Pizza and Planes at Gravelly Point

We have not been to Old Town Alexandria since this uncomfortable heat wave hit at least two weeks ago. We have been taking our morning walk in the neighborhood park along the path that is covered in shade by the trees above. We thought this morning would be cooler - but it actually wasn’t. So we took a ride anyway - but more importantly to order from Vaso’s Kitchen. It’s a place we used to frequent when we lived on Capitol Hill. Now we always order pick up pizza, spanakopita, and chicken kabob after we walk along the Potomac River waterfront. Then we drive over to gravelly point and have a sort of picnic. This place is located right next to Reagan airport. Even though it was quite hot, we survived sitting in the car with the windows rolled down. We each had two pieces of pizza. All the while the planes are taking off above our head. On the way out you always know where you are because the Washington Monument guides you along the George Washington Memorial Parkway toward home. It was nice to get a break from our routine at home and take in the sights - and have pizza for lunch. 

Vaso’s Kitchen and Gravelly Point

It’s always a treat to drive to Old Town Alexandria. We have been visiting there since before we moved to DC seventeen years ago! When we lived on Capitol Hill We frequented the city for lunch at least twice a month. Now that we live in northern Virginia we drive in for a morning walk at least once a month. I oftentimes find a scene for the weekly photo challenge that I belong to. And oftentimes after we take our walk, we sit on the bench facing the Potomac River and order pick up from Vaso’s Kitchen. Then we drive over to the restaurant for the Greek pizza and chicken kabob and head to Gravelly Point. Then we park in the parking lot that is located next to Reagan airport, watch the planes take off and land and have a picnic of sorts. We always have half of the pizza and save the kabob for dinner. It’s usually pretty crowded there regardless of the time of year. We once walked along the trails there but I don’t care to walk on the same path as the bikes. But the views are great. You can see the Capitol building across the way. Since we rarely go anywhere anymore it’s a nice way to spend part of the day. It feels like being on a mini vacation. And for the first time this week it was finally warmer and sunny. Who could ask for anything more?

Vaso’s Kitchen Picnic

It’s been a few weeks since we visited Old Town Alexandria. It’s a town we have been to many times - even before we moved to the DMV. With the weather so beautiful after this last week of torrential rain and high humidity it would be the perfect place for a morning walk. We parked in our usual spot on Queen Street by the park on the Potomac River. Then we walked along the waterfront and then zigzagged in the shady side of the street for several blocks. Since we were in Alexandria it’s always the best time to order pick up lunch from Vaso’s Kitchen. On the way back to the car we stopped in the park under a tree with a lovely view and an even better breeze. It felt like Heaven! Then we ordered our usual stuff, waited a bit more, then walked back to the car and drove over to Vaso’s. The best part is we take the food over to where the airplanes land and take off at Gravelly Point, park the car in the lot, and feast on the pizza. All in all it was a lovely morning, and now we have dinner prepared for tonight with leftovers for tomorrow. 

Vaso’s Kitchen and Gravelly Point

We decided to do something different today. After our morning walk in the neighborhood we took a drive to cool down. On the way home we looked up Vaso’s Kitchen website - a favorite Alexandria restaurant - and ordered a Greek pizza, avgolemono soup, spanikotiropita, and chicken souvlaki for pick up. On the drive over to get it, we stopped by the house and got a soda. We would need it for when we stopped at Gravelly Point on the way back home to have an unexpected lunch date. Since there was more than enough food for lunch and dinner, we thought the pizza would be great and easy to feast on while we watched the planes take off from Reagan airport along the Potomac River. There were a lot of cars, and a lot of geese. There were even more pigeons and crows waiting for handouts. The whole time we were having lunch a few planes landed, but none took off until we were headed for the exit. It hardly mattered because even in the ninety degree heat it was tolerable under the cloudy skies to do something different. And it felt good.