Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Going around on my own in DC
20th May 2008: After admiring the Capitol from various sides, I head for the Mall to the Air & Space Museum. The crowds are like the rush hour traffic at Churchgate. A full day is not enough to explore all the galleries..I particularly enjoy the history of the Wright brothers and their first flight, the trans-Atlantic flight of Charles Lindebergh and the Apollo missions to the Moon. The highlight is the 3D Imax movie on the Space Station, a collaborative effort of 16 countries including Russia and USA.
After a quick bite at McDonald's, the next stop is the National Art Galleries..the portrait by Leonardo da Vinci of Genevieve de Benci is of course the highlight. The new East wing has the lovely paintings and photos of Fontainbleu forest in France. The exhibit on treasures from the National Museum in Kabul has been just set up. I cant see it till Sunday.. now it is open only for the media..Of course I promise to come back later to see the treasures saved from all the wars and the Taliban.
The last stop of the day is the Botanic Gardens just next to the Capitol. The interesting medicinal plants are Digitalis purpura and the Madagascar periwinkle (source of Vinca alkaloids).
I don't have any photo I d and cant buy the tickets to Germantown. I thus go to Shady grove by Metro (Red Line) and Ebi picks me up graciously offering me a Starbucks Frapuchino..
After a quick bite at McDonald's, the next stop is the National Art Galleries..the portrait by Leonardo da Vinci of Genevieve de Benci is of course the highlight. The new East wing has the lovely paintings and photos of Fontainbleu forest in France. The exhibit on treasures from the National Museum in Kabul has been just set up. I cant see it till Sunday.. now it is open only for the media..Of course I promise to come back later to see the treasures saved from all the wars and the Taliban.
The last stop of the day is the Botanic Gardens just next to the Capitol. The interesting medicinal plants are Digitalis purpura and the Madagascar periwinkle (source of Vinca alkaloids).
I don't have any photo I d and cant buy the tickets to Germantown. I thus go to Shady grove by Metro (Red Line) and Ebi picks me up graciously offering me a Starbucks Frapuchino..
Exploring DC
Sat 17th May 2008: After a late breakfast we go off to see first the marvelous Gothic style Washington Cathedral so reminiscent of the Notre Dame. We just gape at the intricate stain glass windows and the crypts. The icing on the cake is the view for miles around from the church tower.
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Ebi shows us around his old digs and the college. The Gravelies point offers stunning views of the under bellies of the landing planes (to DCA).
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Smithsonian Natural History then offers equally stunning view of the
Hope Diamond.
It is impossible to see all the galleries at one go...brief glimpses of the Minerals + Gems, Dinosaurs & mammalian galleries..is all we can do..and a promise to myself to come again.
The dinnerat Pakistani "kabob" joint (Alexandria, Va) offers a delectable fare:
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Nihari, halim tandoor roti..Indian and Pakistanis. a sprinkling with their white or black spouses...we surely cant miss home over here
The last part of the day is post sunset visits to various Memorials: The second world war, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War, Vietnam .
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We surely look forwards to a well deserved sleep when we reach back after midnight.
Sun 18th May :We get up late. The remaining memorials are next on our agenda: Roosevelt, Jefferson
The drive takes us past the fashionable boutiques of George Town...
It is raining (jharmar as Eby puts it).. but chills us to the bone and we walk to the Holocaust Museum...it is surely worth the walk in the rain..The story of David the small child trapped in the Ghetto and then in the concentration camp is truly moving..The lunch is at the Museum cafe.
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How can we miss the photo opp at the White House? and finally Starbucks...
So we bid good bye to the city.
Monday 19th May is for rest and recuperation and laundry!!!
On Tuesday 20th May:
Ebi drops me early morning to catch the 815 commuter train from Germantown to Union Statiion Washington..
I walk past the Capitol..it is drizzling.. but am horrified when I find there is no SD card in teh camera...what a disaster
View Larger Map
Ebi shows us around his old digs and the college. The Gravelies point offers stunning views of the under bellies of the landing planes (to DCA).
View Larger Map
Smithsonian Natural History then offers equally stunning view of the
Hope Diamond. It is impossible to see all the galleries at one go...brief glimpses of the Minerals + Gems, Dinosaurs & mammalian galleries..is all we can do..and a promise to myself to come again.
The dinnerat Pakistani "kabob" joint (Alexandria, Va) offers a delectable fare:
View Larger Map
Nihari, halim tandoor roti..Indian and Pakistanis. a sprinkling with their white or black spouses...we surely cant miss home over here
The last part of the day is post sunset visits to various Memorials: The second world war, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War, Vietnam .
View Larger Map
We surely look forwards to a well deserved sleep when we reach back after midnight.
Sun 18th May :We get up late. The remaining memorials are next on our agenda: Roosevelt, Jefferson
The drive takes us past the fashionable boutiques of George Town...
It is raining (jharmar as Eby puts it).. but chills us to the bone and we walk to the Holocaust Museum...it is surely worth the walk in the rain..The story of David the small child trapped in the Ghetto and then in the concentration camp is truly moving..The lunch is at the Museum cafe.
View Larger Map
How can we miss the photo opp at the White House? and finally Starbucks...
So we bid good bye to the city.
Monday 19th May is for rest and recuperation and laundry!!!
On Tuesday 20th May:
Ebi drops me early morning to catch the 815 commuter train from Germantown to Union Statiion Washington..
I walk past the Capitol..it is drizzling.. but am horrified when I find there is no SD card in teh camera...what a disaster
Arrival in USA
After a long flight DL17 we arrive at JFK by 7 am. The Imm. & customs over, I rush to take the flight by 8 45 onwards to Atlanta. Atlanta is a very huge airport and from terminal A to B I have to descend many floors down and take a shuttle train.
The next flight is at 1 pm and I reach IAD by 2 15 after a choppy flight (DL1524). My hand bag has not come and I make a complaint at the DElta counter. But I get the bag as it comes with Mamma, Saifeebhai and Nafiben by the next flight.
We take the Super shuttle bus and reach Ebi's house. I am so glad to meet my son that I forget all my weariness. He has brought a Mini van for our trip.
A drive to the deer park:
View Larger Map
and a meal of undhia and off to sleep.
The next flight is at 1 pm and I reach IAD by 2 15 after a choppy flight (DL1524). My hand bag has not come and I make a complaint at the DElta counter. But I get the bag as it comes with Mamma, Saifeebhai and Nafiben by the next flight.
We take the Super shuttle bus and reach Ebi's house. I am so glad to meet my son that I forget all my weariness. He has brought a Mini van for our trip.
A drive to the deer park:
View Larger Map
and a meal of undhia and off to sleep.
Monday, May 19, 2008
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