Springing with Highlights

From time to time, my RE students have posed questions about my personal interests.

One student asked me about my favorite place to travel.  While I have visited many wonderful locations, one place that rises to the top is Washington, D.C.

It is an illustrious city that has many sites that speak to what the United States is, especially the monuments, museums, and government institutions.  More recently, I've come to appreciate it as a destination of spiritual pilgrimage.  Over the past 10 years, I've had numerous layovers in Washington, D.C., in between trains while traveling to locations along the Eastern Seaboard, which have enhanced my appreciation for Washington, D.C.

View of the Washingon, D.C., National Mall skyline from Arlington, VA

It was fitting that this student posed the question to me right before I traveled there for a family vacation.

Two days after the class when I addressed the answer to that question, on the morning of Thursday, March 24, I was up early and ready to go when Dad arrived at home with my grandma Abuela.  We were on our way around 8:30 AM CDT, headed east.  (Please note, most of our trip was in the Eastern time zone, so all times are EDT, except where otherwise noted.  And, as typical with my posts, all photos are mine unless otherwise noted.)

We picked up I-65 in northwest Indiana and rode it to Indianapolis, where we headed east on I-70.  Along the way, we munched on various foods for lunch.  I was also excitedly exchanging messages with my friend who was with his wife at the first ultrasound appointment for their child.  

We stopped just east of the Indiana-Ohio border at a rest stop.  

Display on the National Road at the first rest stop along eastbound I-70 in Ohio

There, I got in the driver's seat and took us all the way east to Columbus, arriving around 3:30 PM EDT.  In Columbus, we visited the Ohio Statehouse.  On a previous family road trip to Wasington, D.C., we visited the grounds but were unable to go inside since it was after hours.  So I could say that I had visited the Ohio state capitol, with an asterisk.  At long last, I was able to drop the asterisk.

We toured the rotunda, looked at the house and senate chambers, looked around at some of the other rooms, and viewed the exhibits.  It was notable to see that some of the hearing rooms were named for US presidents.  I was also intrigued to see a portrait of Abraham Lincoln when he gave speech in this building while on his way to Washington, D.C., to assume the US presidency.  And I was impressed with the artwork celebrating the brilliant inventors Orville and Wilbur Wright and Thomas Edison, all native Ohioans.  

Looking up into the rotunda

The Senate Chamber

Painting with Thomas Edison

The House Chamber

Official gubernatorial portrait of Bob Taft, grandson of President William Howard Taft

Painting that shows the Wright brothers

Mom took this photo of my posing inside the rotunda.

We departed about 5 PM.  I requested to be dropped off at Holy Trinity Parish in northern Columbus for 5:30 Mass, while everyone else went to the hotel we booked for that night.

I arrived at the end of Eucharistic adoration, which immediately preceded Mass.  Following a more traditional approach to liturgy, the Mass was for the Vigil of the Annunciation.  The Church sanctuary was stunning in its design--please see the photo below--and helped draw me into a reverent state for encountering God's presence, as did the reverent demeanor of those gathered who I saw around me.

Around 6:30, they came to pick me up, and we went to dinner at Bob Evan's.  It was fitting to go there because I found out later that the headquarters of Bob Evan's is in the Columbus suburb of New Albany, OH.  While I enjoy turkey, I decided to try out the honey chicken dinner.

We were back at the hotel by 8 o'clock.

I was up early the next morning on Friday, March 25.  Dad, Abuela, and I went to 6:40 Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Westerville.  The Church building was stunningly impressive, especially the artwork inside, including a piece over the altar with several saints, which is in the photo below.  

I was glad to be there because this was the day when Pope Francis consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the priest offered a special prayer toward the end of Mass, following the Eucharist.

Here I am posing by the front doors of the church, underneath a verse from one of St. Paul's epistles.

We returned to the hotel for breakfast.  I enjoyed a nice waffle and some pastries.  Then Mom and I took a walk to a nearby store for some fruit, which I discovered was a Filippino grocery store.

We were on our way by 9:15, headed east on I-70.  

Crossing the Ohio River from Ohio into West Virginia's northern panhandle, near Wheeling

We drove through the tip of West Virginia's northern panhandle and then entered Pennsylvania.  Mom's phone directions took us off I-70 onto a tollroad for a short time and then onto US 40.  We followed the rise and fall of the mountain highlands.  Meanwhile, Dad found a radio station that aired live coverage of the consecration at the Vatican.

