Berto’s Blog

This entry is my longest entry for my trip.  This is your warning…it is 4 pages in Microsoft Word…..

I started out my day by waking up at 7 AM. I had tried 6:30, but I just am not a morning person. After doing the usual morning thing and packing most of the stuff up, I headed down for breakfast. I decided that I would get the breakfast buffet my hotel offered. It was pretty good, until I got the check. $13.03 after tax! I was thinking under $10 maybe, and it was also at this time I discovered there was a menu on my table as well that had some cheaper options. So much for that, but at least it was a good, hot, filling breakfast. I then walked out side and noted that it was cold and windy, so I put my beanie on. After a short ride on the Metro, I was in DC and making my way to the Washington Monument ticket booth.

I got there around 8:10 talked to a few people, who made comments about me wearing shorts (as happened many times on the trip), and other things. Shortly after 8:30, I had my ticket for an hour later. Since I had some time to kill, I headed over to the World War Two memorial, since that was not there the last time I was in DC. It is a very nice monument and was covered by ice, so the school group that was there has having fun sliding all over it. After taking some pictures, I went back to the Washington Monument and got in line. There were two guys from China ahead of me, and one of them wanted to know if he could take a picture with me shaking hands, and I obliged. Of course I made sure to get a picture on my camera as well. Then we both discovered we were in wrong lines. It was the 9:00 line, I needed to be in the 9:30, and they needed to be in the 10:00. After getting into the right line it wasn’t actually long before we got in.

We went through a security checkpoint, just like every other place in DC before getting into the elevator that would take us up 500 feet in the air. Upon reaching the top, I went around to each of the windows took pictures and just looked around. I went down to the next level (490 feet) to catch the elevator back down and was surprised to see a gift shop. There is not a lot of space, but they managed to put one up here. Not long, we were back on our way down. Afterwards, I walked back into the cold and headed towards the Korean War Memorial. Quite a few people were visiting it, mainly those who were countering the anti-war protestors, it appeared. Next was a quick walk over to the Lincoln Memorial where I checked out the quite large Abraham Lincoln, and tried to warm up a little bit in the gift shop. Since the two protest sides were right next door, I decided to go and check it out. I walked over to the counter-protest side, which were mainly veterans snapped a few photos of the action, before heading to the Vietnam Memorial

As I got near the Vietnam Memorial, I noticed that I wasn’t going to be able to get anywhere near it. There were incredibly long lines and it even looked like there may have been metal detectors. So, I kept my distance, but it is not the same as being up close to it. By now I needed to start heading back to my hotel. I walked to Smithsonian station, and 20 minutes later I was in my hotel room. Finished packing, took a hot shower to try and warm up and then checked out. I left my suitcase with the front desk, so I wouldn’t have to lug everything around.

I took the Metro to Federal Triangle then walked over to the White House to see it from the South Lawn. There were not very many of us out here (it still was quite cold). From there I moved to the Jefferson Memorial, passing the Organization of American States and the World War Two Memorial again. Walked along the tidal basin, and as I got closer to the memorial, it got windier and windier. I took some exterior pictures before heading under the dome to see the statue and the quotes on the walls. Also, I needed to warm up a bit, so I watched a video on the lower level, but didn’t check out the gift shop.

I walked back over to Smithsonian station and took the train to Metro Center where I connected to the Red Line to Union Station. At Union Station I got a small quesadilla to tie me over until dinner, which I will note as having too much of a salsa that was based on onions more so than tomatoes. Afterwards, I walked across the street to the National Postal Museum. It was somewhat interesting, but some of it I just wasn’t too interested in  Of course its also much smaller museum than many of the other Smithsonian museums. While I was here I also mailed myself a post card, so I can see how long it takes to get here…that and use up some of the coins that had been sitting in my pocket for this trip.

Afterwards, I walked around Union Station for a bit, before heading back on the Metro. I took the Red Line to Chinatown. I walked around the Chinatown area for a while, seeing things like the gateway and all the businesses in that area. I shouldnt have eaten at Union Station, as I could have just waited until I got here. Chinatown also wasn’t as large as I thought it would be. But then I guess DC isn’t known for its Chinatown like other cities are.

Next I took the Yellow Line to Pentagon station, and when I got off the exit was blocked off by Pentagon Police due to the protests that were happening right above. I waited for the next train and took it to L’Enfant Plaza. I went up to the surface and then realized I could have used this station the other day when I was visiting all the museums. After a few minutes I went back down and got on a Blue Line Train to Rosslyn. I then headed back to my hotel to pick up my suitcase and charge my cell phone, since it had died during the day. After 15 minutes I walked back to the metro station for my last ride of the subway on my trip.

