Travel || Washington D.C.

Last Sunday Mike and I drove to D.C. so I could put in a visa application for my semester in Spain (!). We were in the city for less than 48 hours but managed to fit in some delicious meals, crazy long walks, and aggressive museum going. I haven’t been in more than 10 years and  it was extra special to spend some brief vacation time with him.

Day 1: Rooftop view + dinner at Sprig and Sprout. I wanted to see the monuments so we walked down through Georgetown to the Lincoln and WWII memorials, crowded but worth it.

Day 2: A cupcake for breakfast at Baked & Wired (I’m still dreaming of that thing, I swear) and fresh-made guacamole for lunch at Oyamel. We visited the Freer + the National Museum of African Art  + the National Gallery, a collectively spectacular experience. I particularly enjoyed this photography exhibition & the sculpture garden. We took a long walk back and ogled the embassies along the way, lots of which were gorgeous.

Overall, a super fun and active trip. I’m happy to keep traveling over the next few weeks and excited to leave for Spain in a little more than a month.

BRUNCHING IN BACK BAY

Things that make for good Saturday morning exploring:

1) A bangin’ partner in crime

2) A general plan. This does not have to include any specifics i.e. address of brunch place i.e. planned map of activities. But it’s always nice to have an area in mind.

3) A sense of humor and some confidence. You might have to ask to share a table with three random people. It’ll be cool. Don’t sweat it.

4) Your phone. Because there’s inevitably going to be a need for last minute Yelp searches and directions to the nearest T stop.

Things that make for not so good Saturday morning exploring:

1) Cold weather. And wind. And frozen hands and toes and a “feels like” of 2 degrees. Yeah. That just about sums it up.

So even though the air was frigid and the snow was piled higher than us and we had to wait to sit and eat our brunch, this morning was pretty swell. Elizabeth and I set out for adventure and I’d like to think we found it, too (with a little help). We had lovely coffee and noms at Render, which we chose for it’s reviews but, let’s be real, who can resist a trendy coffee bar with a chalk menu and a barista simultaneously taking your order and making pour over?

Case in point.

Stylish neighborhoods breed stylish debris. Also, I’m sure you thought you were really punny Jenn. And you were. I guess James just doesn’t get it… sigh.

So for some final thoughts, the orange line is weird, man. There’s a lot of wood paneling. And it smells a funky. But the Mass Ave stop is real nice, all out in the open air with snow making this soft blanket everywhere and some pretty shadows. I’d go back.

Graffiti to take us out.

HERE’S A TIP

Here’s a tip:

Whenever you’re feeling down or disappointed or disconnected, go outside. Start walking. Take a minute to put on your favorite song and then look up, around you, above you. Feel the wind on your face and the way your hair ruffles, notice the manner in which your feet set themselves down and come up again. See the slant of light on the buildings and the trees silhouetted against the sky and street signs, next to the roads under the bodies that travel across them. Observe the people walking around you and past you, observe your heart, observe the way your feelings change when you see those moments around you as art rather than the everyday. Take a breath. Let it out. Detect yourself in the midst of it all.