Around 1 PM, we saw a restaurant on the side of the road, Braddock's, in Farmington, and we decided to stop there for lunch.  I got a hot open-faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes.  It had a rustic, homey setting that was quite delightful.

Seeing a sign for Fort Necessity on the side of the road, I requested we make a short stop there, and so we visited there between 2-2:30 PM.  This visit took me back to middle school social studies when we learned about this engagement between French troops and British troops led by George Washington at this quickly-constructed fort at the start of the French-British War in 1754, not far from the French stronghold of Fort Duquesne, which is now the site of Pittsburgh.  Mom and I took a short walk to the site of the reconstructed fort.  Then we took a quick look at the exhibits inside the visitors' center, which included info on Fort Necessity and also the National Road, which we were following while riding US 40.

Mom took this photo of me standing in front of a reconstruction of Fort Necessity

Continuing along, we entered Maryland, and passed through Cumberland, going over the railroad tracks on which I've traveled onboard the Capitol Limited numerous times.  We also made a gas stop.  The drive was so scenic in the Appalachian Highlands, as we made our way onto I-68 and then I-70.

Around 4 PM, we reached the outskirts of the DC Metro Area, switching to I-270, and then the I-495 Beltway, and into Virginia, where we got on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and crawled through peak PM traffic.  We arrived at our hotel, the Club Wyndham Old Town Alexandria Resort around 6 PM.

We were greeted upon our arrival at the resort with this cherry tree in bloom.

After we checked in and settled into our unit, I was eager to embrace the mild conditions and went for a bike ride.  I got a Capital Bikeshare bike, and biked into the heart of Old Town Alexandria, and then south along Royal Street to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and then over the Potomac from Virginia, through the southern tip of the District of Columbia, and into Maryland.  

View at the eastern end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, looking from Maryland toward Virginia to the west

Near the center point of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge looking toward the north over the Potomac River

View at the western end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, looking from Virginia toward Maryland to the east

I got a thrilling sensation as I glided along the slopes on the pedestrian/bike path along the north side of the bridge.  And Alexandria has such a sense of class, and I was glad to be back there again.  I was back around 7:45, and we had dinner, which was dishes from Whole Foods.

The next morning, Saturday, March 26, we departed shortly after 8 AM for the Silver Diner in Arlington, where we met Naomi and Eric for breakfast.  They enjoy eating there regularly, and Eric arranged a post-birthday breakfast for all of us in celebration of my birthday.  I enjoyed pancakes with pistachios and fruit.  It was a great time visiting with them.

Our server was kind enough to get this family photo. From left to right, Abuela, Eric, Naomi, Mom, me, and Dad.

Following breakfast, we went to their apartment and visited with them so more, along with Weasley.  He was super eager to lick the peanut butter jar we brought for him, and give us and our shoes the nasal appraisal.

Eric took this photo of my posing by Weasley's bed as he enjoys the peanut butter jar.  Below is my posing with Weasley as Naomi holds on to him as well.  I'm uncertain who took the photo below.

Abuela, Mom, Dad, and I departed around 11 o'clock, and walked about a block away to where we could see the Marine Corps Memorial and look over the Potomac toward Washington, D.C.  

The Marine Corps Memorial

Then we got back in the car and crossed the Potomac, joining throngs of cars with people eager to see the cherry blossoms.  We found a spot to pull over to get a few photos.

Above and below are views of the cherry blossoms aside the Potomac River.

I then headed off on my own. I walked through the throngs of people and got some photos along the Tidal Basin.  

Looking toward the Jefferson Memorial

A fellow visitor got this photo of me, with the Tidal Basin in the background.

Here's the view by the Washington Monument, and if you look closely, you can see kites flying as part of a Kite-Flying Festival.

Then I got on the Metro at the Smithsonian Station, pleasantly surprised to learn that the Metro now has $2 flat fares on the weekends.  I rode to Union Station to get a quick lunch.  

From there, I rode the Red Line up to the Brookland-CUA station so I could visit one of the most profound places in the world, and one of my favorite places to visit, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  This church cements why I see Washington, D.C., as a place of spiritual pilgrimage, in addition to an important city of government and patriotic sites.

