Washington, DC pt.1

Today, after a last minute change of agenda, I said goodbye to grandma, left the OBX and headed 5 hours north to Washington, DC. My hotel is nice. No pool, but two private business centers with a computer in each one. AN ACTUAL COMPUTER! I've been sending and receiving e-mails almost exclusively through my tiny cell phone, so this is a perk I am excited about.

During today's travels I was coyly courted by a young man at a gas station in Colonial Williamsburg (at least I think he was flirting-- either that or he has some sort of mental deficiency), I discovered a great Rilo Kiley song hidden somewhere in the abyss of my iPod called "Does he love you?", and I saw Stonewall Jackson's house (after a very brave five mile detour from the expressway). Driving through the lonely farm roads of the south I noticed a very strange trend. It appears that some families have a small cemetery in their yards. These look like ordinary family plots that you'd see in any cemetery, a few headstones lined up side by side-- only these are next to their driveways. I love my family, but when they die, I'm definitely keeping them in a cemetery. I just like to know that there's a little distance between me and them... in case they come back as zombies.

The small town I'm staying in is less impressive than the beautiful drive through Virginia. I arrived an encountered some extensive check-in problems at the hotel. After the long drive, I had a splitting headache and just wanted to lie down and be alone for awhile, but instead I spent a half an hour at the front desk. And, yes, I do regret being a little short with the man behind the desk because I realize the problem was not his fault at all-- but they've been really nice to me ever since. I suppose the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I try not to be the squeaky wheel.

I ordered Chinese food and took a bubble bath in a very small tub. I was disappointed that it was so tiny, but was pleased to find that I fit in it anyway. I'm feeling better now and am so looking forward to my adventure tomorrow. I'll be taking the Metro commuter train into DC, then the orange line trolley around the National Mall and Downtown. Here are the locations that are must-sees for me over the next two days:

1) The Holocaust Museum
2) The Smithsonian
3) The Lincoln Memorial
4) The International Spy Museum
5) The White House
6) All four of the city's Ben & Jerry's

I'll be sure to post tomorrow since I'll still have this great computer at my fingertips. Keep in touch and if you know of any great places in Washington, DC, send them my way.

xoxo,
lisa