As threatened, I will tell the tale of some of my journeys over the last month. The first leg of the trip took us to Washington, DC. Just once I'd like to go to DC when they haven't forgotten to turn off the heat. It is said that one of the biggest contributers to the growth of the federal government in the 20th Century is the advent of air conditioning, as this allowed Congress to work year round, even in the miserable heat of Washington in the summer.
We were there for Memorial Day and the day after. There was the opportunity to see the president at Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day morning, but we decided that waiting in the security line was not worth it. We did go to the WWII Memorial, which I had not seen before. I am happy to note that it is incorporated nicely into the mall area. We had lunch at a Mexican restaurant just north of the National Gallery (I did not write down the name). The food was mediocre (I had an unpronounceable dish that was essentially a ham quesadilla), although we did have the best guacamole dip I have ever tasted, made fresh at your table. You pay through the nose for it, but it is worth it. That evening we ate at Al Tiramisu restaurant just off Dupont Circle. I can report that in all my travels in the last month, this was the best meal. I had a lamb dish with a succulent au jus type sauce. The waiter recommended an excellent wine. The desserts were heavenly. If you are in DC, go to Al Tiramisu. Make sure to bring your credit card. It is not cheap.
I have a former student who works for Vice President Cheney, and on Tuesday morning he took us on a tour of the East Wing of the White House. You can get West Wing tours, but they are harder to get and we did not inquire in time. What we did see was splendid, especially the State Dining Room. Funny enough, we ran into a guy from Madison, SD outside the White House. Small World. I will say this about Washington, DC. In my experience it is one of the best places in the country for food, and it is amazing how much you can do for free (such as touring the White House). If only I could say the same about certain other cities (I am looking at you, London). I will say that the traffic in the Washington area is awful, and it is hard to see how those who live there can claim to live civilized lives.
We did go to Arlington Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. It never fails to leave an impression on the visitor. We certainly stand on the shoulders of giants. One gets at Arlington a sense of honor and nobility that is hard to find in modern society. We are so busy being cynical (usually posing at wisdom) that it is refreshing to go to a place free of cynicism.
Let me also speak highly of King Street Blues in Alexandria, VA, the spot for lunch on Tuesday afternoon. I had a fine po' boy sandwich almost as good as I have had in New Orleans. It has a quirky decor and good southern style food. I recommend it.
On Wednesday May 30 we flew out to London. More on that to come.
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