So yesterday after the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, a bit depressing and long, but worth it, I took the Metro up to Wheaton to check out a Brazilian grocer, and to my surprise and delight I found an other. The first one was alright, I was a bit overwhelmed just to be around people speaking Portuguese, but for some reason did not feel welcome enough to speak the language, maybe it was the lack of farofa. So after a while I got some guarana, Toddy, soap, and an empanada then left. I had seen an other store on the way to the first and so I decided to stop by By Brazil. Oh I was welcomed and guess what? The store had farofa and a feijão mix. That was all I was going to get, but I decided to give Rocio a call and was checking out and got an empanada de camarão and the woman was like “Stay, eat, no need to leave (in Portuguese).” I asked Rocio if she wanted to talk, because she is kicking rump in her Portuguese comprehension. She loved it. I loved it. Highlight of my day.

I’ve been in the ciy for less than two days and have already fallen in love with the place. I flew in to Baltimore, caughta shuttle bus to the MARC train station, took the train to Union Station, got on the Metro subway, changed lines a few stations down, travelled to Crystal City, walked throuh the underground shops, and finally arrived at the Buchanan Building where Robert lives.

I ventured out soon after. I started with a quick lunch at a near Lebanese restaurant. The National Mall was nice, really windy, I went by the Washington Monument, reflecting pool, Lincoln , WW2, and Vietnam Memorials. There was a large group of Japanese school children at the Lincoln Memorial, they all had the same haircut.

I kept walking through a park and then over to the OEOB (Old Executive Office Building), also known as the Eisenhower Federal Building as well as the most beautiful building in DC. Too bad I could not get too close, it’s near the White House and was blocked off from pedestrians. So I went to sit on a bench near one of and fed a banana chip to a squirrel, it then jumped on my hand. DO NO FEED THE DC SQUIRRELS FRIENDS! They like to get a bit too friendly.

Robert and I had tapas for dinner, sabroso! If you come to DC, go to Jaleo for a great meal, just bring a bit of cash.

A quick recap of yesterday: Arlington Cemetary, Robert E. Lee’s home, wreath placing ceremony at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier; a walk in a neighborhood near Gallaudet University - I never did get to go on campus; a tour of the Capitol by an intern from Chet’s (my Congressman) office; National Botanic Garden - GORGEOUS; ten minutes in the National Native American Smithonian Museum; a walk through ChinaTown; sitting in on the House and the Senate.

So after the Senate adjourned, I went down in to the Capitol basement to see if I could run in to a few. Well if you’re not on staff, apparently you’re not supposed to be in the basement, so I sort of got escorted out. A woman showed me to the elevator and this big guy got on with us and followed me out and “helped” me by showing me the way to the nearest Metro station. Well I did get to see Senator Edward Kennedy as I left, he was waiting for a car.

Enjoy the day.

Ouch, it’s a bit nippy in Colorado. It has been dumping +30 inches of snow here and the wind keeps blowing. Tomorrow should be nicer, better for skiing though.

Meanwhile it’s 85ºF in Washington DC, what’s with that?

Stay warm….or cool if you’re in Texas…..and alive in Tornado Alley.

I-Buffet 2006 has come and gone. Wednesday several friends and I went to this delectable event. Student organizations representing over twenty nations brought out some of their best homemade food. ALthough, I do have to say I was a bit disappointed with Japan - California rolls, Yakitori, and sweet potato - just a bit too safe and too American for my taste. Brazil had a skewered meat and vegetavle dish, very good. CARIBSA (the Caribbean Student Association) had some great Mango Chicken. El Salvador had Salpicon, I really can’t descibe it other than meat ground in to a powder with lime, mint, and other vegetables, I liked it. Panama cooked some meat balls in French Onion soup, wow! Venezuelas served arepas, a gordita-like dish with refried beans, shredded pork, and queso, I loved it. And I can’t leave out my good friends from Mexico, Arroz con Leche, delightful.

Monday night, I spent several hours helping out the many groups that had began to cook. It was great getting to know so many new people from around the world. I’ve got new friends from all over the Caribbean, El Salvador, and Panama.

Buen Provecho!