East-side exterior of the National Shrine with cherry blossoms in bloom, shining in the sunlight that emerged later in the day

The Shrine was in the midst of a 40-Hour Devotion. I went to the Chapel for Our Lady of Lourdes to spend 31 minutes in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, 1 minute for each year of my life, a profound time of quiet prayer in such a special place.  My prayer time truly added something profound to my birthday celebration that was 10 days prior.

Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel: Appearing near the base of the statue in the recreated grotto is the monstrance.

I then lingered around the Shrine for a while, and took a quick walk to the National Shrine of St. John Paul II.  I was back for 4:30 Mass, a special liturgy to conclude the 40-Hour Devotion, celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Broglio, of the Archdiocese of Military Services.  In his homily, he spoke about the supreme importance of the Lord present in the Eucharist, and I feel the liturgy itself helped create substantial focus on that important reality.  After communion, there was Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  (If you click on the link, you can view the archived video, and you'll see glimpses of me, especially in the recessional toward the end.)

The recessional at Mass: Archbishop Broglio is wearing a white-colored miter. Second from the left, the rector of the shrine, Monsignor Rossi, is in a darker purple chasuble.

It all ended shortly after 6 PM.  I immediately departed and walked to the Brookland-CUA station and made my way back to Alexandria first on the Red Line to Gallery Place-Chinatown, and then the Yellow Line, which has great views of the Mall when it emerges out of the tunnel and crosses the Potomac.  Once back, I joined everyone for dinner.

The next morning, Sunday, March 27, we four went to 8:30 Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria.  A plaque on the church notes it is the first Catholic Parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  I noticed many traditional liturgical elements, like the singing of the entrance antiphon, which was a special one for this day, Laetare Sunday, and I appreciated that special touch, along with the priest's insightful homily on the readings, which included the story of the son who wanders from the father in Luke 15.

Bell tower of St. Mary's Basilica

After Mass, we made a brief stop at Whole Foods and then returned to the hotel for breakfast.  Around 12:30, Dad, Abuela, and I left by car to visit the National Shrine.  By 2:30, they left to return to the hotel, and I went to the St. John Paul II Shrine.  I joined a group of women who asked if I knew where his shrine was, and I walked with them to show them the way.

One of those women took this photo of me with the cherry blossoms and the west side of the Shrine behind me.

I joined the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer at 3 PM, and then stayed in the Redemptor Hominbus Chapel for Eucharistic adoration, which was such a profoundly prayerful environment.

I was back at the National Shrine for Lenten Vespers at 4 PM.  

Here I am inside the Shrine before Vespers prayer started. Someone in the sanctuary kindly got this photo of me.

Last year, and this year, I watched the livestream of the Vespers regularly, and I was so glad to be there in the church for Vespers this Sunday.  It's a stirring experience with the incense and the chanting in such a grand space.  (You can view an archived video of the livestream here, and you'll see glimpses of me, in a red shirt.)  The liturgy finished by 4:30, and soon thereafter, I was on my way to the Brookland-CUA station.  This time, I rode one stop north to Fort Totten and then transferred to the Yellow Line.  While enroute, I joined my friends for our weekly Bible study gathering.

Upon walking into the unit, Naomi and Eric were already there visiting with Mom and Abuela.  Soon, Dad arrived with our dinner from Pita House.  I had chicken and beef shawarma.  It was a great time of visiting with all 6 of us together.

I was up before 7 AM the following morning, Monday, March 28.  Around 7:40, I was out the door and walked the short distance to the Alexandria Amtrak Station. I boarded Amtrak Northeast Regional Train #86 northbound to Philadelphia.  It very much reminded me of my trip there 6 years ago this coming summer.

Train #86 arrives at the Alexandria Amtrak Station, appearing toward the background of this photo

The morning sun shines down on the Potomac as Train #86 crosses into Washington, D.C.

A woman across the aisle photographed me a few minutes before Northeast Regional Train #86 arrived in Philadelphia.

The train arrived in Philadelphia shortly before 11 AM.  After I got my bag stored at the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, I boarded the SEPTA commuter train corridor and rode it to the Jefferson Station, included in the price of my Amtrak fare to Phildelphia, and went on foot from there to Independence Hall for the 11:40 tour.  Sarah, a ranger, led our tour.  It meant much for me to visit this important historic site again. I liked how there was a different narration on the tour than the first time I did it 6 years ago, and Sarah highlighted different aspects of the building and the larger story in which it fits.

