Washington, D.C. was one of those trips that mixed sightseeing with people and a few very specific missions. There were monuments, museums and politics—but also a road trip for a book that I definitely could have bought somewhere closer.
A road trip for J.D. Robb
One of my more unusual excursions took me out of Washington to Boonsboro, Maryland, home of Turn the Page Bookstore.
There was a very good reason for the drive: I wanted to pick up the newest book by my favourite author, J.D. Robb. The bookstore has a special connection to her—J.D. Robb is the pen name Nora Roberts uses for her In Death series, and Turn the Page is the bookstore owned by her husband, Bruce Wilder.
Was driving all the way to Boonsboro necessary just to buy a book? Probably not. Did that stop me? Obviously not.
Two others things to see nearby:
Sunrise and a last-minute Capitol tour
One of my favourite Washington moments came very early in the morning.
I went to the Lincoln Memorial for sunrise, when the National Mall was still relatively quiet. Looking across the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument as the city slowly woke up was worth the early start.
From there, the day became unexpectedly political. I managed to get onto a last-minute tour of the U.S. Capitol. I hadn't planned it in advance, which made being able to see inside one of Washington's most famous buildings even better.
Afterwards, I met my boss Andrej for lunch—a rather different kind of appointment after a morning of monuments and American politics.
Friends, the White House and Washington
The trip wasn't only about sightseeing and work. I also met Julianne, one of the exchange students I had hosted.
And of course, I couldn't visit Washington without stopping by the White House. I only saw it from the outside, but later I got another perspective when I met Syddia for dinner: from where we were sitting, we could see the roof of the White House.
Not quite dinner at the White House, but close enough.
A little espionage
There was also some background information on historic spionage operations from the 60s, the Cold War, the War against Terror, etc.
A vast collection showcased spying in and on Eastern Germany in the Cold War, the exchange of prisoners and how people fled across the wall.
They even had Trabi jokes:
How do you double the value of a Trabant? Fill the tank.
When does a Trabi reach its top speed? When it's being towed.
How to catch a Trabant? Stick chewing gum on the highway.
How many workers does it take to build a Trabi? Three: one to cut, one to fold, and one to paste.
Why was the last Trabant called 601? 600 wanted it, only 1 got it.
Washington by bike
I also explored the National Mall by bike. With Washington's monuments and museums spread over such a large area, cycling was a great way to cover more ground while still being able to stop whenever something looked interesting.
After seeing the Mall on foot at sunrise, cycling around it later gave me a completely different perspective—and saved quite a few kilometres of walking.
Back to New York
After a few very full days in Washington, it was time to get on the train and head back to New York.
Sunrise, spies, friends—and a road trip for a book. A pretty good Washington visit.
From sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, the Spy Museum and a road trip just to buy a book—Washington D.C. had plenty of surprises! 🇺🇸
What would be your first stop in Washington D.C.?
And the US adventure isn't over yet. Next stop: New York City! 🗽
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