Saturday in the Park

Ok... not park, nation's capital.

Flight down was uneventful.

Got up late for me (9ish), early for eternalmusings. But we were out the door and at Dupont Circle just after 10 (when the touring of the embassies started).

We got on the first tour bus that came by. Of course the driver didn't like stopping long enough to let anyone disembark the bus at any of the first three stops. We managed to get off in front of the Irish Embassy and realized we had travelled all of three blocks. Upon that realization, we opted to make it a walking tour.

Rather than visit either Ireland or Greece first (which is where we were), we walked back down the lane to the Luxumburger Embassy. I thought the building was very pretty... lots of hardwood on floors and walls (I'm a sucker for highly detailed wood panelling). But we only got to see two rooms.

Headed then around the corner to the Bulgarian Embassy. While waiting in line a Bulgarian folk band came out to entertain the waiting line. Inside was nice. They served Bulgarian wine (the chardonay was very tastey) and regional nibblies.

Then around another corner to Cypress. Nothing really to write about there. Pretty architecture, but nothing spectacular.

Around another corner brought us back to Greece. Went in. Lots of pretty architecture there. And they took up most of the city block.

When we came out we contemplated getting in line for the Irish Embassy but opted first to go around the corner to the Romanian one. That one had NO line. The building was BEAUTIFUL and the people there very nice. When we came out we realized we made a very good choice as there was now a line to get into that embassy that was down most of the block.

Then we got in line for Ireland. Had fun chatting with the couple behind us. He seemed to be taking great delight in pointing out to her that this excurssion was HER idea and she was the one complaining about the lines.

Ireland was underwhelming. VERY and in my mind not worth the 30 minute wait to get in.

We then wandered down and made our way to the Netherlands. Turns out that was both the Embassy and residence. Many of the other embassies have them seperate. I found the Netherlands the most beautiful of all the places we visited and would love to have the chance to go there and really see all the flemish art masterpieces on display there.

We then walked up Massachusets Ave a bit to go see Italy. We got in line and found out that from where we were it was going to be a 1.5 hour wait, at least. No dice. We opted instead to walk up 4 blocks to Finland. Those were a long 4 blocks. And we are most grateful to the British Embassy for the benches they have outside of their gates in the shade for a place to sit and rest.

Finland was wierd. Very modern building that was more art gallery than anything. And I can't describe the art on display other than Donald Duck meets Van Gogh mets the dude that painted "The Scream".

AFter that we caught one of the tour buses and headed back to Dupont Circle. We could have hit the Belgian Embassy, Portugal and Slovinia but by the time we got done with Finland we were tired and our feet hurt.

My overall impressions... I liked the experience. This was apparently the first time they had done this and it was obvious they did not expect the turn out they got. I learned that the only advertisement they did was on sides of Buses and in the metro stations. I would have liked more of the embassies to do like Bulgaria did... music playing by musicians from the country, drinks and food indiciative to the country as well. Now we did not go to all the ones that participated so it may be that others did, but the ones we did go to, only the one did such. (though ireland had marmalades for tasting but nothing to taste it on, and Finland had a guy outside handing out mineral water from Finland for people to drink so they didn't get dehiydrated while waiting to get into the building.

I hope they do this kind of thing again. It would be nice if other international unions did something similar (this was the European Commission). Like South America or Africa or the Pacific Rim.

We went and grabbed dinner and came back to Sis' apartment. We have watched a movie and are now watching the Sabre's game. I suppose I should have mentioned to sis that every game I have actually watched this season, the sabres have lost. Too late now. The boys are down 3 to 2.

Tomorrow we have to get up too damn early so that we can be out the door by 7:30 so we can get to her graduation.

I'm not sure what we are going to do after the ceremony before ....

OK... sabres just scored and it's tied.

Back to the last thought... not sure what we are doing between the ceremony and my flight home. My flight's not until 7:10. But I'm sure we will find something fun to do.

Until tomorrow my friends.

Mooo!