Above is inside the Assembly Room, and toward the right appears Sarah, the ranger tour guide.  Below, I pose outside Independence Hall, and a fellow visitor was kind enough to photograph me.

Once the tour ended shortly after noon, I went to 8th Street to board the PATCO train for a joy ride across the Delaware River to set foot in New Jersey for the first time in my life.  I was thrilled that the train emerged from the tunnel and traveled on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, so that I could take in some great views during the crossing--I wasn't sure if I would be crossing the river underneath the surface of the earth.  

Here's the view of the Delaware River, looking south.

Toward the eastern end of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, before the train entered the tunnel

To make sure I could keep on schedule, I stayed on street level in Camden for just a couple of minutes and got some photos, including the impressive Camden City Hall, which is in the photo below.  

I enjoyed the views again as the train crossed back into Pennsylvania.  

The westbound PATCO train arrives at the City Hall Station

View of the Delaware River, looking north

View of Philadelphia from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge by the western shore of the Delaware River

Once I was back in Philadelphia, I went straight to the Jefferson Station to board the SEPTA train back to the 30th Street Station.

I retrieved my bag from storage, and then waited in the Metropolitan Lounge for a momentous experience, my first ride on the Acela train, in first class.  The lounge had a narrow configurement, but it was still a nice, quiet space to wait for the train, and enjoy free beverages and snacks.  

the Metropolitan Lounge

The info board in the lounge shows Acela Train #2159 near the middle of the list.

When it was boarding time, an employee took me down an elevator to the platform.  Train #2159 arrived right about on time at 2:10.  

Above and below are scenes on the platform as Acela Train #2159 arrives.

By the door, you can see Selema, the car attendant for first-class.

I had a single seat at a table across from a woman who had already been seated long before I boarded.  Well into the ride, I eventually realized it was Rosa DeLauro, a member of the US House from the district around New Haven, CT.

Part of the first-class Acela experience is at-seat meal service.  I ordered Lamb Tagine, which came with a roll, and a lemon blueberry cookie.  I also ordered Watermelon Lime sparkling water, and requested a second one later as we got closer to the end of the trip. Below is a photo of my meal. 

I could definitely sense the incredibly fast speed of the Acela, which goes as high as 135 mph, and it was also a smooth ride, given the technology and design of the train cars.

A woman seated with a group near me photographed me at my seat during our stop in Baltimore.

Here's the configurement of where I sat at the table.

We arrived at Washington Union Station right about on time at 4 PM.  

Here's the Acela engine after arrival at Washington, D.C.

Here I pose for a selfie by the Acela engine on the platform at Washington, D.C., Union Station.

I lingered there in the Club Acela Lounge for a few minutes.  Acela First-Class Service was a pricey experience, but I was glad I took the opportunity to savor the experience and see what it was like, given how much I enjoy train travel.  And it was enjoyable.

Then I boarded the Red Line and rode it to Farragut North, and from there, walked to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle for 5:30 Mass.  As I remember it from nearly a year ago, the inside artwork is stunning.

Once Mass ended, I walked to the Farragut West Station where I rode the Blue Line to King Street.  Upon arriving back at the unit, I joined my family for dinner.

On Tuesday, March 29, we left shortly before 10 AM for our day outing in the northern part of Washington, D.C.  First, we visited the National Shrine of Pope St. John Paul II, which has a great exhibit extensively covering his life with lots of great items on display, including gifts and even his skis.  

His skis

Memorabilia from his 1979 trip to the USA

A miter from one of his Africa trips

Display for World Youth Day

At noon, I went to the main chapel to attend Mass.

Pope St. John Paul II Statue on the west side of the outside grounds 

Following Mass, we had lunch at Wendy's.  From there, we went to the Armed Forces Retirement Home Complex for the 2 PM tour of the Lincoln Summer Cottage.  Back in the 19th Century, the site was on the outskirts of Washington city.  Abraham Lincoln spent multiple summers at the home, which was privately built a few years prior and then became part of a complex for veterans in need of care.

Johnny, our tour guide, took our group around the home, and shared stories that connected with the larger narrative of history at the time during the Sectional War.  There were certain points when he played audio and video clips.  It was a great tour, especially in how the narration enhanced our experience in the setting of the house.  

Above and below are views of the house's exterior.

Mom took this photo of me as I pose by a statue of President Lincoln by his horse.