I arrived at Washington National Airport shortly after 5:00 for my 7:35 flight. Since I had been upgraded to First Class, I decided that I would use the First Class/Dividend Preferred line. I could have used the kiosk from the beginning, but I decided to stand in line for a while. I talked with the others in line and listened to their stories of trying to travel with the nor’easter that hit. One has been trying to go from New York to Detroit for the past two days, the other somehow had their flight to Charlotte cancelled this morning (when the weather was perfect). While I waited, the First Class line moved about 10 feet and there was only one agent who had been helping two girls forever. Even as supervisors walked by, they wouldn’t add any more agents to the counter. Finally it took one guy yelling at one about how he had been at DCA for 12 hours trying to move on to the next destination. Also, the coach lines seemed to moving quite a bit faster. I noticed two people who were at a bar downstairs I passed, and they made it through the coach line before I printed my boarding pass. Now as much of a mess as it was, at least when I went to print my boarding pass, a US Airways agent came over to make sure it would print out ok for me, since they had been having problems all day. I wished good luck to those I had been waiting with and headed towards security.

Security was quick and hassle free, and then I saw the terminal area. It was very, very crowded. Gates were overfilled with people and the line for the US Airways Special Services desk was the length of half the terminal. I grabbed some dinner and Cinnabon, before waiting for my flight. It was delayed until 8:05, but I knew it would leave later than that. As I waited I was sitting next to a family with many little kids. Their son started to cry and whine right next to me and it started to get really annoying. I pulled out my noise cancelling headphones, but they didn’t do enough. So I pulled out my PDA and played music at the loudest I could. I took them off a short while later as the kid stopped. Of course then it was the mother trying to dress her kids at the gate area. I would think that she would at least take them to the restroom to do this and not in a public area.

We finally boarded at about 7:50 and I was the third person on. Of course when I got on and was stowing my suitcase, the flight attendant had to make sure I was sitting in that row. I was the only person to get asked in First Class, probably because most people my age don’t usually sit up there (and neither do I). The other passengers piled in, and at one point a woman tried to “poach” a seat in First Class, but was discovered when they guy who had that seat came back. The flight attendant then scolded the woman for doing it. Eventually, it seemed like we were full, but I noticed still some empty seats in First and I knew that out of the 12 seats 11 were assigned. Finally it was announced that we were waiting on five people from a flight at gate 35 (we were at 39). It took them 10-15 minutes to get there, but once they did the started immediately with take off preparations.  We rocketed off of the runway around 8:55.

Looking down it was rather cool to see the city all lit up. I didn’t have the chance this time to spend the night in the city on this trip thanks to the weather, so this would have to be it for me. I didn’t take any pictures this time however. Anyways once we passed 10,000 feet I pulled out my tablet and queued up Casino Royale. Shortly after I got setup, the flight attendant came by with my drink. Then after that the snack basket came around, and I took a pack of biscoffs. It really didn’t bother me, but during the safety announcement they announced that the First Class lavatory was for First Class only. However, many coach passengers used it anyways. The curtain didn’t stop them, nor did the flight attendants. I enjoyed my window seat as I watched my movie, trying to guess what city was what down below (easier when we went out over the Atlantic). I only made it a little over half way into the movie when I noticed we were beginning our decent, so I packed everything up. A minute after doing so, the announced it and requested all electronics off. The landing was smooth, and I tried to look out of UCF below, but I couldn’t tell with it being night. Upon landing we were at our gate quickly (benefit of landing late at night). As I stood up into the aisle, I looked back into coach. It was packed, just like I’m used to; people cramming into the aisle trying to get bags down, but there not being any room. In First it was much nicer. We all had room to stand up and get our bags down without feeling crowded or bumping one another. It was nice, compared to what I am used to. I deplaned shortly made my way to the first level of Terminal A and got on the shuttle to the satellite parking lot. Got in my car and drove back to campus.

Overall I had a great time in DC. I still have a lot more new things to see when I go back next time, which hopefully will be sooner than six years. I look forward to my next trip, even if it is just driving home at the end of the semester.

Due to issues with my blog during my trip this entry is for Friday, March 16.

Today is my first and only full day in Washington, DC. I planned for an incredibly full day, hopping to take in the entire mall and several Smithsonian Museums. Even when I found out it would rain, I was still optimistic for the day. After eating some breakfast at Burger King I went across the street to Metro station to get into DC. As I was buying a MetroRail Pass, a person asked me how to buy a fare card as I probably looked like I knew what I was doing and maybe that I lived in the area. Comeon, I had shorts on in 38 degree weather. Anyways, the Metro ride was quite uneventful and I got off at Federal Center SW.

