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| Gotta catch the train on time! |
Back at it again! Metro Journey number two was a blast, and this time it also showed us around the urban Virginia surroundings. It gave me a great view of one of my favorite human masterpieces, an outside look at one of the hubs of international fine arts, and even more! This blog is a virtual ride through my day in D.C. (and Virginia, I just liked the play on words) and what landmarks you can expect to find there. AWAY WE GO!
Stop 1: Arriving at Gravelly Point
After catching the yellow train line and riding a ways from College Park to Crystal City, we met with the rest of our awesome group. Then we began our short trek to our first destination: Gravelly Point Park. The place was planted just north of the runway of Reagan National Airport around 1746 by a captain from the Revolutionary War. It switched hands a couple of times in the 18th, 19, and early 20th centuries before being chosen as a site for a D.C. airport. In late 1938, almost 20 million cubic yards of both sand and gravel were moved onto the site for construction. As for the actual park, it has lots of space, including a football field, and on sunny days and weekends it probably gets plenty of visitors. Merely 400 feet separates you from the runway, and it's a nice place to relax and observe airplanes taking off from the airport. It was apparently a relatively common bike path, as many bikers and runners passed us at the park. The noise was a bit disorienting, but the experience was unforgettable. It was amazing to see how busy the airport was; planes departed and arrived every other minute and roared just above us with incredible sound.
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| That close! It was really fun to see! |
We watched about 15 jets, then, after a slick selfie, we made our way back into Crystal City.
Your Second Stop: The George Washington Hospital
The rest of our assignment would take place in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Once an industrial hub, the area was named for the fog that used to arise from the Potomac River, which touches the edge of the neighborhood. Our second task of the day was to visit the George Washington University Hospital. We didn't go inside the building, but it was neat to see the hospital and learn about its history and facts.
The current building has been in operation since 2002, but it goes way back to 1824, when it was founded as the medical department of what was Columbian College. The medical center itself was the first major one in D.C., and since has only grown in reputation. With nearly 19,000 patient admissions, almost 900 physicians, and 800 nurses, George Washington University Hospital works to save lives daily.
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| This was outside the main entrance of the hospital |
Stop Number Three: A Fine Arts Forum
We were hungry. But it wasn't quite time for lunch, so we elected to stop by one of the "points of interest" we were designated to visit. The points of interest needed to be in the Foggy Bottom region, and had to be of decent significance, and the Kennedy Center was a clear choice. The hub of international fine arts, it was opened in 1971, but it's origin dates to 1958, when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bipartisan legislation, legalizing the creation of a national culture center. President Kennedy, who always had an affinity for the arts, was the driving force in the center's conception, management selection, and promotion. Merely two months after Kennedy's tragic assassination, Congress authorized the construction of the John F. Kennedy Center, putting forth $23 million to build a "living memorial" to their past President.
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| The flags of the world in the lobby of the Kennedy Center |
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| I love those timely reminders of human creativity |
Personally, I've visited and seen shows about jazz, language, and musical concepts before, but I'd never seen the entire building from the outside. Boy, is it immense! The inside is equally striking, too, with flags from some countries of the world on the ceiling of the ground floor, and displays here and there. It was probably the highlight of the day of my eastern excursion.
Next Stop: Coming Up On Japan, Folks
After our little Virginia voyage, the stop at a huge hospital, and a quick peek inside a performing palace, our next assignment was to visit a D.C. embassy in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, so we caught the train back from Crystal City to Foggy Bottom. We weren't able to arrange a visit to an embassy in the area, but we were recommended the Japan Information and Culture Center as an alternative.
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| The main lobby of the JICC |
Once we signed in, we asked a representative some questions about the function of the center and its difference from the Embassy of Japan. The representative was very helpful and explained that the JICC's main goal is to promote better understanding of the country and its lifestyles and civilization. They often host events and shows displaying examples of Japanese culture as well as publishing Japan Now, the newsletter of the Japan embassy. The representative let us walk around the foyer area and take pictures. There was some fabulous eye-catching art on the wall, and it perfectly fit my imagination of Japanese culture.
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One of the many paintings in the JICC. Japan would be an amazing place to visit one day.
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Your Final Stop: An International Terminal of Treasury
Finally, we hurried over to the World Bank. We didn't enter the bank, but it still has some interesting facts. Created in 1944, the World Bank has multiplied from only one institution, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), into five separate functions. The other four include the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Guarantee Agency, the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, and the International Development Association. They have some ambitious and inspiring goals, too.
Here are a few more pictures from the trip...
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| Early excursions |
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| Cortland getting...well...wild, on our way to Crystal City |
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| A reminder of Who really is in control... |
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| You almost got me, Trent!!!! |
Metro Journey number two was an overall success, and once again was a ton of fun. It's cool to experience what it's like in our nation's capital, and attention-grabbing to see what I've been missing every time I visit. I hope this virtual ride was quite informative, and I feel confident that you once again reached a D.C. Destination.
Until next time!
