The journey South

Tuesday the 31st July, we are packed and ready for the road. The overwhelming feeling of the distance is broken down by the comforting thought of stopping in Washington DC for two nights. The capital of America. We leave Connecticut, cross the George Washington Bridge from New York into New Jersey, and from New Jersey into Delaware over the Memorial Bridge. The infrastructure and the distance between States becomes apparent when you are travelling on the road.

The Easy pass Express mechanism works wonders, you don't have to come to a complete stop as we do for Tolls, you slow down and pass and the camera picks up your Easy pass clicker, and your bill is sent to your doorstep. Convenience and fast traffic flow. We stopped at an old friend of Tracey's in Delaware, where we tried to escape the horrendous heat around the swimming pool. It was another hour or so before we were in Washington, where we stayed at the Topaz hotel, dog friendly, so Comet (the Boston Terrier) could equally enjoy the comfort, and even indulge in some Dogma (Yoga for dogs :/ )

We did a few drive bys, the White House on Pennsylvania Road, the Capitol building on East Capitol Street, before checking in. Security is very tight, and views are caught between the gaps in trees in the far distance. The power and the importance is very present as you make your way through the heart of America. A break from the kids, and the privacy of my own room made me squeal with excitement and jump all over the bed like a kid.

We went to Burtucci's for dinner, before parting ways. The next morning we headed to one of the many Smithsonian Museums, with Nicholas in mind, we toured the Space and Air museum to brush up the importance of the Wright Brothers, Amelia Earhart, why Pluto is not a planet, satellites, spaceships, missiles and planes. We then walked over to look at the talked about original Dorothy slippers worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz film in 1939, at the museum of American History. We made our way to Arlington Cemetery to visit the grave site of Tracey's Grandfather who was involved in the War, an honour to be buried there. We crossed the bridge with a magnificent view of the Lincoln, grand statues and pillars.

The heat was too much for the kids and we headed back to the hotel after having lunch. I found my Wifi at the bottom of a Caramel Machiatto at Starbucks and made my way down a little street for frozen yoghurt and noticed the cutest building called "Sign of the Whale" and to my excitement, it was ladies night with $3 Champagne. At this point, venturing into a bar on my own in a different country is something that I do not fear. I order a drink to celebrate Caitlyn's birthday, and had a few conversations and introductions with the locals, a few shooters and drinks later, Stacey, Matt, Juan and his cousin, and the temptation to party up a storm at The Space Centre, it was time to head back for a good nights sleep to face the 2:30am alarm.

The town of Washington is covered in history and current affairs, from original architecture to the modernisation of hotels, the old and new combination together with the young students of Georgetown University and the political importance of the embassy's and home of the President gives this town an extraordinary ambiance. Quaint yet monumental, historical yet set on the future, wonderful contrast, a town I definitely would like to revisit.