Sitting in the first class Amtrak lounge waiting for my first US train trip, a 6 hour to Boston. Weather is overcast and very muggy but I hope the views will be good.
Last night before the tour, we snatched a quick drink and Nachos upstairs in Union Station, thinking it was Happy hour as the sign below indicated. However, when our bill arrived we discovered our mistake, too quickly pointed out by our server to be rare. It was only happy hour prices if served at the bar (the bit in faint red on the sign). I left him a buck as a tip.
DC by Night tour was well worth it. Our driver/guide with an encyclopedic knowledge of DC barely drew breath as he detailed a million facts about the memorials, museums and other sights we were witnessing. And lots of tips on where to find free parking. God knows how he can drive as well, given that he holds the mike with one hand! In Oz, they would make do with a pre-recorded, far less personal tour. Nice.
We had wondered if it might be an open top coach like our hop on tours but we needn't have worried. The last two days here have been warm and wet.
Lighting certainly adds to these white marble monuments which the designers of the Vietnam and Martin Luther memorials forgot.
The Korean was even spookier at night with the reflections of the statues. Vietnam was just a dark walk. No contest between the two.
Jefferson was spectacular but a bit Greco Roman for me. School kids everywhere last night in their obligatory blue T-Shirts. Note the no handguns sign on the door at the entrance to the washrooms at Jefferson. Only in ....
The new Martin Luther memorial was designed by a Chinese sculptor and we thought Martin had a bit of a Mao look to him. I didn't like the massive stone style either - more suited to megalomaniacs like Stalin and Mao than Baptist preachers. I would sack the design committee.
FDR's 4 rooms for four terms was underwhelming. Another bright idea that should have been discarded by the selection panel. Perhaps it looks better in the daytime. Tess was suffering fatigue so we did not dawdle. Caught a cab to Union Station each way which was probably an expensive mistake due to traffic, much like our dining experience.
Just pulling in to New Haven. The train trip has been disappointing scenery wise but enjoyable otherwise. Nothing like a little bubbly with breakfast! And while the free meals are more economy than first class, the drinks keep coming! It was an expensive ticket but we deserve spoiling:) Two hours will see us arrive at south station, Boston and hopefully an easy ride to our Mid Town Hotel. Tess wants to see Salem but otherwise we are pretty open to offers as the Tour gave us a good taste of Boston.
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Location:1st St NE,Washington,United States
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