Elbowing ahead to DC

How was that we used to do it when we lived in NYC again? "Honey, didn't we used to find out the train's number on the inbound so that we could get a head start on the schmucks' boarding?" by head start I mean a grueling wait down in the sweltering exhaust filled heat at the correct platform. As we wedge ourselves into a crack in the mass of humanity ready to burst the South wall right out of the Amtrak Waiting area it comes clear as a whistle. Wait, we are just not that poor any more! Takes hubby a minute or two to come around though, you know with the recession and all, belt tightening, etc, etc. So when the nice man in the red cap makes a second pass I inquire - we are a tad early for our train (it isn't even listed on the board yet) but could you - didn't even have to finish my sentence. For five US it was like a magic carpet swooped us up and oh so delicately like a feather wafting down settled us and our bags into 4 primo seats on the empty waiting train. This even involved a key chained to an inside pocket produced to unlock the escalator at the top, and relock at the bottom - all very midnight express-ish.

The trip to Dc was pretty much a dream. The Lincoln memorial is just as stirring as the first time I ever saw it - DC is simply awe inspiring in every single direction. The sheer force of the beauty of the architecture alone is almost unbearably mighty. The scale of human love and effort, artistry, engineering and suffering that created our capital made my chest ache. The kids noticed the goose poop all around the reflecting pool.

At the Smithsonian we started out with my favorite to see The Hope Diamond and other amazing rocks and gems in the Natural History Museum. The boys peeled off to look at dino bones and the girls lingered in the gem room, looking at all the pillaged treasures reset and reset centuries after they were found. The National Gallery of Art is beyond beyond - Rafael, Leonardo, Monet,VanGough, Cassat,Whistler, name any artist you can think of and there is at least one of their works that you studied in Art 101 there. Simply wonderful and I would love to go back with out those kids wearing out so early and so often. NO AMOUNT of snacks or breaks could raise my 7 year old to the little trooper level we really needed. Although getting caught in the rain so heavy that no umbrella could really help us - well that she liked a lot. Soaking wet shorts and shoes were kind of fun until we went back inside in the AC. California really has made me and mine soft as bunnies. On to Air and Space which they loved but the little one really faded there. We were tired by now.

The Kimpton Hotel Palimar was made even more enjoyable by taking advantage of the "discovery the district package" which includes free kid menu meals at the truly phenomenal restaurant Urbana. My husband was happier than on our wedding night when the waiter presented his duck charcuterie; a rillet, mousse, prosciutto. Allowed the freedom to order an adult entree my son had tagliatelle with pork bolognese style which he adored. My daughter had chicken fingers and fries that were really good, and I an haricot vert salad. The desserts were fantastic -we had a trio of creme brule (local honey with huckleberries,vanilla with caramelized apples and coffee topped with a tiny almond biscotti), a peanut butter dark chocolate mousse cake that could have fed the Russian Army as my Dad might say, and a trio gelatti (caramel,vanilla and chocolate). They make the best non drink drink I have ever tasted called a "Washingtom tea party" which had muddled berries and tasted something like a delicate rose might.

The early morning car to BWI was just fine except that it was early morning. We were really tired by now.