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.