Play by ear trip of Washington D.C.

The fact is, our entire six months trip had a play by ear approach for the day today activities, even the week to week. We had the Kuala Lumpur - Paris, London - Columbus - London, then Paris - Kuala Lumpur itinerary fixed prior to our departure from Kuala Lumpur, but the rest of our trip was planned on the go. More so of Washington D.C. It was planned for three full days, but we end up with only two full days, one rest day and one traveling day (to New York). I count traveling day for it can be the most happening of being on the road.

Fresh from watching Mr Smith Goes to Washington, we arrived at the Nation Capital a day late. Everything was fine except we traveled at night on the bus instead of getting our sleep in bed.  After a rest and a nap at the hotel, we went back to the city to begin our day one exploration. Mainly getting ourselves familiar with the train routes, as well planning our coming days. We then returned to the hotel for our luggage and went to look for our couchsurfer host house, Mr & Mrs G. Digi was thrilled to be walking on the street of Washington D.C. and actually going to be staying with two of its residents.  "Technically, we are to be neighbors with the President, mum." Alright, I guess it is clear that the White House was our 1st destination.

The President lives here , and we were then his new nosy neighbors.

Next was the case of having too many museums to see and having too little time at hand. Best method was probably by tossing a coin, in deciding the left or the right monument or museum to see. Digi had one museum he did not want to miss, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. And I wanted him to see the Smithsonian National Museums of Natural History. So that was how we spent our next two full days in the Nation Capital, circling the White House and checking what time permitted between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Hill. Still I've a feeling, we could had been here for a week or a month, and still have more to see.

At Lincoln's Feet

National Gallery of Art

Digi's way of looking at artifacts or art works of his choice is from every direction, and read its every description. Better still if he could touch, use or wear them. Constraint by time or by my tired legs I tend to give everything a glance here and there and move on, or sit down and just observe from my corner. Digi had no tired legs until bedtime. So to overcome our differences in observation methods and legs capacity, we followed a simple plan, he would take me to a wing (of a particular museum) and left me resting at the entrance (which usually has a seat or two), maybe reading a map or the museum's information pamphlets while he toured the wing by himself. Once that particular wing was done he picked me up like a parcel and dropped me at the next wing's entrance. Sometimes I followed him all the way, sometimes half way then returned to my designated entrance. Someday he is going to reminiscence on this as, "how I took my mum museum hopping."

Breakfast at Mr & Mrs G

Washington D.C is definitely on our list to visit again. I'm attracted to the people, felt like every nation on earth  has a representative in the city. The grocery not too far from our host's house sells everything, including whole coconut. And everyone are taking public transports. This is almost opposite of Columbus, that those who are taking public transports are the ones without their own. But in Washington D.C. our host Mr. G chose to cycle to work. I really like that.

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