It was still raining, so I took cover in the first building I saw, which was the National Museum of the American Indian. I had never seen it nor had I really heard of it, so I went in. Then I realized why…it looked incredibly new, like within the last six years new. Anyways, there were some interesting exhibits about all the different tribes in not just only North America, but some in Central and South America as well. However, it just seems like they could put so much more in the Museum, which I have a feeling they will….or I just missed some of the stuff.

Next door is the National Museum of Air and Space. On my short walk a man and his daughter were walking when a man shouted at them “What are you F#$%ing looking at? Get your eyes off of me!” The guy didn’t say anything, and we all entered the museum shortly. This is probably one of my favorite museums in DC. All the aircraft, both new and old and the spacecraft is just so fascinating to me. I noticed Space Ship One was now hanging up. Also, the civil aircraft section was closed. Now, I can’t remember if that was there last six years ago. At that time I was there shortly before closing and didn’t see much. I wanted to go into the front section of the Northwest 747, but oh well. Also the Jet Engine hall was closed, which was unfortunate.

At this point I went out on the mall, snapped a few photographs and then went directly across to the National Gallery. I didn’t spend as long as I had previously, but went through galleries of Italian Renaissance, portraits, photography, and some of the sculpture/tapestry/non-paintings on the ground floor.

It was nearing lunch time, but as I walked, I managed to make it to the National Archives. After clearing security, I was worked my way up to the main floor. As soon as I reached it, I noticed the line for the Constitution/Bill of Rights/Declaration of Independence. Since I have already seen those, I moved on and made it to the rest of the Archives, which I have never seen. There was a copy of the Magna Carta, and the Public Vault. The “vault” was a completely hands on experience through computers, audio, video, etc.

Afterwards I went to find food, and wound up behind the Archives on the 800 block of Pennsylvania Ave. I went in to a deli, which I realized as I ate I had ate here back in 1998. Strange I remember these things. I made the long walk towards the White House, but stopped at the White House Visitors Center on the way to dry off a bit. I headed back out a bit later, and made it to the White House, but it was on lockdown after a 66-year old man jumped the fence. After hearing this, I headed towards the Washington Monument, but they were out of tickets for today. At this point I was actually soaked now with my shirt now being wet. I made it to the Smithsonian Metro station, and headed back to Rosslyn.

I went back to my hotel, and got in around 3PM. I ran my wet clothes down into the dryer, and then myself took one hot shower to try and warm up. After getting my act back together, I headed back into DC. I decided I would try the Museum of Natural History. Went through the Mammals and Gems/Minerals Exhibits and left since they were about to close (I think) at 5:30. After this, I went to the White House, but I could only get to the north side. I took pictures then headed north to the McPhearson Square Metro station to head back to the hotel again. I got back around 6:30-6:45 and started to think about dinner. When I finally headed out sometime around 9PM to pick up food at Ruby Tuesday’s, I noticed something. It was SNOWING! My first snow in many years. After bringing my food back and eating it, I headed back out side to play. I made some snowballs (I still have the skill) and made a mini-snowman. I am sure the locals thought I was crazy, but I was going to enjoy the only snow I will probably see for some time.

I left off in my last post right before I got on AirTran Flight 854 MCO-ATL.  A lot has happened since boarding that flight.  That flight got to our gate a little late, thanks to us landing on the 5th (new) runway in Atlanta.  Reminded me of the victory lap I once experienced in Dallas….took forever.  Anyways, I headed for my connecting gate and with it not boarding I plugged my tablet in to get a little juice, but it wasnt really convienent, so after a few minutes I stopped that.  I noticed I had a while till my Flight 184 boarded, so I went to go change my shirt.  Next thing I know when I return is that the gate area is almost empty.  I was one of the last few to board and got into my very comfy Business Class seat.  I’m fine flying Economy since thats what I always fly, but it sure was nice.  You actually get your choice of snack.  While coach only gets Biscoff….which I dont hate, but choice is good….

Anyways, we flew the Potomic VFR approach into DCA, which gave some really good views, so I took some pictures of the mall area.  Of course after landing that prompted the person next to me to ask me if a flew alot, because he wanted to warn me about the FBI going after people taking pictures when on that approach pattern.  Too bad everyone does it and well what could they really do?  Oh well…

I made my way to the Metro and jumped on the Blue line to Rosslyn station.  Got off, and made the short walk to my hotel.  I was happy that 1) I had no issues checking in early and 2) They were able to check me in very quickly.   After a quick run up to my room and taking a shower I headed back out.  I stopped at the Rosslyn Metro Center and got a hot dog, before jumping on the Metro to DC…Capitol South Station.  I walked up 1st St.  Which took me past the Library of Congress, the US Capitol, Supreme Court, and the various congressional office buildings.  I headed to the office of Senator Nelson, to pick up a Senate Gallery pass.  I think I was the only one in that whole office building in shorts and a t-shirt.

