensky etc. Also we enjoyed seeing outside dining with overhead heaters being enjoyed with stylish fur coats etc.- very different from home. We know cold, and don't try to pretend like it is fun to eat cold sushi in a wind tunnel. LOL!
Lots and lots of private company or high end structures in D.C. that contain 12 Orthodontics Offices, or 10 Investment Firms, etc. etc.! There were some great food choices but breakfast and lunch were 90% Au Bon Pain, Cosi, or Corner Bakery kinds of places. Nothing wrong with that, but I missed a Lou Mitchells or an ANYTHING of that order- sit down.
BUT it was a perfect place to stay for a first trip as it was both viscerally and location wise, central to a Washington D.C. experience. Next time I would stay over by the Archives area or in Alexandria by the river and 100s of great trendy and diverse restaurant choices that are CLEAR from the outside. And I will do it on a drive trip weekend when the rooms are about 1/2 the price of the weekdays, and I might use Priceline or Hotwire. In general, some of the places available in D.C. are HORRIBLY overpriced for what you get, IMHO. I entered about 5 or 6 hotels to just look, saw two rooms. With a 17% added tax NOT in the room price, and lots of other added fees- D.C.lodging during the week is a rip off, IMHO. Supply and demand, I do understand. But a $400 a day room in D.C. is comparable to an $80 a day room in St. Louis or a $220 a day room in Chicago. So I would try to do Priceline and weekends for any future D.C. drive trip. We don't spend any time in a room except to sleep, and love budget choices that are clean- don't require or need lots of "stuff" or services. I just wish many prime American cities had more of these, as they do in Europe.
We walked the last morning and got a good sit down breakfast in a building with doctor, art etc. offices and CVS in it about 3 blocks from the Quincy after asking numerous people. We called our own taxie to Reagan. We flew home between two storms, some of the flights the day before were cancelled and a whole bunch the day after were. We were left on the tarmac about 20 to 30 minutes getting out of Reagan because of a gate availability /exit problem and that put us about 1/2 hour late getting home- which was nothing. We had 5 babies under 3 months on our flight home, everybody on the plane was talking about it. They DIDN'T cry much at all. We used the Midway park and fly which is a shuttle at 47th St. and quite a bit from the Airport, but even with that we were in our car and out of there picking up Sydney at the Pet Hotel before 4 pm. Off the plane and to luggage pick up was about 5 minutes, shortest I have EVER experienced. Nothing like O'Hare, in my experience anyway.
The poor dear chirped and sang, and talked, and chirped and sang and wouldn't leave our presence for two days after we got back. He even went down to do the treadmill with Ken and was on his shoulder in the dark basement, something he normally hates.
He missed us.
One last post coming, summing up the best jokes and things I forgot.
Oh yes, and don't read this if you get offended by every P.C. interpretation of connoted language or labeling that comes down the pike. But I was MUCH suprised by the following. Leno/ stand up / talk -you always hear about D.C. being a Black city and also much about tremendous diversity etc. And we found that in our experience of race, nationality, gender etc. for the Washingtonians we meet- regardless of any appearance factors of any kind, the D.C. people were much ALIKE to us. Outside of the turbanned cab drivers or few non-English speaking clerks we encountered- we find that Chicago is far, far more diverse than D.C. is for accents and language especially. And with far more evidence of constant and continuing present immigration, legal or not too. I can hear 5 different languages at my store OR in the park OR at my school. I didn't find it that varied there, except for that day in the Archives. Also on my home block is every shade of skin, people who have living relatives on each continent but Anartica and who dress quite, quite differently from each other. And I am the suburbanite. Something I had to ponder flying home among 100s of other thoughts about "us" as a country.
More fun stuff will be last. Be patient with me. And it will be last- I won't lie again. Yet, it may be awhile before it appears. Hope you all have occasion to read all those inspirational words on all those old yellowed sheets of paper someday IN PERSON!
Mar 7th, 2007, 08:50 AM
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Well, we thought it was the Portrait Gallery and asked. They said it was- but it was an employee across from there at one of the other Smithsonians and they could have given us wrong information. It happened 3 or 4 times. They told us Spy was on I street too. It isn't.
Mar 7th, 2007, 12:05 PM
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<<But a $400 a day room in D.C. is comparable to an $80 a day room in St. Louis or a $220 a day room in Chicago.>>
Welcome to DC! LOL
Honestly if you want a nice room in DC for $200, then Priceline it is.
BTW, great report - I love your style.
Welcome to DC! LOL
Honestly if you want a nice room in DC for $200, then Priceline it is.
BTW, great report - I love your style.
