I’m just back from Washington D.C. and Baltimore on a sightseeing trip. It was my first time ever to Baltimore and first time to Washington since the early 1970s. On that trip, I was drinking heavily and chasing girls (yep, girls), and the only “landmark” memory I have is of being on the National Mall.
I was so out of touch with the historical importance of D.C. that I didn’t even remember the relative positioning of the Washington Monument and the Capitol.
But after three full days of navigating the streets and landmarks of D.C., I now have a beautifully full perspective of what’s there and what’s where.
I also know that I’ve never seen traffic like that anywhere else…I’ve never driven the streets of New York, so I can’t say Washington is the worst anywhere, but it’s really bad.
On Friday, after a heavy, early-morning rain, it took us a about 90 minutes to go about five miles on 16th Street, as we drove south from Silver Spring toward D.C. Exasperated, I had my traveling companion drop me off at Dupont Circle and took the Metro into town. He headed off to the National Air and Space Museum’s exhibit at Washington Dulles International Airport, and I got to the Voice of America building at 3rd Street and Independence Avenue about noon.
Now, you might be wondering, “JimmyC, what the hell are you doing driving in D.C., when you should be taking the Metro rapid transit system?”
Well, yes, renting a car (a ridiculous, two-door Mustang convertible) was unwise…but necessary. My companion has a bone-on-bone right knee, and he was only good for about 100 yards at a time walking. Problem was he didn’t realize how bad his knee was until he got there and started walking around. Thus, I did a lot of dropping off, parking and picking up.
We stayed in Silver Spring, which is about 10 miles north of D.C. and home to an old and dear friend, Ernie Torriero, a reporter for The Kansas city Times from 1981 to 1985. He’s now a Web editor at the Voice of America. VOA is a massive operation, which purveys news around the world in 44 languages. It’s got the equivalent of several metropolitan-daily newsrooms. The different “desks” look just like newspaper newsrooms, with employees sitting in cubicles, tapping away at keyboards.
As I said, we also visited Baltimore, spending the first and last days (Wednesday and Sunday) in the Baltimore Harbor area.
In contrast to Washington, Baltimore’s tourist attractions are relatively accessible by car. One of the highlights of the harbor area is Fell’s Point, a historic waterfront neighborhood along the harbor’s north shore and east of the Inner Harbor, a big tourist area. With its cobblestone streets, brick sidewalks and rows of bars and restaurants, Fell’s Point has “the air of a seafaring town,” as Wikipedia describes it.
Another great harbor attraction is Fort McHenry, home of “the-dawn’s-early-light” bombardment by the British in the War of 1812. (My knowledge of U.S. history is about as deep as a teacup, and at the fort I learned that neither side really won the War of 1812. Rather, the U.S. “won the peace,” holding off those nasty redcoats in their campaign to retake America.)
Well, enough narrative and historical reflection…On with the photos!
The Capitol dominates the east side of the National Mall from up close and…
…afar.
This house can be difficult to spot and get to.
The Washington Monument anchors the west end of the Mall.
Trite to say, but it’s awesome.
As much infamous as famous…the Watergate building.
Same for this building…Ford’s Theatre.
An underground attraction — the Metro rapid transit system. This is the Dupont Circle station.
One of the Smithsonian museums, the National Museum of the American Indian.
The Spirit of St. Louis, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
This is where we take a break from museum hopping.
On to the exclusive Georgetown area.
Cast-iron steps are a Georgetown hallmark.
One of JFK’s favorite restaurants was Martin’s Tavern in “downtown” Georgetown. He proposed to Jackie here. A plaque in the booth attests to it.
We shift to Baltimore — the harbor, at Fell’s Point, just east of the Inner Harbor.
“Broadway Square” at Fell’s Point.
The cobblestone streets contribute to a seafaring atmosphere. 
This is the first photo I took on the trip, after we missed a turn and ended up in a decayed row-house area in Baltimore.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Wish I’d known. Those girls are still asking about you.
Good to hear from you, Richard…I should have called you. Ernie said you are doing well and that your children are all doing great as adults.
I think I remember those young ladies you refer to, Fitz. They were a couple of rewrite gals for the Kansas City Journal-Post. They ended up with O.J. somehow, but I can’t remember all the details, and I doubt that he can either.
Glad you had a great trip Jim. I would have spent a whole day (maybe two) at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. Hope I can make through there someday myself.
My traveling companion spent several hours at the Air and Space Museum display at Washington Dulles International Airport and said it was the highlight of the trip for him. I met up with my buddy Ernie that day and didn’t make it to Dulles, which has a couple of hangars full of exhibits…I went to the indoor Air and Space Museum near the Mall, where the Spirit of St. Louis and the Columbia command module from the Apollo 11’s flight to the moon are displayed…As you suggest, Jason, a person could spend a lot of time at the Air and Space Museum, especially if you went to both venues.
Maybe you should get out more often.
A man that’s not well traveled, and often, should not be taking such a pro stance for a new K.C. airport.
You need a better perspective before you can condem what we have, for that which you know not.
You’re sounding kinda biblical, Ray.
…For the record, this “not well traveled” flyer saw yet another modernized airport — Washington Baltimore International — with centralized security positions; bright and welcoming concourses; and plenty of amenities. The airport opened in 1950 but has been continuously renovated and modernized, including in 2005, when two new concourses (A and B) were expanded and renovated to accommodate Southwest’s mushrooming operation.
This from Wikipedia: In 2010, BWI was ranked as the best airport of its size in the world by the Airports Council International, based on its 2009 airport service quality survey…The airport also won second place for North American airports in the “Best Food and Beverage Program” in an airport concessions ranking sponsored by the Airports Council International.
