Tunnels, Bridges, and a Lot of Water in Virginia

The real reason we drove to Norfolk Virginia was to surprise our grandson and his mother by showing up to watch his state wrestling tournament. It was also our daughter in law’s birthday so we would have an opportunity to catch up and celebrate. We have never been to this end of Virginia - or Seven Cities - so it was a great way to spend the weekend. We have been to Williamsburg and Yorktown, but we never went all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Having grown up near and around water all my life - Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Michigan, and the Potomac River - the area seemed familiar. But I didn’t care for all the combination tunnels and bridges along with the obvious military influence. There were shipbuilding facilities, a huge international port with millions of containers, passenger trains, and noisy aircraft flying overhead. But there was just too much water! We rode along the coast and the Atlantic Ocean which seemed really spooky observing it at night from eleven stories above. A statue of Neptune shone in the night sky. I’m sure the place looks different in the summer months. I’m glad we went but have a feeling we won’t be going again - unless there is a really good reason. 

Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House Office Building Afternoon Walk

I decided to take a different route for my afternoon walk. Usually I only go there because the Post Office is convenient for the rare package mailing, and most recently I had my passport processed there. The tunnel that connects the Library of Congress to the Cannon House Office Building is usually filled with pedestrians of all kinds. Now the entrance is restricted to staff only, so the once in a while lunch with outside friends has stopped. But rather than head to any of the aforementioned places, I decided to walk to the end of the Rayburn building - the furthest one away - and back. It was relatively empty of furniture and visitors. The one thing in common is the grey and boring hallways. I heard someone on a tour say this looks worse than a crummy high school in Michigan when they passed by me going in the opposite direction. The little train station is located at the Rayburn building - an alternate route to the Capitol building if you don't feel like maneuvering the maze of halls. I didn't recognize anyone as I made my rounds, but I don't pay any attention either. The goal is to get away from my desk for awhile and it is an interesting place to walk - or is it?

The Tunnels and Hallways of the Library of Congress

Every afternoon I take a walk to get away from my desk, give my eyes a break from spreadsheets, and get in a little exercise. Usually it's a few rounds in the Madison Building at the Library of Congress. It is supposed to be one of the largest Federal Buildings in the country. Since I knew the Christmas tree was going up in the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building, I took a walk through the tunnels from Madison to Jefferson and noticed once again how the environment changes with every floor. In the basement is the usual drab, but very shiny floor. Once you reach the next level, things get very colorful and almost feel like Christmas with the reds, greens, and golds. But of course, the best is in and around the great hall with the absolutely beautiful surroundings. There are many more interesting halls as you make your way around the building. Imagine working in a place like that! Unfortunately the halls in the Madison Building look more like the tunnels and like most office buildings I worked in in Milwaukee. But if you just walk a bit, the other stuff is not that far away.