Alex is gone
My sister Alex (the one who has Pulmonary Hypertension, the rare and deadly heart and lung disease that will eventually take her life) visited me in washington, D.C. this weekend. I got a big tax break because of a DC law for first time home owners, so I used the money to fly her poor ass to DC to see Duran Duran in concert. She actually flew in early, into BWI, so we had dinner with her PH friends at Crabby Dick’s (my suggestion, but that night the food wasn’t cold, the service bad, and we waited forEVER for the food). I’m really tired right now, but the best thing happened this weekend–I discovered Washington DC!
I spent 4 years in washington DC (99-2003) and recently moved back after a bad stint in Los Angeles (2004-5) and it takes my sister’s visit for me to finally realize how great Washington DC. Don’t get me wrong–I LOVE DC prior to this visit. But because of anti-tourist preteniousness, I hadn’t been to the monuments, capital area, (even the museums) in a long old while. Now I can’t wait to hang out on the national mall, go paddle boating on the Potomac (did you hear that Paul?) and get back into the museums. As tired as I am after her trip (she left today, sniff!) I’m really happy about our time together and about reconnecting to all the things that draw the tourists to the city.
I love the bars, the gay scene, the young hipster locales, etc., but now I’ll appreciate the tourist traps too. I even went to the Kennedy Center to see a cheeeeeeeeeesy show (I won’t say what because I’m still embarassed!) I promise myself that I won’t take these tourist attractions for granted again! The weather is great and next week, I’ll hang out by the capital building! I won’t even let the tourists get to me, either! I may even go see the blossoms at the Tidal Basin… maybe that’s a bit much.
I LOVE DC. here are my top cities in the world:
Paris
London
Washington, DC (can you believe?)
Stockholm
New York City
West Hollywood
What’s your top cities?
April 10th, 2005 at 8:29 pm
First, it would tear me up inside were my sister to be diagnosed with something like that, so I am truly very sorry. Strangely, I had the exact same re-discovery of DC this weekend. You should definitely go see the Cherry Blossoms. They’re beautiful right now and if you go during the week, you’ll miss the throngs of people we had to fight this weekend. Finally, as for favorite cities: London, Chicago, DC, NYC and Denver (happy hour starts at 9PM). I feel I should put a little asterisk and say that most of my traveling has happened because of work and has been continental US based. I’m working on changing that, so my list may change shortly.
April 11th, 2005 at 3:03 am
Reasons to go to DC:
-Tourist Attractions
-The Shakespeare Theatre
Reasons NOT to go to DC:
!@#$ drivers that PURPOSELY @#$ speed up and $%^& cut you off when you’re signaling to get onto the *^&^ exit ramp. This happens at least ten %^&* times per day when I venture onto the %^&* roads that lead thru that town. Thank God for the #$%^ Metro.
April 11th, 2005 at 8:26 am
Im hungry like the wolf
July 20th, 2005 at 1:33 am
My top cities are Hiroshima (I live there now), Toronto, Amsterdam, Chicago, and Bristol of all places.
November 15th, 2008 at 12:08 am
My 12 top cities are:
1. Cologne, Germany because of its huge Gothic twin cathedral and the magnificent Rhine River (you should be shipcrusing along this phenomenal River and see the fairy tale castles of a bygone era, etc.)
2. Venice, Italy for its famous St. Marks Square, romantic Gondola ride (you should bring your bf with you of course!!)
3. Rome, Italy no one can beat this eternal city for its architecture. Renaissance pur! You should see Colosseum, Vatican just to mention the few.
4. Florence, Italy.just love this city of Medicus, Duomo Cathedral….
5. Stockholm, Sweden surely one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen and has the friendliest people I have ever met especially to strangers..
5. Paris, France, a beautiful city but the people are most willing to speak just “French” to non-French speaker, but still I love Chanmps Elysses, Louvre, Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower of course!!
6. London, England for its Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and the famous London Bridge. Its a pity I have not visited British Musem yet and London`s Eye has not been built the last time I was there!!!
7. Prague, Czech been there last year…terrific city
8. Amsterdam, Holland because of its waterworks canals…
9. Munich, Germany I just simply love this Bavarian city..
10. Innsburg, Austria/Interlaken, Switzerland both cities in the Alps regions have their enormous charms…
11.Barcelona, Spain love Gaudi influences in this city
12. Singapore(Malaysia)/Dubai, UAE for its magnificent architecturally- designed huge buildings….Its a pity I have just 12 in my list….