What up, blogosphere!
I’m on day 4 of my mini-vacation to Washington, and my travelling companion (aka my mother) has given up her computer to go take a shower. I have therefore seized this opportunity to say a quick hello and update you all on my adventures here in Washingtonland.
Day 1 of the vacation featured an exhaustive car trip from London, Ontario (my home), down to Washington DC. Instead of taking the interstates like normal people, we meandered our way through mountains, valleys, and quaint villages, averaging about 60 km/h and getting thoroughly carsick from all the twists and turns.
Our Google Map directions, despite being really slow, worked well up until the point we reached the outskirts of Washington. At that point it was about 10 p.m., we were exhausted from driving all day, and certain people’s tempers grew … short. Anyway, we took a wrong turn and ended up at the northern parking lot of the Pentagon. I didn’t even know the Pentagon is in Washington. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s all a big parking lot conspiracy. That’s a thing, right?
Day 2 sent my mother off on an unrelated day trip that I can’t discuss here due to privacy concerns. I, on the other hand, was left free to explore Washington on my own. I proceeded to the Smithsonian Aerospace Museum, where I watched no less than 3 separate IMAX/planetarium shows, explored the bottom floor of the museum, and saw the original Apollo 11 space capsule. Needless to say, it was really awesome.
Day 3 involved going to the zoo and eating delicious Chinese food. I would love to say more about that, but unfortunately I can’t due to those privacy concerns I mentioned above. At this point, you’re probably wondering if I’m secretly a government spy. The answer is yes. My code name is Green Platypus.
Today is Day 4, and current planning suggests that mother and I will be rocking the upper floor of the Aerospace museum, followed by a visit to the Natural History museum. I expect funtimes and shenanigans to be had.
Two notes on Washington, in case you ever go:
- The subway system sucks. The automated ticketing machines are inexplicably designed to make your life as difficult as possible. And I have been on a lot of subway systems in my life, in a lot of countries, so I do know what I’m talking about. Eek. Something to work on, Washington DC transit authority.
- All the Smithsonian museums (although apparently not the Portrait Gallery) close at 5:30 p.m. So if you intend to see the museums, start your day early (and not at noon like I keep doing).
This concludes my check-in. Stay awesome, and I look forward to catching up on all your blog posts and stories that I’ve missed once I return to Canadadada. (Sing that last word to the tune of Beethoven’s 5th).
Random Video of the Day:
Michelle Proulx - Author 
Cape Canaveral in Florida is awesome if you like space. Make sure you go on the bus tour. They do this great re-enactment of one of the launches (I want to say Apollo 11). My husband and I also surreptitiously fed baby squirrels outside (the sign said not to feed the birds, and we weren’t).
I honestly can’t remember if I’ve been there, lol. I know I went to a space center somewhere (Houston, possibly?). Well, wherever I went, it was awesome.
Space stuff is awesome. It’s all so freaking huge, except when you get to the pods where the people were, and they’re tiny. Then you realize, all these people went up in space, strapped onto ginormous rockets.
I would never survive in space, cramped up like that. Eek. At the Aerospace Smithsonian museum, they had the original Apollo 11 capsule. And while being unbelievably awesome, I can’t imagine they fit 3 guys in there for a few days. How did they not go insane?
I know! My dad was in a submarine for years. Same thing–I’d lose it.
You meandered your way down? So you may have passed through the Hudson Valley in NY where I live. 🙂 My son lives in Washington and I can verify the subway ticketing machine caused me major stress. Luckily at the time I asked a teenager who was coming through to help, but they ended up giving me their ticket that was good for the weekend and they didn’t need. After that I went with my son and it was 1,2,3, he bought me a ticket. What I did discover though was that I was trying to use a $20 bill and it wouldn’t take that. sheesh.
Very possibly! All I know is we took the 219. Does that sound familiar?
Since you wished me luck against mosquitos on my trip to Canada, I hope your trip to DC is free of swooping bald-eagle attacks!
Thanks! I did avoid all the eagles, although I had a close encounter with a particularly friendly native.
If you ended up in the Pentagon lot, then that is the safest place for a spy–or not. 🙂
Technically it was just the parking lot. So I guess that makes me a spy/valet?
I was with you all the way up until you started using that infernal metric system to describe your speed. Ugh! Have you forgotten you have American readers? A conversion would only be appropriate. 😉 Cool that you’re having fun. Hope your “privacy concerns” don’t mean you’ll turn up on America’s Most Wanted. You know, with your spy stuff. 🙂
Ha, sorry. My infernal metric system caused me a lot of trouble when trying to convert your infernal non-metric highway speed system. I’m used to going 100 km/h, and then I see signs for 65 mph. I know it’s basically the same thing, but 100 sounds way faster than 65!
You are so right. Certain parts of the book just get very though to get through.
Oh I’ve always wanted to go to Washington. Is it worth it?
It was really awesome. The Lincoln Memorial is just awe-inspiring, even if you aren’t American (like me), and the Smithsonian museums, especially the Aerospace musuem, are fantastic.