Following the tour, we looked around at the exhibits in the visitors' center, and then made a couple more stops before returning to Alexandria.  There, around 6 PM, we went to dinner at Bob and Edith's Diner, a restaurant just around the block from the hotel entrance, which had just opened in that spot on King Street.  We had a pretty good meal.

Bob and Edith's Diner

On Wednesday, March 30, we went on a day outing outside of the DC Metro Area, since Mom and Dad had business in Dover.  Abuela and I accompanied them.

We rode the I-495 Beltway across the Potomac on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and into Maryland.  Near New Carrollton, we got on US 50 headed eastbound.  Eventually, we crossed over the Chesapeake Bay on the Bay Bridge, which had spectacular views, as did the bridges over the Severn River by Annapolis and the Narrows.

Above is the view looking east as we cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and below is the view looking to the south.

We mostly drove through rural farmland, even as we entered Delaware and then got close to Dover.

By 10:30, we had arrived at the Delaware Legislative Hall.  

Abuela and I got out and went inside for a visit.  We looked inside the House and Senate Chambers, and walked through the hallways, with a good amount of artwork.  I was particularly intrigued to see the items under a plexiglass-type covering on the desks in the chambers, including handwritten notes.  Both chambers also had artwork depicting scenes from Delaware history.  Of all the state capitols I've visited, this building was probably one of the smaller ones.  Though it was built in the 1930's, it has the look of 18th-Century-style architecture.

the Delaware State House Chamber

the Delaware State Senate Chamber, from the viewing gallery

Staircase in the central part of the building, with the doors for the Governor's office appearing in the middle

Around 11:30 or so, we finished our visit there, and walked along grassy promenades over to The Green.  We ended up at the Cobblestone Cafe to get a quick bite to eat.  I ordered homemade hummus, which was really tasty.  Then we walked to the Delaware Shoppes to browse the wares--please see the photo below.  

We struck up a nice conversation with the employee there, who shared that on the site of the building was once the Golden Fleece Tavern, where a group of people approved Delaware's ratification of the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, the first state to do so.  He also shared about his train travels.  After our time there, we walked to the Old Statehouse, and went on a short tour, led by Steven, one of the docents.  He talked about the courtroom, which was on the main level where we entered.  Then we went upstairs and looked at the old house and senate chambers.

Courtroom on the first floor

Old Senate Chamber

Old House Chamber

The exterior of the building

By 1:30, Mom and Dad arrived to pick us up.  We swung back over to the Legislative Hall where I got some pictures of the minutemen statue, which are in the two photos below.  

Then, we made our way west back to Alexandria.  Along the way, we stopped at a Wawa just east of the Bay Bridge--in the photo below--for gas and food.  

Before this day, the only thing I knew about Wawa was that it was a convenience store chain that sponsors the Independence Day festivities in Philadelphia.  I was very pleased with Wawa's food offerings, and I enjoyed my turkey sandwich.  

We were back in Alexandria by 4 PM.  The cloudy skies had dispersed and let forth lots of sunshine, and it warmed a little bit.  So I decided to go for a bike ride.  This time, I went to the Waterfront, where I walked around, and then to Jones Point Park, just to the south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and went a short distance on the Mount Vernon Trail.  I also rode through the old Wilkes Street railroad tunnel, which is now a pedestrian/bike path.  By 6 PM, I was back at the hotel, and we had dinner.  Following dinner, I joined my faith-sharing group via Zoom.

On Thursday, March 31, I was out the door shortly after 8 AM, and went to St. Joseph Church for 8:30 Mass, biking much of the way there.  Mass was held in the chapel in the basement of the rectory next to the church.  I have much fondness for this parish, where I experienced such a warm welcome three years ago after meeting parishioners from there at World Youth Day 2019, and I felt that strong spirit of welcome again this day.

Dad picked me up, and upon my return, I had breakfast.  Around 10 AM, we four departed for our day outing.  We rode the Yellow Line to visit the National Archives.  It's always an inspiring experience to behold the important foundational documents displayed in such splendor and to join so many other people who were there to view and appreciate them as well.  We also took a look at the Public Vaults exhibit and the Magna Carta display.

Someone in the family photographed my posing on Constitution Avenue outside the National Archives building.

