Washington DC Day 1
3/27/15

I flew in around 1 am and I was lucky enough to have someone come and pick me up from the airport.  When we got back to where I was staying I went straight to bed since it would only be a couple hours till I would have to get up and adventure.

After sleeping our first stop was breakfast at Ted’s Bulletin, and let me just tell you it was freaking good.  We sat at the bar up in the front.  I ordered the Veggie Breakfast Burrito with a side of fruit.  Apparently I was too hungry to take a picture but take my word for it, it was good.  The waiter was super funny, and gave us the idea of seeing a play at the Kennedy Center called Sheer Madness.  We will get to that later though.  After that we made our way to the Capitol Building.  This place is gigantic.  Like you will feel so tiny compared to it once you actually walk up to it.  We wanted to take a tour so you have to go to the visitor center (through security) and get tickets.  Heads up, no water or food is allowed in, that includes water bottles.  On the inside, their is a place to check coats so that is helpful.  Anyways, the lines get longer so go earlier and just keep that in mind.  We didn’t wait too long luckily and we got to walk around for a bit while we waited for our tour time.  When it became time, they walk you into a theater and you watch a short 15 minute video about the Capitol and the legislative branch in general.  After that you exit out the back where you are given headphones and a tour guide leads you throughout the building.  Our guide was pretty cool, he asked where people in the group were from and let us know cool facts incorporating our home states into the tour.  (Sometimes even home countries.)  They will take you to the old house of representatives and their are many statues in this room.  Also marked on the floor shows the location of key individuals in the early found days of the U.S.  After the tour ended, we decided to go to the library of congress which is connected to the Capitol by a underground tunnel, which is cool and convenient cause it prevents you from going through security again.  There are plenty of cool things to take a picture of in the library of congress building.  They also have a Gutenburg Bible and I believe they said their are only 3 or 4 of them left.  You can also take a tour that will allow you to see into the library.  Its short, only lasting about 3-8 minutes, but their isn’t that much to do watching people 2 floors below you read books.  One thing I did learn is that you cannot lend from the library, you must request a book and then wait for them to get it.  Apparently it can take up to 45 minutes for them to bring it to you.  I also was able to get my hands on a Library of Congress library card.  You can get one but you have to go to the basement and find the place.  It is a good keep sake item.

All that walking started to make us hungry so we stopped by this place (I think) that was called Tortilla Coast and got a pitcher of margarita, queso, chips, and salsa.  It was pretty darn good I must say and it was cool to be in a place where a lot of congress men/women go as it was quite close to the capitol.

After that we went back to the house saw NASA’s shuttle parking (lol) and took a nap.  We then decided to eat Ethiopian food for dinner, I was so excited since it was my first time eating this type of food.  I had heard so many good things, but now I was finally getting the chance!!  I can tell you I cannot wait till my next time eating it.  It was so flavorful and the lamb was cooked perfectly.  You use injera, which is like a large flat sourdough bread.  Additionally, you eat with your hands, using pieces of injera to pick up the various meat or veggie stews.  Afterwards we walked over to a bar and had a drink.

It was definitely a great way to start my trip!