About DC in October

I went to an international development conference at Georgetown University last month, and Courtney decided to bus on down from NYC to hang out with me for a fun BFF weekend! We stayed at the Westin Gateway Hotel in Arlington, VA (so plush). I crossed from DC to Virginia when I walked over the Francis Scott Key (oh say can you see) Bridge from Georgetown after my conference, with Georgetown cupcakes in hand. I absolutely loved G-Town, I hope they will accept me for a PhD in 2013 :)

Court and I went to the Smithsonian Museum of National History; some highlights included the America on the Move exhibit (there was a van just like Old Blue!), Julia Child's kitchen, the original ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz movie, and (reverting back to Francis S.K.) the Star Spangled Banner, which was displayed in a cool, glowy light that gave me the chills. We also went to the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of rights, which was super legit. One of my other favorite things at the Archives was an 1800s land grant signed by Mr. Charles Ingalls (Pa from Little House on the Prairie!), witnessed by Royal Wilder (Almanzo's brother!).

We also saw the White House (President O was not at home, sadly), the WWII and Korean War memorials, the Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the new Martin Luther King, Jr. monument. I stopped and had my picture taken in front of the EPA, maybe I will attach it to my job application... We visited the Holocaust Museum and its special exhibit about propaganda -- that is definitely on my list of places everyone should go. I initiated a visit to the National Gallery of Art; I was sad that the National Mall reflection pool was under construction, it was just a long patch of dirt unfortunately.

I got to spend time with my cousin Jenn in Baltimore before I came back to Boston, and we visited the inner harbor (gorgeous) and had dinner at Hon Cafe -- both of which I recommend! We passed by Fort Henry, but it was closed so I only got an outside view. 3 hours in Balitmore was not enough, hopefully I will be able to visit again soon.

All in all, DC and I had a very nice dynamic; maybe it will be the next city I live in!

Going, going...gone?

Destinations to Visit Before They're Gone aka my list of future trips, including Venice, the Galapagos Islands, Glacier National Park, Barrow, Alaska, Mt. Kilamanjaro, Chan Chan/Machu Picchu, India's Manas National Park (tigers!) ... so sad that these places may merely be the stuff of legends in a few years.

Into Africa

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From here....

...to NYC

NYC Day

We know I love New York, but I LOVE this list. I will most likely be utilizing it when Bee and I have a whole day together in NYC later this month. I might add Greenwich Village, but otherwise the New York Times, once again, is pretty darn awesome in its judgement.

http://travel.nytimes.com/frommers/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/new-york/new-york-city/frm_new-york-c_0021020766.html

Also. Going to Africa in 12 hours. :) x 100000

Conundrum

I've been thinking a lot lately about where I'll be in the next year, since I will be done with my masters in December and I may be getting ready to start a PhD - I love Boston, but I also really miss New York. And D.C. is another big possibility! I guess, to quote The All American Rejects, I'll leave when the wind blows.

Boston

New York

Washington, D.C.

This time for Africa

I officially got my ticket for Africa today! I have been getting increasingly excited, since I have another class with the professor and he tells me about what we'll be doing there. The first trip-prep class will be this weekend, so I'm looking forward to see who I will be schlepping around (common Boston phrase, meaning trekking) with. Although we're travelling a lot in the short time we are there, I am extremely excited about two places in particular:

Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Oh yes.