Mar 7th, 2007, 01:44 PM
#29
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So true. I tried Priceline, was even willing to split 3 days one place / 4 days another to try to get a "deal". But they would not play. It was a late start for that though, as I had bought plane tickets on a whim much later than I would normally do so- only 1 month out. Priceline in Chicago, NYC, SF have been the pits 1 month out as well lately.
Also, bardo, I tried three or four B&B's for much more than $250 per day- one without even a tv in it- and they were always "not" available for the entire stay, most of the weekday dates. NYC too, the hotel rooms are way, way too much $$ for many people in small town America to think of staying downtown on big city vacations.
Ken hates city life overall, so I think we did exceptionally well considering. He was a good sport and only snarled at one person all week. And it wasn't me!! LOL!
Also, bardo, I tried three or four B&B's for much more than $250 per day- one without even a tv in it- and they were always "not" available for the entire stay, most of the weekday dates. NYC too, the hotel rooms are way, way too much $$ for many people in small town America to think of staying downtown on big city vacations.
Ken hates city life overall, so I think we did exceptionally well considering. He was a good sport and only snarled at one person all week. And it wasn't me!! LOL!
Mar 8th, 2007, 08:42 AM
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Memories from one week out:
The running bet on the homeward bond Metro between Ken & I re our odds on getting another nifty 5 star item added to the decore or bathroom perks, with the over/under if we will have to ask for another roll of toilet paper, yet again.
Bamboo motif - poles/ fencing/ other intrastructure etc. surrounded by upright live shoots and on the "tops" of everything- Award for best Zoo motif design- for winter planting especially- whoever thought of that should get a raise. Excellent visual!
Mayflower Hotel- la dee da's coming in and out- so very self-important looking in observation. Lobby- few if any smiles anywhere.
So many childrens' (to me) faces over GQ wardrobe, saying excuse me or pardon me, or sashaying quickly through the walk light. Always with briefcase or laptop in hand- one using the laptop while walking in the snow- with leather gloves. Women with classy mid-length tulip skirts and spikes in the snow. Smiling more times than not. Shorter leather jacket more times than not. Mere infants in age, more times than not.
Baby cherry trees staked and circled next to the old granddad's that are "broken" looking and pruned to grotesque shapes from old age- right next to them. A city worker stuck in his small plow as it slides in the mud between two of these old cherry granddad's- scared he is going to hit either one. But won't take Ken's help in pushing it out of the rut/slide it is in, as he doesn't want us to get hurt, fall in the mud etc. Ken tells him how he can get "out" of there. He does.
Looking in Brook Bros. & J. Press windows on our "home" block and telling Ken he better watch out because I might go in and buy him something. (A fate worse than death!)
White bag I bought for carrying to school/work at Faces of the Fallen - with Women in the Military pictures etc. Why did I pick white? Stupid, I should have picked navy blue background.
A forever memory- the long, long, long 4 or 5 story tall escalator that exits you from the bottom level to the top surface of King Street Metro exit in Alexandria!! We tried to take pictures and they just don't have the same effect as the actuality at all. Why doesn't someone market that place for a movie?? I could think of the most marvelous chase or "meeting" scene or the Alien coming up from there. LOL!
And always- "HEY, these people FOLLOW THE CROSSING SIGNS AND GO WITH THE WALK GUY PICTURE!" (Dorothy, we are NOT in Chicago anymore, we have entered an alternative universe.) And the fact that Ken has to say-if we didn't start with the "begin" and hit the end of the "walking" guy's visual countdown- "Come on hurry, it's on 15! 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2- hey you made it with 2 seconds to spare that time." It was like doing a Columbia blast off with every other corner. LOL!
And on the Metro, that oft repeated "Stand Back, the door is about to open. Move to the Center of the car upon entering. Stand Back!" And the recorded message about noticing left behind articles and reminding your fellow passengers that they are dropping or have left items behind message etc. - repeated. I will identify that with D.C.
What my grandkids "got" from my trip? Not one bit of stuff, but some stories and the promise that Grandma will take them there whenever they want- but that they will not have their in car videos, electronic games, private reading lights, or drink trays when we do it and will have to "Stand back!"
The running bet on the homeward bond Metro between Ken & I re our odds on getting another nifty 5 star item added to the decore or bathroom perks, with the over/under if we will have to ask for another roll of toilet paper, yet again.
Bamboo motif - poles/ fencing/ other intrastructure etc. surrounded by upright live shoots and on the "tops" of everything- Award for best Zoo motif design- for winter planting especially- whoever thought of that should get a raise. Excellent visual!
Mayflower Hotel- la dee da's coming in and out- so very self-important looking in observation. Lobby- few if any smiles anywhere.