From around 12 noon to 1:30, we visited the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian Museum of American Art.  We first visited the portraits on the 3rd floor.  Then we went to see the Presidential exhibit one floor below.  And after that, we walked through the splendid Courtyard in search of the Preamble License Plate display, but, upon learning it had moved, then went to the 3rd floor to view it.

Here I pose by Dr. Percy Julian's portrait.  I think Dad took this photo and the one below, where I appear by the Preamble art piece.

The atrium inside the museum

Then it was time for lunch.  We went across 9th Street to eat at The Smith.  I had a chicken sandwich with a variety of saucy toppings and some garden greens.  Abuela and I split a cheesecake cannoli.

Shortly after 3 PM, we got back on the Yellow Line and rode it to King Street.  Since the forecasted rain was holding off, I went on another bike, this time going down to the Waterfront, and then up north on the trail going toward Daingerfield Island.

Looking east across the Potomac River

Looking south with US 1 off to the right

Looking toward the Potomac River at Park

I arrived back at the hotel around 6 PM.  We four soon left for dinner at Los Cuates, a nice Mexican place.  I got chicken in a saffron sauce with white rice, black beans, and veggies, along with Passion Fruit Juice, and I enjoyed thoroughly it.  

Here's my meal at Los Cuates, and below is a photo of the front of the restaurant.

Following dinner, we went about a block away to the Casa Rosada Artisan Gelato place for dessert.  I got mango sorbet and strawberry banana flavor together in the same cup.  It was tasty just like the last time I had it three years ago with Mom.  We enjoyed a splendid spring evening outside with our gelato.

Dad got this photo of me with my gelato.  Mom and Abuela appear to the left.

Later, after we returned to our hotel, the winds picked up, and there was a severe thunderstorm that rolled miles to the north, which triggered a tornado warning.

The next morning, as we started a new month on Friday, April 1, I was out the door shortly after 7:30, and rode the free bus down King Street to Royal Street.  Then I walked a short distance south to the Basilica of St. Mary, where I attended 8 AM Mass.  Once it finished, I lit some prayer candles for my students.  And then I went back north to King Street, and rode the bus west a few blocks, then disembarked and went south to the Executive Diner, where I met everyone else for breakfast.  I had French toast, topped with powdered sugar and berries.  I also got a fruit bowl, a biscuit, and citrus tea.

After returning to the hotel, I got on the Yellow Line, which would be one final time to admire the amazing views from the bridge crossing over the Potomac.  I got off at L'Enfant Plaza and then rode the Orange/Blue/Silver line corridor one stop to Smithsonian.  Upon emerging from the station, I strolled north across the National Mall, admiring the views of the monuments, the Smithsonian museums, and the US Capitol.

A fellow visitor got this photo of me on the National Mall.

I headed for the National Museum of American History, having in mind one particular exhibit: the Star-Spangled Banner flown after the US victory at Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814.  I then wandered around the museum to look at other displays, including the lunchboxes by the cafeteria, Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz (and a docent was there to share more details about them), the First Ladies' gowns, White House china, the presidential exhibit, and an early steam train engine.  It was also so fascinating.  I was in company with school students milling about on long-distance trips to Washington, D.C.

Dorothy's ruby slippers

A fellow visitor got my pose with the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit entrance in the background.

Laura Bush wore the red gown.

A fellow visitor got this photo of me by the early steam train engine

Around 12:15, I departed the museum at the Constitution Avenue entrance and walked to the Federal Triangle Metro Station.  I rode the Orange/Blue/Silver Line corridor to Rosslyn, where I was to meet Mom, Dad, Abuela, Naomi, and Eric.  While waiting for them, I walked around the area near the station to find lunch, and decided to make a smart choice by getting a slice of Margherita pizza at Wiseguy.  I also got a poppy seed mini-bagel from Bethesda Bagel.  

Mom, Dad, and Abuela were there right after 1 PM.  A few minutes later, Naomi and Eric arrived, and then we began our visit at The View of DC.  We went up 31 floors from street level to the observation deck, in a glass elevator that showed the view while ascending.  At the observation level, we had amazing views of the District of Columbia, the Potomac River, and suburban Virginia--no joke about it.  In some respects, going to the View of DC was like saving the best for last, giving us new perspectives of the place where we had spent this past week on our final full day in the area.

View looking north toward Georgetown and the Washington National Cathedral, with the Francis Scott Key Bridge closer to the foreground

View looking south along the Potomac

This view looks south, with the George Washington National Masonic Memorial Temple appearing near the center.

