October 20, 2001  (continued)

Did I mention the weather was beautiful today?  Much too warm for the sweater I wore -- and they say it will be warm most of the time I am here! I met Leticia and her boyfriend, Frank, when we got home.  Very nice kids!  They all went out tonight and I rested!  I have to go down to the fourth floor (we are on seven) to smoke, and am meeting many of the students out there.  As Heather and I got on the elevator tonight, six young men were getting off.  When the doors opened and they saw me, beer bottles were quickly hidden in shirts, behind backs, etc.  hahaha  It was like facing MOM when they saw me I guess!  We were cracking up!!

October 21, 2001

Today I went to the National Zoo.  It is part of the Smithsonian and therefore FREE!!  It is about four blocks from the Metro Woodley Park station -- straight uphill!  OK, I've always sworn by the San Diego Zoo but I gotta say, this place is pretty darn cool!  Seeing the Giant Pandas (this being Tian-Tian) was great!!  The lions had just had lunch and were cleaning up when I saw them.  The tiger, "Nick" was stalking us all - then changed his focus and went for a swim with his beer keg of all things!  They have an animal "think tank" here where the apes and such are rather fluent in sign language, a real 'bat cave', huge catfish and plecostemus (can't spell it, but it sounds like that) that are 8' to 10' long!!  And many many animals I have never heard of!  It is very hilly and there are no tours, so you walk and walk - it seems everywhere you want to go is UPHILL!  There is an indoor Amazon Rain Forest you enter like the traditional bird houses by two doors.  Inside the animals are loose and you are liable to find them crossing your path or next to you on a branch.  Some of them may be climbing through the trees, or just meandering around the path. Every single animal enclosure has either a park ranger or a volunteer manning it all the time to explain the animals and answer questions.  All of the animals seem to be very healthy and were, for the most part, active when I was there. The day went well and I was tired heading to the Metro -- where they must have the tallest escalator in the world!  This picture doesn't do it justice, but you will note, no one is walking on it!  Put my vertigo in gear bigtime!  At this point I should have had a cup of coffee to rejuvinate, but no, I got on the Metro and headed for the apartment -- well, sort of, in a roundabout way!  I got off on the wrong stop where someone (a man) told me it was the right stop.  I walked for about 2 1/2 miles before getting my bearings and going back the mile and a half to the right house.  Of course, I got to see a different perspective on Washington during my detour.  A drunk laying curled up in the middle of the sidewalk, a hooker plying her trade.  Have to say though, even the homeless here are polite and friendly.  Haven't been hit up for a cigarette once, only the "professional" homeless are bothersome, and even they wish you a nice day when you say no.  I had a great day all by myself while Heather stayed home to study!

October 22, 2001

Another beautiful day!  I cannot believe how lucky I am with the weather!  Today I took the Metro to the Naval Memorial-National Archives station.  The Memorial was just opening when I got there so it was quiet and I was able to look at everything at my leisure.  The Archives are closed to touring so you can't see any of the historic documents but I was able to get on the research floor which was one of my goals for my visit here -- and WOW!  I found my grandparents and got some new information ~ very interesting!  Have always believed my maternal Grandfather was born in Hawaii, but he claims to have been born in California so its back to the drawing board for that family tree.  I spent three hours there and then walked the four blocks to the Capital.  Of course, it is closed to the public in these trying times, but it was interesting all the same.  There was a group of about 300 from Students For Prayer In School with a band and lots of praise doing a little demonstration in the back (which fronts on the National Mall) and they were joined by The Norwegian Men's Choir.  I was able to walk around to the front of the Capital on the grounds where I talked to the guards who allowed me to sit on the steps.