WASHINGTON,
DC—
We drove
into the capital at about 6 p.m., expecting that rush hour would be winding
down. We were wrong. Arriving in the city center, we crawled from DuPont
Circle to the Mall. Things weren't quite as busy in front of the Capitol,
and we paused to watch the evening gather, the lights come on inside the
rotunda, and the sun set over the Washington Monument. The Mall came alive
with joggers and people walking dogs. It was a quiet contrast to the hustle
and bustle just a few blocks away.
Driving west,
we accidentally crossed the bridge over the Potomac River. As we returned,
we had a beautiful twilight view of the Washington Monument and the Jefferson
Memorial.
We headed
back on Constitution Avenue, and found ourselves in the midst of a fleet
of limousines heading for a huge gathering at the National Gallery of
Art. Streets were blocked off near the museum, and big white tents had
been erected on the lawns.
By this time,
it was genuinely dark. All the streets leading to the White House seemed
to end in barricades, and we decided we'd better save that foray for daylight.
As we drove back to College Park, Maryland, we agreed that Pierre L'Enfant's
1791 master plan has stood the test of time admirably. Even with 200 years
of expansion and population growth, the United States still hasn't outgrown
its Capitol. It's as majestic as ever, and there's even room for a 32-foot
motor home to park right in front!
An
Evening's Drive Through Washington
