I bet this is as good time as any to tell you guys about my time in Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
My original plan called for me to leave the car outside, get on-board the Metro system and get into the city. I had read everywhere that driving into the capital city would be a nightmare (which was not, as I found the following day). When you are traveling north on i-95, the subway system starts in Springfield-Francosia, Virginia. I hoped to meet up with my former roommate, Mark King and spend the day with him in the city, if thing went according to plan.
Since it was a weekend, parking space on the metro grounds in Springfield were plenty. In case you don't know, this was my induction into the metro system, for where I'm from we don't have it (Grinnell. I suppose they can put up one for me to go to class? :) ). Getting on to the main terminus, I found that everything seemed efficient. I mean, from buying the tickets (one day pass) at the automated machine to the boarding. I must say, using the metro system all, and the following day was awesome, and easy even for novices like me. The way it's set-up, even us from the wilderness can manage to navigate it easily. Although to many of you this will come as nothing, for me it: I often wonder at the ease with which I adapt to situations. I mean, by the end of the day it felt natural, such that if you don't know, you would think I been using/living in D.C for years. I was worried about parking, but the guy in charge at the station allayed my fears when he said, "It's a weekend, parking is for free."
The were lots of tourists strolling on the capital mall, when I was able to hook-up with Mark. He is doing an internship in D.C for the summer. It was great to see him again, hadn't seen him in while. Although he been in the city for some weeks, he still needs a map to navigate it. Walking past the Washington Memorial, I saw some people playing soccer, and I begged Mark if I could join them. However, Mark said no. It seemed people use the area about those monuments for recreational sports. It made me feel, how life in the city is relaxed and laid back, despite the threat of terrorist. I think, it is the envy of many abroad: I mean the ability of feel free, with the police and such relagated to the position of mere spectators.
Of all the places I visited, I didn't like the White House, but I did love the time spent in the Museum of History, the best place I ever been. I didn't like the White House, coz of the huge security cordon that they have put around it. When Abraham Lincoln was president, anybody was free to walk through the gates, and go greet him. That time of free access to the president, saw the greatest achievements that this country could achieve in a short time. He was not killed at the White house. The Smithsonian museums where awesome. I do hope that Americans still remember to thank that French guy who donated, in his will the money to the young struggling democracy. I don't remember his name, but I know that he did discover the original site of Troy, and that he could speak several languages etc. I liked the fact that the city had no tall buildings. Just great design. The city, being on a grid, was also easy to navigate (E'Fant, the French guy who was commission by G. Washington to design the city, was a pure genius).
I did drove through and around the city. Actually found parking space, and I visited those restaurants. I didn't forget to go pay respects at Arlington Cemetery. Again, since it is high tourist season, most of the places I visited when crowded. I saw people of different nationalities, speaking in different languages. Apparently, these historical sites are also a huge attractions for people from abroad. Like I said the other time, I hope commercialism won't hi-jack these sites, like it has done in other places I visited. Leaving D.C, in Baltimore I was lucky to stumble on the real American definition of summer. Circus! I got to ride the ferries wheel, and those roller-coasters. I have always wanted to do that, ever since I saw a documentary about them way back.
After Baltimore, driving on i-95, became pretty interesting. Consequently, I ditched that route. Instead, I decided to follow the unknown path, which saw me gallivanting the back-roads of PA.
