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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Discovering Washington, D.C.
By Henrylito D. Tacio
"THIS is a city where romance means wonks in love discussing policy late into the night." That's what 'The New York Times' said of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.
"It is one of the easiest cities to navigate and a terrific city for touring, once you understand the basics," my friend told me before I left the Philippines. "With one of the safest, cleanest and most efficient public transportation systems in the United States serviced by Metrorail (subway) and Metrobus, its many attractions and neighborhoods are easily accessible."
However, I found out that one of the best ways to experience Washington is on foot, with wonderful pockets including the inspiring monuments and museums found on the National Mall as well as the intimate museums, world-class theatres and splendid gardens, squares and circles throughout the District.
For beginners, here are a few tips: The District of Columbia--that's where D.C. got its name--is divided into 4 quadrants: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast. The US Capitol building marks the center where the quadrants meet. Numbered streets run north and south.
Lettered streets run east and west (just remember: there are no J, X, Y, or Z streets), alphabetically becoming two syllable names, then 3-syllable names as you travel out farther from the center. Avenues named for US States run diagonally, often meeting at traffic circles and squares.
These are the things that await you: "Washington, DC is a powerful symbol not only of the United States but also of democracy and freedom. The District of Columbia's neighborhoods, people, history and culture truly embody the American Experience-from Duke Ellington to John Phillip Sousa and from the Civil War to civil rights.
Only in Washington, DC can visitors be inspired by touring the magnificent Capitol Building and Washington Monument by day and be moved by taking in magical performances by the National Symphony Orchestra and world-class opera by night."
What if you only have three days to spend in the district? Well, kick off your Washington pilgrimage with a sweep of Capitol Hill. Start your morning at the Capitol. If you do not want to take the guided tour, do not wait in line in front of the building.
The US Capitol may be an endless font of cynicism, but the structure's scale and style still evoke the glory of the republic ideal.
The National Museum of American History is responsible for the collection, care and preservation of more than 3 million objects. The collections represent the nation's heritage in the areas of science, technology, sociology and culture.
The collections include: first ladies gowns, a Samuel Morse telegraph, locomotives, tools, an Alexander Graham Bell telephone, flags, American-made quilts, Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, Duke Ellington's sheet music and TV puppet star Howdy Doody.
The National Museum of Natural History contains three crowded floors of rocks, animals, people, and gift stores. The museum holds 124 million specimens, some of which are brand-new and some of which were collected many years ago.
The vast exhibition halls focus on the interrelationships of the natural world and its evolution into the world we live in today, with wondrous displays of animals, plants, fossils, rocks, minerals, and cultural artifacts.
On your final day, liine up early to tour the Whit House. The tour is guarded but unguided. You start on the ground floor of the East Wing and cover the next two floors; the top two floors are entirely private.
The two middle floors contain the staterooms, which are used 250 times a year for events and press conferences.
The magnificent National Theatre is the "Theatre of Presidents" located only a short walk from the White House. The National Theatre has operated longer than any other major touring house in the United States.
Though it is still located in the same place on ceremonial Pennsylvania Avenue the structure itself has been rebuilt six times since it opened in 1835.
Other must-see while in Washington, D.C. include: Kennedy Center (home to the spectacular National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Opera, and the Washington Ballet), Arlington National Cemetery (visit the Tomb of the Unknowns, as well as the gravesites of such celebrities as the Kennedys), and the Embassy Row (it's fun to traipse down this grand avenue, lined with embassies and diplomatic mansions, and pick out and identify foreign countries by the flags fluttering overhead).
Now, some tips while touring the city: Tour at "off-peak" hours. Be sure and check on special early hours or late hours at select museums (often seasonal). Washington, D.C.'s beautiful memorials and monuments are open 24 hours--visit them at dawn or at night when they are lighted for a truly inspiring experience.
By the way, tipping is voluntary in Washington, D.C.; gratuities are not automatically added to the bill. Here are a few tipping guidelines: Servers are usually given 15 percent of the bill. For outstanding service, tip 20 percent.
Taxi drivers usually receive 15 percent of the fare, and doormen, skycaps and porters are usually tipped $1 per bag.
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