Now in the Stern family Danielle is known as the ET – experienced traveller. She has recently been promoted to ETS – experienced traveller supremo given her prowess for the matter. However I have been demoted to idjit after my most recent stupidity.
I was booked to arrive at JFK airport in New York at 10:45 Saturday morning and wanted to book a side trip to Washington DC to spend a few days with the Snows. No problem one simply goes online and books it – nice and cheap and just a few clicks. I must state that I was aware when I booked it that I needed to fly out of JFK but stupidly (1) booked out of La Guardia and (2) only left myself 105 minutes between flights. I go online to see how long it takes between airports and how long one should leave between flights. The first article says that landing at 09:30 and expecting to transfer airports and leave at 12:30 is cutting it too fine – sheit I need to do it in about half of that.
Anyways I look at other flights and trains and car rentals so that I know what is available if I miss the connection and my sorrowful eyes don’t impress the check-in staff. All’s well that ends well – we arrive 20 minutes early, there is absolutely nobody in the immigration hall and the luggage comes down quickly by most standards and finally the taxi realising my concern raced me here. So now I arrive and am all checked in by 11:05 and find that the flight is almost empty and there is nobody in the check in queues so am ruing having to wait 1½ hours between flights.
One of the good aspects of Washington is the proximity of Reagan (formerly IAD) airport to the city – about 6kms so a quick ride to the hotel.
I do love Washington DC as it is one of those places that one can spend two weeks and only scratch the surface. Some out of the way attractions like Jefferson’s Home Monticello, George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery are simply delightful. Apart from my liking of the city I am so looking forward to getting to an English speaking country. While my French is passable, my German pretty good and my Polish just enough to get by I am so over not hearing English for what has now been 38 days.
It was good to spend time here with Judy Snow who decided on Washington DC s a prelude to the family celebrating Dani’s 21st birthday in sin city – Las Vegas. Seeing good friends after such a long time away is so good.
Rather than go through the last four days individually I can summarise it as follows:
- 2½ hour bus tour of the city
- White House
- Washington Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Holocaust Memorial: I remember being most moved last time by the finishing exhibit of Daniel’s diary and so it was again.
- both wings of the National Gallery: they have an outstanding collection of impressionist art – Cezanne, Monet, Manet, Picasso and some others that I have introduced myself to.
- Gallery of African Art; some superb pieces made from flattened bottle tops which one does not realise without a very close inspection.
- Smithsonian Air and Space: better enjoyed with one’s kids or grandchildren I suspect.
- National Sculpture Garden: One exceptional piece by Roy Lichtenstein – a house that seems to move (change perspective) as one walks along it – like is it inside out or outside in.
- Tour of Arlington Cemetery and Kennedy’s Grave: very moving as always
- Tour of Library of Congress: exceptionally interesting this time as I did the guided tour which I didn’t do last time. The history of the building and understanding the collection is an experience. For photos have a look at
http://www.tinyurl.com/5ptbmz - Tour of Capital and houses of Congress: excellent if not overpowered by the high level of security.
- Union Station: one of the most impressive buildings imaginable. It was when built the largest footprint of any building in the US. For photos have a quick look at the following and see if you agree.
http://www.tinyurl.com/5bvqar - Georgetown: Great old world charm shopping and eating district
- Some retail therapy: basically fruitless though
- Really good restaurants researched from the internet:
I am sure I have left some things out but you get the message. While the list looks impressive there is a lot more I could have done.
My time here has reminded me of how much I truly love this city. The architecture is simply marvellous – a mix of Roman and Versailles. Many of the buildings are such that one could be in a Roman senatorial building while others have clear French influence. If a any readers have not visited Washington DC I would simply say that it is a must do. And the evening lighting is so well done on almost every building in the city.
One other thing we did do was go to a show called Shear Madness at the Kennedy Centre. This show is basically a comedy, murder whodunit interactively with the audience. It has been running for 20 years and again I would recommend it to anybody lucky enough to have the opportunity to see it – also in Boston. https://www.shearmadness.com/
Postscript to Sacher Cafe Innsbruck: As is my want I wrote to Sacher about my bad experience at their cafe and they couldn’t have handled it better:
Dear Mr Stern,
We refer to your letter you sent us after your visit in our coffeehouse in Innsbruck. May I first of all apologize very much for the inconvenience you encountered that day at our Café Sacher Innsbruck which is controlled by a franchise partner.
We can assure you that we try our best to make the visit of our guests a most pleasant and unforgettable one, so I were deeply concerned to learn that our service staff was not as polite and attentive as necessary. Certainly this does not correspond to our philosophy, and you may rest assured that we will look into this unpleasant matter more closely.
Once again, I would like to thank you for informing us about it, as your constructive criticism helps us to maintain and improve our standard.
As a small compensation for your disappointment we will send you an Original Sacher-Torte, hoping that you will accept our sincere apologies.
Meanwhile I remain, hoping that you will visit us again during your next stay in Europe.
With best regards
As they ship cakes worldwide and they last for 18 days I will make it back in
time to enjoy it.
Anyway on to New York. Usual crap at the airport. When I came down my bag weighed 56lbs – no problems nothing said. On the way back I am asked if I have one bag to check in – obviously in some language not understood by the Delta check in staff I say yes just the large one – weighing 59lbs now – must have eaten at the same restaurants as me thinks I. That will be $105 she says – what says I – yes two bags and overweight she replies - In very slow monosyllabic words I explain I only have one bag – Oh then it will only be $80 for the extra 9lbs. I start emptying the heavier bits and pieces mumbling under my breath whether the fact I am on an international ticket and doesn’t that matter – finally she resolves that I can have two bags (y-a-w-n) but that none can weight more than 50lbs – I always travel with a spare bag and lock inside my suitcase so it was all solved. With the plane half empty – always is when the flight is only 45 minutes never when it is 14 hours I arrive very relaxed – until that is it takes me 2 hours to get to my hotel as I save $38 using the shuttle ($16) rather than the cab ($55) not a bad hourly rate I guess.
Arrive at the hotel – no booking for me – seems they lost or I forgot to add the day earlier which I was arriving – no problem all sorted – but of course the room isn’t ready for 1½ hours. Who would travel of their own free will.....
Anyway weather is warm and sunny so will do some serious walking this afternoon but I want to try and get a ticket for Jersey Boys first.
Love to all and only 9 days till I get back
David
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