Embassy Autowash

It’s been a very long time. I think the last time was over two years ago when we got the car washed. When we lived on Capitol Hill we went quite regularly to Splash - because the car was parked curbside and the dirt was noticeable. But since we moved to northern Virginia the car has underground parking and stays relatively clean. So we waited until a day that rain was likely to avoid the crowds - because the Embassy Autowash in our neighborhood is always busy. First we moved all the junk from the back seat to the trunk. I found a five dollar bill that had dropped from my pocket several months back. We drove in and picked the cheapest option since we mainly just needed vacuuming, and the windows could use some sprucing up. There was only one car in front of us. I always liked riding in the car for a wash, but you can’t do that when interior access is required. Then we walked inside and watched the car move through the cycle. The car looks like new in spite of the dent in the front suffered from rubbing against a pillar. Getting the car washed makes one feel better about it. The vehicle almost felt like new again. 

The Embassy Exorcist Steps

We took our usual route to Cafe Deluxe on Wisconsin Avenue by traversing the Rock Creek Parkway and taking the exit for Massachusetts Avenue, which is also known as Embassy Row. Prior to reaching the Avenue, the back sides of the buildings and embassies face the exit of the  Parkway. I'm not sure if building is an embassy -  it may possibly be Japan, based on the map. The very large white building is surrounded by a high iron security fence. What was interesting about the property and what caught my attention was the very long and steep staircase in the backyard. It reminds me of the exorcist steps in Georgetown. I'm sure these steps are in place as a safety egress precaution or as an escape route in the event that the front of the building is in danger. You better be in good shape to scale it! At the end of the exit from the parkway is what was once known as the Iranian embassy, which is now a mosque. Once at the Avenue, we took a left turn and crossed the Glover Bridge until we reached the Naval Observatory. It all sounds so grand and spectacular, but there really isn't anything outstanding about it - or maybe we are just so used to the scenery. 

Sinead McCoole, the Jackie Clarke Collection, and the Irish Embassy

Our neighbor upstairs asked if we would like to attend an event at the Irish Embassy. We received an authentic invitation over email and attended an illustrated lecture by Sinead McCoole about the Jackie Clarke Collection. We have been up and down Massachusetts Avenue many times, noting all the embassies along the way. But we had never been in one. Neither my husband nor I are that familiar with Irish history. But it appears this is a treasure trove of maps and many important documents that are a part of over a 100,000+ piece collection by Jackie Clarke, who was a very common man of sorts. We sat in a room on the second floor overlooking the Avenue, and stayed a few minutes after the lecture for a glass of wine. The weather was simply gorgeous as we walked back to our car that was parked three blocks away in front of Woodrow Wilson's house. The closest I got to this sort of environment was for the Milwaukee Civil War Round Table discussions held at the Wisconsin Club. Usually I liked the fact that I attended them to actually being there. The main difference between Milwaukee and DC was driving through rush hour to get there, watching a huge motorcade pass by for someone important, and the fact that we parked in front of Woodrow Wilson's house. Did I mention the construction?

The entrance

She has written a few books

The Irish Embassy is located on a roundabout
along Massachusetts Avenue

Sinead McCoole

 

The reception

Oscar Wilde

Irish Embassy

We see a lot of blue diplomat license plates in town