Day Train Trip to NYC from DC

Though we spent most of the day underground, it was a memorable trip. We were at Union Station in DC by 7 AM and on our way to NYC by 7:30. It's been over fifteen years since we were in New York and we were going with friends who were on a mission and we were tagging along. There was also a real threat of rain and it did materialize in to buckets - not just showers - which was the reason to stay underground after getting soaked - even with umbrellas. But we did manage to see the street life for a bit along 5th and Park Avenues, stop at the MoMA shop, have lunch at a Greek place, see the Grolier exhibit, Grand Central Station complete with an Apple Genius Bar on the second level beneath beautiful chandeliers, and hightail it back to Penn Station to wait for the 7:30 PM return trip to DC. It would have been nice to stroll through Central Park and take in more of the typical sights and sounds of the city. Luckily, we have been to NYC a few times. I went twice while in high school to Columbia for a newspaper award, and a few times with my husband. We saw and did what most tourists do. On the most recent trip we visited the then newly renovated Ellis Island and sat on the Metropolitan Museum's steps, then drove back through Sleepy Hollow to Theodore Roosevelt's neighborhood in Hyde Park. I have to say it was a delightful day, but I'm willing to wait another fifteen years to visit NY again. It's not exactly my cup of tea, but I'm glad for the one day adventure. 

Exchanging Pounds at Union Station

Since we still had about sixty dollars in pounds from our trip to England and France this month, we decided to take our Monday morning walk towards Union Station to exchange the money rather than stroll along the Mall. Union Station is only a few blocks away. If we take First Street and head North, we walk a straight path past the Library, the Capitol, and the Senate Office Buildings and get there in about twenty minutes. The Exchange is on the second level, where all the shops are located.  The first floor is still undergoing major renovation, and the place is teeming with travelers. The "basement" level has a movie theatre and fast food restaurants. A huge parking garage in the rear connects to the terminal. There is always a line of folks waiting for cabs, or getting tickets for the tour buses. My husband is dying to take a train somewhere. He absolutely loves Union Station and the city itself. Wen we started walking back home towards Pete's for breakfast, he always asks the same question..."how could you ever leave this place?" I'm not quite sure how to answer.