Metro Ride to Capitol South

It was an experiment. The weather was cool enough, school has started, and the tourist season has slowed down. So we decided it was time to take the metro from McLean to Capitol South. We haven’t taken the train since we moved in April. The idea was to see the Iranian photography exhibit at the Sackler Gallery. My husband loves the metro, I hate it. Rather than take the bus to the station this time, we drove to the car park and then walked over to the station. We try to do things after and before rush hour so we left the house around ten. The actual ride on metro took about thirty five minutes once we got on it. But the time to get to the station, wait for the train, get on the train, and do it all over again takes twice as much time or more. It’s not my cup of tea but on the rare occasion it’s okay. I much prefer the overground rather than the underground routes. The next time we will probably take the bus since we get picked up right in front of the house. And, if we couldn’t drive a car we could still get around. The other excursion we planned was the safari park in Virginia - a three hour drive. That would have been more fun and is something to look forward to. 

Here or There?

Since the usual entry and exit door is closed for repairs at the Library of Congress Madison Building, my route to the temporary entrance to the other side of the building changed my walking pattern. From the temporary exit, my walk takes me to Second Street. Saint Peter's Church, residential homes and parks that greet me along the way. There is hardly any traffic and a lot less pedestrians. There is something serene about it all. It is a huge contrast to the usual route I've taken for the last eight years. First Street, on the other hand, is filled with every kind of moving vehicle, restaurants, food trucks, Capitol South Metro, House Office Buildings, congested walkways, and oftentimes rude people who stand in the middle of the sidewalk and won't budge. When I asked my husband which one he preferred, it was a no brainier in favor of First Street. Maybe I need to start a blog about the differences between he and I rather than the differences between the Midwest and Capitol Hill. Or maybe they are one in the same!?

The Silver Line

We haven't been to one of our favorite lunch spots for awhile so we headed out to McLean/Tysons Corners to have lunch at Cafe Deluxe near Crate and Barrel. It gets really busy and very noisy after twelve noon so we like to get there before that time. Since we were in this neighborhood last the new silver line metro opened. We've been watching the construction over the last several years. I am not a fan of metro, even though the silver line passes right by our house at Capitol South two blocks away. Maybe it was just my imagination or the time of the day, but the traffic seemed less congested along the Dolly Madison Parkway to our destination riding alongside the tracks. It looks as though there is still a lot of digging going on for perhaps more parking spaces near the stations. I know a few people at work who prefer to still drive in because there is no place to park the car, and not easy to cross the busy traffic lanes on foot. At the Tysons station is a new office and apartment building that look almost done. Off in the distance are more cranes and more construction. Maybe one of these days we will try the silver line to Tysons? If it were up to my husband we would. Wonder what the fare is from here to there....I'm thinking the car will do just fine.