Dad photographed me here.  To the right of me is the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Looking toward the National Mall

Following our visit, we went to the Assembly food court across the street.  I got some sweet potato fries.  A few minutes after 3 PM, we got on the Blue Line and rode it back to King Street.  I stopped inside the hotel briefly and then rode the bus along King Street and then went to the post office to get postcard stamps.  I then took a short bike ride back to Jones Point Park.  

The Wilkes Street Tunnel, once serving a railroad line, now functions as a bike path.

The small stone pillars are boundary markers at Jones Point Park

Underneath the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, with the waters of the Potomac

The Alexandria Waterfront

As I made my way back along King Street, Dad called to say he was getting dinner, so I went to meet him at Whole Foods.

We were back at our unit with our dinners by 6 PM.  I got pizza and some veggies.  Following dinner, I wrote a bunch of postcards.  Then I went outside to look around one last time at Alexandria, all lit up splendidly in the night.

There are lights on the trees.  In the distance, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial Temple is lit up in yellow and blue in solitary with Ukraine.

Our day started early on Saturday, April 2, 2022.  Following breakfast, last-minute packing, and then some, we departed shortly after 7 AM, with the sun shining brightly.  The GPS on Mom's device directed us onto the I-495 Beltway.  

Riding on the south side of I-495 Beltway toward the western side

We rode the western side of it through suburban Virginia into Maryland, and then picked up I-270, and then I-70.  Soon after reaching Pennsylvania, we got on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Breezewood.  We made a brief stop in southwestern Pennsylvania at a rest stop.  

The view of the Appalachians

We made another stop for gas in eastern Ohio, along the Ohio Turnpike.  We stopped at the Middle Ridge Travel Plaza near Amherst, for lunch around 1:30 PM.  I was pleased that Panera was there, and I ordered a turkey BLT sandwich with cream of chicken and wild rice soup.

We stopped for gas in northeast Indiana, and then Dad and I switched, and I drove through most of Indiana.  I pulled off the Indiana Tollroad at the rest stop in Lake Station where Dad and I switched, and he drove us all the way back to Chicagoland.  We arrived at 1036 in Oak Park around 5:30 PM CDT.

It's customary that when I return from a trip, people ask me how it was, especially if they knew I was gone.  I kept telling people that this trip was filled with highlights for me.  It was wonderful to spend time with my family going on this trip, and being with my family there, now with a family connection to the area, which is one way I have experienced the area anew.  I'm grateful to the hospitality we received from Eric, Naomi, and Weasley.

And it was an opportunity to be inspired once again by that place that encapsulates the United States of America.  The sites there speak to the values and principles that we hold in high regard, and they are put into action through the workings of the government, even as they build upon the history that has happened for centuries there.  It's wonderful to be with other visitors who are seeking an up-close experience with the sites and what they contain and represent.

My side trip to Philadelphia was a great time to reconnect with history, and to take in the geography of the northeast, with a joy ride to New Jersey, and also experiencing First-class Acela service.  Going to Delaware was enjoyable, and I'm glad I can now add two more capitals officially to my list of state capitols I've visited.  There was also important history in Dover, since Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution.  The journey from Chicagoland to DC Metro Area and back was a great way to see the country, like the Ohio Statehouse, and especially going along the National Road through Pennsylvania and into Maryland.

It was excellent to enjoy the lodgings in Alexandria, a fine city.  I delighted in the opportunities to bike around it, especially over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge as another geographical experience.  Among the great sightseeing was one of the DC area's iconic annual events, the springtime cherry blossoms.

Once again, I was able to connect with places that speak to the importance of faith in my life, with so many beautiful churches in the DC area.  I felt a sense of spiritual refreshment when visiting various churches throughout the week, adding a special touch to my observance of Lent.

Indeed, even in a place hundreds of miles from home, there was so much there that resonates with my identity, and it was apt to have this experience days after celebrating my birthday.    This trip was ultimately a way to spend my time differently and reconnect with what's important in life by visiting these places and connecting with their deeper meaning.  I can count on Washington, D.C., to be a place where I can go deep and celebrate my identity in the overall identity of the United States of America.

God Bless the USA!

Abuela photographed me in front of the main entryway of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Dad photographed me at the View of DC.  Appearing behind me is the National Mall.  The US Capitol is partially covered by my head.