Subway System, Washington DC

We used the subway system on our recent trip to DC!

I have used the public transportation systems in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, Cleveland and other places.  Still, it is always a new experience.

My friend Mark ALWAYS tries to use the public transportation systems in every area he visits.  He says that it is part of experiencing a place.


These days we drive just about everywhere we go, so getting around isn't a big issue.

This trip was a bit different.  We drove in to the area, parked our car and walked or used the tour bus.

For one site we had to use the subway.

It was a lot easier than I expected, and pretty hassle free.  I did put my ticket in the wrong slot the first time, but that was easy to fix.  I just went to the gate one over.

There was something a bit sci-fish about going underground and getting on the trains.  I am sure those residents of DC who use it all the time consider the entire process standard but it is out of the ordinary for the uninitiated.

Dark tunnels, loud rumbles, speeding trains.  It is a bit unreal.

I mentioned before that the whole process felt generally very safe too.  One guy stopped to offer help with direction when we looked confused.  Strangers nodded hello at times.

I remember having a very different experience when I used the subway in NYC years ago.

And just for fun check out the photo of the couple thumb wrestling.  I thought that was a sweet moment and I had to take a picture.

bus tour washington

During our time in DC, we opted to use the touristy Double Decker Tours to get around.

We have had good luck using the orange and green trolley in other towns, but for DC, this seemed to be the better value.

They had a deal where you could ride for 2 days and get about a one hour cruise on the Potomac.

This was my first time on the top part of a bus like this, and I must say that it was just as cool as I expected.  I did get smacked on the head by a couple of tree branches, but that was part of the experience. 

They do warn you not to stand up but when going through the Georgetown area, you REALLY had to watch for power lines and branches.

I liked the photo ops while riding on the top too.  You have a bit of a better angle.

The cruise was cool too.  it was a nice addition to the trip.  I like the whole on/off thing with tour buses, and the fact that the are focused on the areas tourists want to see.

At different points the company used live tour guides talking about the sites, and at other times they used a recording.

My only criticism was that, at some points, the recordings were a bit off.

This was no big deal though, and we were still very happy with the dollar value of what we got form this tour.

Jerry's Records

http://www.jerrysrecords.com/

I just wanted to take a second to mention Jerry's Records in the Pittsburgh area!

I don't buy records (or tapes, or CDs) like I used to, but I still enjoy a trip to Jerry's when I can get there.

I do miss the hunt for old albums.  At one time, certain artists decided not to release some of their albums on CD- so, if you wanted everything the Grateful Dead put out, you had to have some of it on vinyl.

I may have spent some time myself converting old Sonny and Cher albums to CD just for the excitement of having them on CD.

Then again, there is the thrill of actually listening to vinyl.  The hiss, the history, knowing you are listening to a sound that is not digital.  there is something beautiful about it.

I can remember all of my "firsts" in the music world.  First album- Don Henley's "Building the Perfect Beast."  First tape was the Sugarcube's "Life's Too Good".  First CD was 10,000 Maniacs "The Wishing Chair".  First concert was the Grateful Dead.

There was a time when I would buy EVERYTHING certain bands put out.  I had to have the tape, vinyl, and CD.  Don't get me started on how excited I was when I learned about Italian imports.

Its hard to get excited about looking for music these days though.  I can just go download it.  And, I must admit, I LOVE that convenience.

But, with the rare place like Jerry's I can still get excited about record hunting.  I almost yelped on this trip when I found Denny McLain's album in great shape for $8. 

If you love music, take some cash to Jerry's and make sure you have several hours to look around.

White House

Just a little follow up from the White House postcards and pictures I put up yesterday.

Here are a couple more pictures and a security check in area.

Random Thoughts On Friday

Just wanted to mention a couple of things.....

First, I am Still dealing with uploading and sorting photos I took on my recent trip to Washington DC!  Expect entries dealing with DC over the next few weeks.

I do have some entries for Maryland and Pennsylvania coming up soon.  I am hoping to finish up the DC posts at the end of this month, and then get in to those two states next month.  AND I will have some Kentucky related posts here and there!

I do have some posts about our favorite President, Abraham Lincoln!  Wow!  Does he get around these days!

I have to admit, I have kind of been reluctant to pay attention to the whole "Vampire Hunter" thing, but man, the commercials look interesting!  I probably won't read the book, but the movie looks exciting.

Then again, Abe is a perfect example of how "truth is stranger than fiction."  Check out James L. Swanson's book about the assassination of Lincoln and the hunt for Booth (I reviewed the work on this blog a few years ago).  That story is full of rich and strange characters that Hollywood could not create!

Of the five people (counting Booth) in Lincoln's box at Ford's Theatre when Lincoln was assassinated, THREE would be killed by gun shots!  The other two would spend time in psychiatric facilities.

The man who kills Booth literally disappears from the pages of history and is an interesting character in other ways.

AND, I haven't even mentioned the co-conspirators in the assassination.

While I am talking about literature.....

I am sure you have heard that Ray Bradbury passed away last week.  I was VERY sad to hear about this.  If you have never read anything by him, go out and buy one of his books.  You should be able to find his most recognized books at any used book shop for a couple of dollars.  In fact, if you find a nice old copy at least a couple of decades old, I think you will enjoy the experience of reading it more.

There is something flat out magical about his writing.  To me, Bradbury's writing has made the world a bit more colorful.  It has made me appreciate the world around me better and in a deeper way.  His writing has helped me to appreciate the joy of reading an old book and to value the fact that I have the privilege of going to a coffee shop anytime I want, and leisurely flipping through old yellow pages that tell a story.

George Washington Masonic National Monument

in Alexandria, VA.

Amphitheatre, Arlington National Cemetery, VA.

"The Arlington Amphitheatre was dedicated during 1920.  It is built of white marble in an architectural style similar to the Roman works of the same name."

Duke of Gloucester Street- Williamsburg, VA.

National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC

The Old Stone Inn, now Talbott Tavern

"The Old Stone Inn, now The Old Talbott Tavern, Bardstown, Ky. was built about 1779 and is believed to be one of the oldest Inns in continuous operation in the United States."

As you probably know by this blogger's other posts, I love this place!

Tomb of Unknown Soldier- Arlington, VA.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

We had to stop by and see Mr. Lincoln!

Actually, Lincoln spots are becoming musts on our travel itineraries.

He is a good old Kentucky boy, born not too far from my stompin' grounds.

And this monument is so iconic.  My hair stood up as we walk up the steps.

Plus, there is that great moment at the end of Planet of the Apes.....  You don't remember that?  No, not the original movie, and not the latest one...  Never mind.

You really do feel like Abe is there keeping an eye on things.  I have visited his birth site.  On this trip, we also visited the site of his death.  Still, I felt more close to the spirit of the man here.

Other events have happened here too noteworthy.  1963 comes to mind.

Here is a photo of the steps going up, a photo of Abe himself, and a photo looking away from the monument.

Also, I am including a postcard  showing the Lincoln Memorial and the Arlington Memorial Bridge sent in 1941!

I am including a second postcard, sent in 1934!  It is the one with the cherry blossoms shown!

Cherry Blossoms in Washington

This postcard was sent in 1940. The picture is unreal. It almost appears 3-D.

National Museum of American History, Washington, DC

National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC