DC Wanderings...

I miss architecture like this sprinkling the city I live in.

On my last morning in DC this trip, while Saurabh was at his conference, I got dressed, looked for a latte and walked around. There weren't many people out at that hour, but it is DC and there were people. In the lull of the morning hours on a Saturday in DC, I strolled, sipping, reading, taking photos, and just simply soaking in the city. I miss DC every day in Eugene. 

Soon after leaving the hotel, there is this sculpture of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. The panels on either side of Hahnemann are interesting. 

After I got my coffee from Dolcezza (I don't recommend their coffee, the gelato on the other hand - Winner!) and walked to Logan Circle. I have been to Logan Circle so many times, but never read John Logan's story that is written on the information stand near the Logan House. It especially hit a chord because I had visited the African American Museum this trip too. And all of this, right after the fuckness of the 2016 election results. 

Logan Home

From Logan circle, I just wandered the streets. The streets here are very DC-esque, and lined with trees in fall hues, they were beautiful to look at.

Today was the first time I realised that Church Street in DC has at least 3 churches! It is literally, Church Street. 

This dog was going nuts! He went around in circles at least 20 times. He was circling while I took this photo! :D

I finally walked back to the hotel and noticed this statue of Daniel Webster right behind out hotel! 

Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park

Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park

Heading back from the Ob-ode, I walked along Normandstone Drive, instead of Woodland Drive. On this road, is the Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park. This park doesn't seem to have any trails, but one can still walk through it, pathless. It does have Rock Creek bordering it. :) The Khalil Gibran park is on the other side of it. 

It was a hot, humid, typical DC summer day, and after walking for 1 1/2 hours, I was covered in sweat and drained. Walking up the Normandstone Drive, I saw this water lock type thing, so I climbed down a couple steps down to get closer to take a photo. In my capris, the skin exposed suddenly felt like an air conditioner had turned on!

Lock and Natural Air Conditioning Magic

I stepped down a couple more steps, and the cool air enveloped me as I saw this like aqueduct. This place was such a wonderful refuge from the heat a few paces above. 

Mini Aqueduct

After having cooled down, I continued ahead a short distance and then stepped back into Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park, climbed the hill and explored a bit. I need to come back with Saurabh and explore deeper. 

Normandstone-Woodland Terrace Park

I finally made it home, hot, sweaty, thirsty and in need for an icy drink. At Open City, I asked them to make me the lemonade with crushed ice. How three sips of this drink revived me, I cannot describe. 

Iced Lemonade to end my Romping!

Obamas' Ob-ode in a Few Months

Ob-ode

A few days ago, the media posted photos of the house the Obamas are going to rent after January 20, 2017. One of the articles that I read about it said it was on Belmont Road in the Kalorama neighbourhood. After looking at one of the photos posted, I was able to see the blurry image of the number of the house. I used google maps and its street view feature to confirm the address. And voila, today's expedition! 

Want to know what's cool? It is a few houses down from the Oman Embassy! :)

After walking past the embassy, a few houses later, TA-DA!

My favourite part of the outside of this house are these stairs

One side of the house, adjacent to the garage area (which was open!)

The garage area, or what I assume is the garage area. It was open...

...so, of course, I went in!

And, took these stairs up to look at the backyard!

To the left of the stairs, tucked away behind the house.

To the right of the stairs.

Exploring the Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Neighbourhood

A little Aqueduct

Recently, the the media reported which house the Obamas are going to rent next year after Jan 20th. So, of course, I had to go check it out. I looked up the route to go there, and saw that one of the routes, albeit longer, was through Woodland Drive. I first heard about Woodland Drive 2 Christmases ago when St Alban's school held their Christmas House Lights tour there that year. We didn't go for it, but I saw it is a zigzag-y road on the map. I was intrigued. So, finally, today I walked down that road to get to Obamas' future residence. 

I wasn't sure what to expect, but holy-moly! What beautiful houses! And they were huge! So much space around the homes too. A beautiful walk. 

On the map I had seen this little hidden between the houses from Woodland Drive to Normandstone Lane. Even though this made the route a little longer, of course I had to take it :)

The little hidden path begins here 

First, you walk down these stairs

The stairs lead to this little path that takes you to Normandstone Lane

Walking along, I heard water! And of course, there was this! 

And this...

And this...

What a beautiful neighbourhood nestled in DC's North West quadrant! 

On my way back from the the Ob-ode, I came through this neighbourhood again, but walked different streets. 

The beauty is truly unending here. Look at this footpath! 

And you pass the Woodland-Normanstone Terrace Park.

And, finally, look at this house! Rock Creek runs through its backyard!