Someday, I’d like to see KCI getting plaudits like that…It’s within reach.
TO YOU FITZ AND ALL THE COMMENTATORS…YES, THIS TRIP WAS JUST WHAT I ANTICIPATED WITH RESPECT TO THE KNEE; I ANTICIPATE A REPLACEMENT MOST LIKELY THIS FALL. I AM BY NATURE A PROCRASTINATOR BUT I’VE HAD A PRE-OP EXAM BY DR. DAN AND HE SAID, AND I QUOTE” YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY”. UN-QUOTE. I AM, MOST LIKELY, READY! HEY, THIS BLOGGING IS SOME EASY STUFF FOR EVEN A PIKER. ANYWAY, AS FOR THE TRIP…I AM WHAT YOU MAY CALL A “SEASONED TRAVELER” TO A DEGREE HAVING TRAVELED FOR A LIVING FOR 20 PLUS YEARS BUT DID NOT, IN FACT SEE IT ALL SO… MUCH OF WHAT WE SAW/EXPERIENCED WAS A NEW AND EXCITING EVENT. AS AN FYI, THE AIR AND SPACE FACILITY AT DULLES AIRPORT IS “INDOORS” UNDER A DOME THE SIZE OF TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS..SOME 150 AIRCRAFT OF VARIOUS VINTAGES; QUITE THE DISPLAY. THIS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP FOR ME. AS WAS THE SPY MUSEUM AND FELLS POINT, BALTIMORE AND…IT ALL. YOU FORGOT THE NATIONALS STADIUM, GOOD BUT NOT CAMDEN FIELD, PERHAPS THE BEST PARK IN AMERICA IF YOU DON’T CONSIDER COORS/ROCKIES STADIUM/DENVER. I MANAGED TO CRAWL TO THE FURTHEREST POINT OF FORT McHENRY ON MY OWN AND RETURN…INSPIRING.
YOU MENTIONED MARTINS/GEORGETOWN AND THE SCOTCH AND SODA WAS FRESH , THE CAESAR SALAD JUST OK, THE AMBIANCE EXCELLENT! BUT YOU FORGOT MO’S CRAB HOUSE IN LITTLE ITALY/BALTIMORE. I VOTE IT BEST CAESAR SALAD AND CRAB CAKES IN BALTIMORE IF NOT THE UNIVERSE. AND HOW ABOUT CATHY AND ANGIE? AND REBECCA..WE WERE THERE TWICE..GOTTA MEAN SOMETHING. NOW, YOU GOTTA REPORT ON THE WASHINGTON D.C. STREET CARS..OR MORE CORRECTLY, STREET CAR, WHICH WE NEVER SAW AND MOST LIKELY WASN’T RUNNING. I DIDN’T SEE A SECTION OF TRACK..DID YOU? THAT’S WASHINGTON D.C., THE NATIONS CAPITAL AND NO…STREET CARS! ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE? 100 TIMES THE POPULATION AND NO STREET CARS.
CRAZY..HUH? TWO ISSUES REMAIN THEN I’M FINISHED. UPON ARRIVAL TO KC, OFF THE PLANE, BLUE BUS TO THE OFF SITE “ECONOMY PARKING” OUT OF THERE IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.
YOU ARE HOME IN SAY..40 TO 45 MINUTES..SURELY IN ONE HOUR.
LAST ISSUE…I THINK WE ARE “SQUARE” ON EXPENSES OVERALL. I MEAN I’M HAPPY…BUT THERE IS THE ISSUE OF THE CHICKEN! THAT WOULD BE THE CHICKEN BREAST FROM POPEYE’S…I HAVEN’T HAD POPEYE’S CHICKEN FOR MAYBE 8-9 YEARS AND I STOPPED AT POPEYE’S JUST AFTER THE AEROSPACE MUSEUM…I HAD THE No.3, 4 PIECES SPLIT REGULAR AND SPICY..THE BREAST WAS SPICY. THE SIDE WAS RED BEANS AND RICE, JUST AS I REMEMBER. I SAVED THE BREAST FOR LATER AND YOU…YOU THREW IT AWAY. WHY? SO, YOU OWE ME A BREAST FROM POPEYE’S…SPICY! PLEASE. IT ONLY SEEMS RIGHT.
HAPPY TRAVELING.
FREDDIE.
Good post..uh, I mean comment, Fred…Sorry about the chicken. I was trying to save you from yourself. Couldn’t let you eat day-old chicken that would have spent the night in the car. Besides, we didn’t want to stink up the Mustang with Popeye’s aroma!
…I’ll buy you a sub Friday to compensate.
Jim,
Were you tempted to head off to The Preakness?
You bet, Larry…It just didn’t work out. It would have been a full day out of only three we had in Washington.
Ford’s Theatre is an amazing venue. Historical, yet continues to be used for what it was built for. Learning about the assassination growing up, I always envisioned a great hall and Booth having to drop a couple of stories to the stage. But its small and compact, dare I say, quaint.
If not for Lincoln would it still be standing…..as well as the house across the street?
Now, I wish I’d taken the time to go in, Jennifer. I was on my way to one place or another, happened on it and took a couple of frames…Next time.
Fitz,
You missed going to http://jerrysseafood.com/main.php for a crab bomb! The size of a softball.
I can’t eat a softball-size anything, Jim…My traveling companion and I split a crabcake at Mo’s, a well-known, Baltimore chain of about seven restaurants. It was delicious.
SORRY I MISSED YOU FRIDAY…REPLACE A SPICY CHICKEN BREAST FROM POPEYE’S? WITH A SUB? OK, BUT ONLY IF IT IS A SUB FROM JIMMY JOHNS!