OK, for full disclosure, the routes I suggested are not the most direct. I still think they are the best for a person unfamiliar with the city, even if (to accurately quote sparks) her husband is ``pretty comfortable'' driving in a strange city.

The Dallas-Fort Worth experience she relates is much more akin to Beltway driving than anything else.

Interesting that when others disagree (and no one supports) your routes, you jump to labels such as ``map averse'' or make assumptions that we seem to find city driving ``difficult.''

For the record, over the past several years, I've driven in numerous urban environments on four continents, including Auckland, Sydney (love those 80-kph traffic circles spinning to the left side) and Athens (although I usually used the Athens Metro, which was far more reliable than the Red Line). For the past seven years, I've lived almost directly between Connecticut and 16th St. and on days when I commute by car (at least once a week), I've used them both. Time differences are negligible.

As for my ``quibbles'' with Mapquest:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguid...apmakers_x.htm

For the record: I love driving through cities, drive through cities I don't live in often, and realize people know how to use maps. I was merely thinking of it from the perspective of someone who may not be as comfortable and recognizing DC can be a confusing place to drive through.

But forutnately, JBC has clarified it for us all and pedandically dismissed all detractors, so best of luck.