I headed straight to the Senate Gallery, went through a metal dectecor, then a maze of coridors, then had to check my camera and phone, then went through another metal detector.  Finally I made it to my seat.  They had been debating the Iraq War earlier, and now there was like 4 maybe 5 Senators staying around listening to I believe Senator Biden say his thing.  I stuck around for a while…It was quite interesting to see that.  Of course I want to make it there for when theres a better amount of Senators….maybe I need to check the House Gallery….

After that I walked around, took some pictures and decide to check out the Library of Congress.  Walked a bit around and then found out you can get a free LoC library card, so I could go into the reading rooms.  However, after failing to find the super-secret tunnel, so I wouldnt have to wait in line/clear yet another security checkpoint I decide that I would just move on to my next destination.  There is always another day to check it out.

I walked around more, and eventually wound up at Union Station which I wandered around in and discovered the areas that I had not noticed the last time I was there.  I also grabbed some dinner there, just your basic chicken strips and frys.  I walked around some more around Union Station, then jumped on the Red Line to Gallery Pl. – Chinatown where I switched to a Yellow Line Train to L’Efant Plaza.  I walked around that area, but not for long since it started to rain.  I admitted defeat and decided going back to my hotel would be good, so I jumped on the Metro.  Of course, I forgot what it is like to be on the Metro going in the direction of the suburbs at 5PM-ish.  When I got to Rosslyn, it still was raining, but I made the short walk back and since then have just kicked back.  Still havent sleeped.  I think im either at or past 36 hours now……

Well tomorrow will be a incredibly full and crazy day.  Hopefully, the rain will go away.  I can deal with the cold, but the rain just makes things difficult.  Also, I better get up at a decent time.   Like 8 or 8:30, if I plan on going anywhere……

Ok, so heres the deal. I am on my way to DC for part two of my spring break. Part one was going home to where everyone else travels to for spring break: Panama City Beach, FL. Before I posted this I wrote two entries describing my beginning of my journey. I will (hopefully) be adding new entries until I get back home to Orlando late on the 17th.

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12:47AM 3/15/2007

I’m writing this as I sit her on Interstate 10. There was an accident or something, but all I know is that the entire road is backed up incredibly far. I’ve been sitting for over a half an hour at this point. Long enough for me to pit the car in park, turn off the lights, play a few rounds of solitaire, type this, call 511 several times, and walk around. Really the sad part is how FL 511 tells me “Between Highway 27 and Interstate 95 the estimated travel time is 2 hours and 25 minutes and there are no accidents to report. NO ACCIDENTS??!?!? Good game Florida. I’m starting to get a little unhappy as it is now 12:52 and in 6 hours I have a flight leaving MCO to ATL. Getting to the airport in 5 hours isn’t my major worry, but the fact is I need to run by UCF to drop off my bike and some of my stuff before I head to the airport. I need at least 10 minutes to do so….less if I just drop off the bike. Anyways, I guess this is so much for sitting in that airport Starbucks all night getting school work done. I just hope this traffic starts moving here shortly.

4:51AM 3/15/2007

I am now sitting at the Orlando International Airport, where I have just finished eating a scone and working on my tall Cafe Mocha from Starbucks. I made it to UCF at 3:45 thanks to the accident, and was back on the road to MCO in by 4AM. Took 15 minutes on the 417 to get here, and haven’t had an issue yet. I parked in the Red Satellite lot, and luckily there was a bus waiting for me to take me to the terminal. Short ride over to Terminal A and got off at American Airlines for a short walk to the AirTran counter. Walked right up the counter, reprinted my boarding passes, and then inquired about an upgrade to Business Class on my ATL-DCA flight. Luckily, there were seats, so I was able to get seat 3A. Anyways this will be beneficial as I will be able to 1) board first and get that precious space for my carryon 2) first off the plane, so I can run to the Metro station and 3) a bigger seat is always better. I have two hours before my flight, but I might go and standby on the 6AM to ATL. Also the security is becoming quite the line, so I better go and get in it.

5:41AM 3/15/2007

I am now waiting at my gate, after getting theough security. The line took forever, thanks to people not knowing what to do, not to mention the woman who almost caused a security breach when she went to grab for a bucket to put her stuff in. Anyways, I could standby for the first flight to ATL, but it is delayed despite the monitors saying its at last call. They are missing a flight attendant I just heard. Besides I have free WiFi here and a window looking over my flight, and another. Hopefully, we will depart early.