As you approach the capital, the soil gets increasingly history-laden. You pass Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania, place of the battle that marked the turning point of the Civil War. Later, you stop for lunch at Sharpsburg, site of another prominent encounter of that conflict. Also known as the Battle of Antietam, it was the bloodiest day in American military history, with more causalities than all previous US wars together.
As you continue your journey through Maryland, the landscape becomes increasingly urban; traffic and width of the interstate grow. Unnoticed you cross into Washington; no sign tells you have entered the District of Columbia. The busy highways left behind, you traverse the northern part of town, steering towards your hostel. Fortunately, the satellite signal-nourished little display pilots you through the confusing maze of streets.
After checking in at the cramped, run-down hostel that looked so promising on glossy internet pictures, you set out for the lucid, marble buildings manifesting the institutional pillars of the country. But the first destination rejects your curious eagerness of being examined and photographed closely: The White House is cordoned off for security reasons. Short-spoken, bored police officers on Pennsylvania Avenue keep you at bay due to some event taking place on the south lawn.
Thus you move on under the glaring sun. From the Ellipse you catch the iconic view of the President’s mansion through the iron fence, unfortunately a bit far away for your camera lens. Turning eastward, you wander through the Federal Triangle with its massive, late classicist government buildings. You make a shortcut by using the metro, exiting at South Capitol Hill. A similar impression there: Huge, picture-perfect marble edifices, but affiliated with Congress instead of Departments. Everywhere you look concrete and metal barriers for the purpose of shielding those pivotal buildings from bomb-laden vehicles. Combined with the large number of police men and other security personnel, the heartland of the nation’s legislature seems to be fortified. Against threats other than weapon-industry lobbyists and political buccaneers.
You circle the huge Capitol Building, surrounded by architectural beautifications like parks, statues, office buildings and the Supreme Court. An impressive, Corinthian-pillared structure itself, the seat of the highest American court is dwarfed by the shadowing Capitol. Another gem in this corona of historicist architecture is the Library of Congress, the largest collection of books, manuscripts and other media worldwide, started for the purpose of informing parliamentarians thirsty for knowledge.
After circumventing and having eternalized it by innumerable pictures, you leave the evening sun-bathed Capitol, moving on to the culinary part of the night. You stop at a Mexican place just two blocks away from the parliament building. Despite its proximity, prices are reasonable at “Burrito Boys”. Worn out by the lengthy day, you enjoy your well-seasoned quesadilla there. In order to prevent dehydration, you proceed to “Hawks and Doves” for a cold beer. Packed with interns and politician wannabes, the interior evokes the feeling of an old English tavern mixed with US politics memorabilia, while the name makes you think of what ‘bird species’ will prevail regarding the future treatment of Iran.
Bar-hopping, you conclude the evening with an excellent Belgian beer at “Brickskeller”. Serving literally thousands of different brews from all over the world, you relax at this cozy place sipping your cherry-enhanced Lambic. With an international touch, you wrap up this exhilarating day in the capital.
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