We weren’t originally going to go to D.C., or travel anywhere at all, but it was a milestone birthday for Lynn (which you simply can’t ignore) and our anniversary, too. (He claims you can, but I have to make exceptions.) Originally, I had planned a trip back to Nova Scotia. We hadn’t been to Halifax in 36 years, and I really like visiting Canada. What I wasn’t too keen about was the amount of driving (nearly 14 hours!) that it would take each way. Plus, I suddenly found myself employed again (albeit part-time) after not being so in over three years and I didn’t want to suddenly disappear for a couple of weeks. Hence a five-day road trip to D.C.
Last time we were there was 2019. Obviously, much has changed. We had been reading about how D.C. isn’t a cool place to go these days. The National Guard had been deployed, crime was on the uptick, and generally there seemed to be pervasive uneasiness about being there. In the three days we were in D.C., we saw less than a dozen guardsmen/women (most stationed around the Metro stops) and didn’t find walking around the capital unpleasant at all.
Our trip this time was to see sites we hadn’t seen before which we didn’t think was even possible. But new memorials have been built, museums opened, and there were some things we had simply missed. This time, we learned how to use the Metro since we were staying up near Dupont Circle and didn’t want to waste time walking long distances. We’ve traveled on quite a few metro lines in big cities, but I have to say that I think D.C.’s is not only the cleanest, but architecturally the most interesting. I mean look at this roof!
We had a bit of a snag driving into D.C., since suddenly our GPS went out and even though we had a general idea of where the hotel was, we couldn’t quite get there. Fun fact: even if we had a map (you know as in a paper map that you unfold), I still think we might have had an issue. We found the hotel, we checked in, we waited for our car to be parked and then Lynn proceeded to kill all the bugs that he found on the hotel room balcony. (He wouldn’t do well visiting a warm-weather, bug-infested locale.) It’s okay to laugh, it was pretty amusing.
We also went on the search for an ice machine. Asking the person manning the front desk elicited a shrug, followed by a description of it being in a cabinet. By the elevator. We found the cabinet and opened one door where we found something that looked like someone had taken the door off a dishwasher. There were a bunch of wires, tubes and something that looked like a filter. This turned out to be a fancy water system that gave you both spring and sparkling water. Important, I guess, if you were waiting for the elevator and needed something bubbly. But still, no clue as to where the ice machine was located. We closed the door and decided to just have a cocktail at the restaurant instead.
Ceviche for Dinner
Ever have Peruvian food? We haven’t. Apparently, it’s very popular, since there were no less than six restaurants in the area, but I chose the one closest to the hotel. Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar was a lot of fun. It was also very loud. Luckily, we focused our attention on the food rather than trying to have a conversation with each other. I love fish but have to confess I haven’t had many opportunities to eat ceviche! Well, Pisco’s was exceptional. The yam was especially tasty and the shrimp and scallops in the dish were delicious. We also had croquettes (filled with shredded chicken and potato), cubes of steak, and grilled octopus that looked lovely but was a tad too chewy.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture
Designer David Adjaye and head architect Philip Freelon won a design competition in 2009 for this museum. The last time we had visited D.C., we didn’t have time to go inside. This time, I booked tickets weeks ahead of our visit since I know it’s a popular museum. Still, we had time to kill that morning, which meant Lynn and I got to walk around the National Mall for a bit. It was a gorgeous blue-sky day, so I was able to take a lot of pictures. And even bothered another tourist to take a photograph of us!
But then finally we went into the museum. If you visit, plan on spending a lot of time there. We were there for almost three hours, and we could have easily stayed another two. Photography is not allowed in the exhibits, but I did take some cool pictures of the staircase and the latticework which looks like lace that surrounds the building.
Jaleo
After the museum, we walked down to Jaleo and had a late lunch. We hadn’t been there in years, but respect José Andrés’ work for World Central Kitchen. Plus, who else is still doing four-course lunches for $28? I can’t think of anyone.
Dwight D.
After lunch, we headed over to see the Eisenhower Memorial since the last time we were here it was being built. Hmmm, well, totally underwhelming and actually boring. Since Frank Gehry was the “starchitect” associated with this project, I was surprised. But now I also understand why this project took so long to get off the ground – 20 plus years! Apparently, there was a lot of kick back from the family over the design and I understand why. I wouldn’t have approved this lame concept either. (There are other elements to this memorial but I’m just posting this one photograph.)
Le Diplomate for Dinner
From our hotel near Dupont Circle, we walked up to Le Diplomate. We had been to the restaurant before and even then, it was crowded. Tonight, the decibel level was off the charts. (Two nights in a row, I thought, of noise? What’s going on here?) We also got the smallest, shittiest table by the door. It was so loud that we just looked at each other and unfortunately, had to listen to the people next to us practically yell at each other in order to speak. They seemed to think this was a perfectly acceptable way to talk to each other, but by the end of the evening I had a headache.
We hadn’t had an issue with service before at this restaurant, and though our waiter was friendly, I think the entire staff was just overwhelmed with the crowd. Case in point: we already had our appetizers (escargots and a salmon tartare) before we were served cocktails. Our wine was also brought out to us after the appetizers but still no cocktails! Sigh. By the time our veal scallops (which were really good) with a mushroom sauce was brought to us, all had been corrected. But still, it’s expensive to eat out these days and when you’re paying that much money, it really does have to be a nearly flawless experience!
I’ll leave you with this: some pretty darn good profiteroles.
Until our next “Let’s Go” adventure.