Taking the Long Way Home

After work, when Saurabh was trying to leave, there was no bus for 25 minutes. Waiting that long seemed ridiculous, so he decided to walk home. He messaged me letting me know he was going to do that. I told him, wait, I'll leave work too, walk to you and we'll go home together. 

Usually when I walk to Dupont Circle, I take New Hampshire Avenue all the way. But, since Saurabh had already started, I took 22nd up to Massachusetts. I haven't walked up 22nd to Mass before, and there are some pretty sites along the way. 

At 22nd and New Hampshire is this tranquil little in an apartment building courtyard. A great spot for coffee, early in the morning. 

Further along, Taras Shevchenko (Bard of Ukraine) towers above you. His imposing statue makes you feel diminutive. 

Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861)

Saurabh was hanging out with Tomás Garrigue Masaryk, waiting for me. 

Tomás Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937)

We continued on 22nd street, as I wanted to go see the Spanish stairs. Are we climbed the steep incline of 22nd from Mass to the Spanish Steps, I got really excited because I noticed 2 call boxes with sculpture art! I've been wanting to see sculpture call boxes for a few weeks now, since I first found out they exist. I loved both. Saurabh really liked the call box sculpture "matryoshka". 

Horse Carriage Call Box Art

Call Box 'Matryoshka'

The Decatur Terrace (affectionately known as the Spanish Steps for its resemblance to the far grander Renaissance staircase in Rome) is beautiful. We had first seen them last year or the year before that, in our random wanderings in DC. We stumbled upon it, and I was excited by their unexpectedness. 

"Our Spanish Steps climb up 22nd street NW from Decatur Place to S street. The stairs were build in response to the fact that in that particular location, the Washington Escarpment was considered too steep for vehicular navigation.(Guess, they hadn't seen San Francisco roads?) The escarpment is equally as steep at the cascading staircase of Meridian Hill Park. But Decatur Terrace is Washington's only example of a staircase constructed on land dedicated to a street."

Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps 

We sat by the fountain on the steps, talking and looking down the stairs onto 22nd street. 

Spanish Steps Fountain

Walking along S street, we got back to Mass Ave and followed it home. But, first, we paused on the Charles Glover bridge looking over Rock Creek, Park, and Parkway. We love the view. So, we stood there captivated. 

Rock Creek, Park, Parkway

Before turning on to Wisconsin, we went to this enshrouded little park along the tennis courts in the National Cathedral Close. I've rarely, if ever, seen anyone there. But, I love that is exists. Hidden places like this one makes me happy.