So many childrens' (to me) faces over GQ wardrobe, saying excuse me or pardon me, or sashaying quickly through the walk light. Always with briefcase or laptop in hand- one using the laptop while walking in the snow- with leather gloves. Women with classy mid-length tulip skirts and spikes in the snow. Smiling more times than not. Shorter leather jacket more times than not. Mere infants in age, more times than not.
Baby cherry trees staked and circled next to the old granddad's that are "broken" looking and pruned to grotesque shapes from old age- right next to them. A city worker stuck in his small plow as it slides in the mud between two of these old cherry granddad's- scared he is going to hit either one. But won't take Ken's help in pushing it out of the rut/slide it is in, as he doesn't want us to get hurt, fall in the mud etc. Ken tells him how he can get "out" of there. He does.
Looking in Brook Bros. & J. Press windows on our "home" block and telling Ken he better watch out because I might go in and buy him something. (A fate worse than death!)
White bag I bought for carrying to school/work at Faces of the Fallen - with Women in the Military pictures etc. Why did I pick white? Stupid, I should have picked navy blue background.
A forever memory- the long, long, long 4 or 5 story tall escalator that exits you from the bottom level to the top surface of King Street Metro exit in Alexandria!! We tried to take pictures and they just don't have the same effect as the actuality at all. Why doesn't someone market that place for a movie?? I could think of the most marvelous chase or "meeting" scene or the Alien coming up from there. LOL!
And always- "HEY, these people FOLLOW THE CROSSING SIGNS AND GO WITH THE WALK GUY PICTURE!" (Dorothy, we are NOT in Chicago anymore, we have entered an alternative universe.) And the fact that Ken has to say-if we didn't start with the "begin" and hit the end of the "walking" guy's visual countdown- "Come on hurry, it's on 15! 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2- hey you made it with 2 seconds to spare that time." It was like doing a Columbia blast off with every other corner. LOL!
And on the Metro, that oft repeated "Stand Back, the door is about to open. Move to the Center of the car upon entering. Stand Back!" And the recorded message about noticing left behind articles and reminding your fellow passengers that they are dropping or have left items behind message etc. - repeated. I will identify that with D.C.
What my grandkids "got" from my trip? Not one bit of stuff, but some stories and the promise that Grandma will take them there whenever they want- but that they will not have their in car videos, electronic games, private reading lights, or drink trays when we do it and will have to "Stand back!"
Mar 8th, 2007, 01:53 PM
#33
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What a great series of reports! I feel like I was with you.
Re Metro recorded messages - they're awful, but nothing can be as bad as Wildwood NJ's "Mind the Tram".
I truly enjoyed reading this thread. I've not been able to surf the web much later, and this made my day.
Re Metro recorded messages - they're awful, but nothing can be as bad as Wildwood NJ's "Mind the Tram".
I truly enjoyed reading this thread. I've not been able to surf the web much later, and this made my day.
Mar 8th, 2007, 02:26 PM
#34
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Keen observations, JJ5! And great fluid writing style! May I post some comments later as I’m pressed for time right now? Although I’m not affiliated with the Tourism Board, I’m delighted, like poster Van Ness and other “D.C.-itizens,” to hear favorable reports about the hospitality of our capital city. These reports salve our collective egos bruised from being the target of the late-night shows’ jokes – not that we don’t warrant some of the criticisms, mind you – and being considered the pretender to the nation’s throne when big sister, New York City, seems to have more claim.
Mar 9th, 2007, 06:49 AM
#36
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Loved your report and your enthusiasm and curiosity for everything in our city. We love Chicago too! Your observations about diversity in the city were interesting too. Made me reflect that, these days, there's probably more diversity in some of the close in suburbs (and more and more - the far flung suburbs) than in the city itself.
Mar 9th, 2007, 07:52 AM
#38
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The Quincy 1823 L Street NW
Although I have visited NYC numerous times, I have to say that D.C. was much nicer, more user friendly and overall just more FUN for my 7 day to 7 day experience. Cleanliness and density ARE considerations. To me they always are.
And I will definitely return and will bring my two youngest grandsons when they are somewhat older. I take them on the train to Chicago on occasion, but this particular Metro is something that they need to see. And also so many other of the National Treasures/ Monuments, of course.
Although I have visited NYC numerous times, I have to say that D.C. was much nicer, more user friendly and overall just more FUN for my 7 day to 7 day experience. Cleanliness and density ARE considerations. To me they always are.
And I will definitely return and will bring my two youngest grandsons when they are somewhat older. I take them on the train to Chicago on occasion, but this particular Metro is something that they need to see. And also so many other of the National Treasures/ Monuments, of course.
