32 Hours in DC

October 20
Arriving in Dulles we make our way to the Ethiopian Airlines customer service office to retrieve our hotel voucher. The office is empty, so we make our way to the ticketing counter, also empty. Life is literally bustling around us as we stare at the counter shaking our heads knowing that no one from the airlines will be in this airport today. To the pay phone we go. Sitting on hold for 15 minutes we finally get in touch with someone to only be put on hold another 15 minutes. Finally we think there is a resolution, notes on our account from our call on the 4th, the instructions we receive are to get on the shuttle provided by the airlines, just ask information in the airport, they'll know. Obviously there is a misunderstanding, we need a hotel name to get on the right shuttle... MJ goes to information as I wait on hold to see if this option is legit. Of course it's not! So we get a telephone number to call that we are suppose to call for more information. Great, we disconnect from the call. Dial this number we were provided to find out it is a random Verizon cell number and no one answers. This time MJ phones the airline and again we wait on hold and grow a little more irritated by the minute. He connects with someone that appears to know what we are talking about or at least we thought... After explaining we are in the airport the gentleman says in 10 days you'll receive your voucher sir. MJ sternly explains the situation again and says you have 30 minutes to figure this out or a complaint will be filed with the FAA. He hangs up, we get a little laugh, head to Starbucks for tea and to burn a few minutes. Back to what I consider our own personal phone booth we go. Dial in and wait on hold for ohhhh 25 minutes this time. The charming hold music is now static on the other end. When we finally reach the man we were talking to previously we see the lights in the Ethiopian Airlines office turn on. After a few minutes we get the hotel arrangements. MJ says to me it looks like he was on his day off. Now we feel remorse at pressing so hard for our free hotel room. This poor guy had to leave his family and come into the office and help the obnoxious American travelers. Sometimes it's better to just let it go. Off we go to the rental car humbled by our foolishness and entitlement. So it's perfect that we're heading to DC! First stop - vegan food at Sticky Fingers Bakery north of the National Mall and it is delicious + I enjoyed a lovely vegan cupcake. Cupcakes I sure have missed you! We've slept 3 hours, just ate and are feeling the need for coffee. We make our way to the National Mall to find M E Swings Coffee Roasters as it is a famous location. Not realizing just what that meant when we finally arrived it is located just behind the White House! Famous location, I'd say so. After roughly 30 minutes of trying to locate a parking spot we get out and Embrace this beautiful day. Amazing and beautiful large structures built by the free masons surround the area, business men and women pass through the streets busily and we get our cup o'joe. For those of you coffee lovers, the location is lovely but the coffee is terrible (our doppios were severed in a drip mug and it was the longest pull I've experienced in a long time just short of a pour-over). Next up, we walk to the White House, it's so small compared to most of the buildings in the area and when you think of the power held inside, it's quite amazing! "Hello President Obama" I shout from the top of my lunges. I thought he seemed cool enough, maybe he'd consider stepping outside and saying hello. I was wrong, wa wa wa. Oh well, next up Natural History Museum. Everything appears so close but it's really not. The free masons really knew how to make a grand gesture, the buildings are HUGE and create some of the largest city blocks I know outside of New York City. Anyway, these buildings are immaculate, each one consisting of unique sculptures/engravings, and you stare in amazement realizing the power and work occurring behind the large iron wrought doors. Arriving at the Natural History Museum we walk through a security check point and make out way through the journey of dinosaurs, ocean life, ice age, butterflies, solar systems/volcanos, and even caught a glimpse of the hope diamond in a new, but temporary setting commemorating the fiftieth year donated! The new setting is a wrap necklace made from 360 baguette diamond with the Hooe Diamond centered above the collar bone. The model exuded an air of smugness, but seriously who can blame her. Life is amazing! Next up, the National Archives and the line is long. Nearing the idea of walking away the large group in front of us leaves and we advance to the front of the line and after mere moments we are entering, again passing through security we arrive at the exhibit. No photography and you have to stand in a particular order. Every security guard is equipped with a weapon, this is serious business. Walking up to the cases you see the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Lincoln's letter to abolish slavery. It is quite amazing to see how well preserved these documents are and being that many of them are from the 1700's and on velum all I have left to say is you must see them for yourself! We make our way to Chinatown Coffee per the suggestion of Samuel and we will be meeting him there to spend the rest of the evening in DC drinking more coffee and enjoying a delicious Ethiopian meal.

Okay, I'm sure you coffee lovers are dying to know where we went and what we liked... So here it is, we went to Filter, the space is very quaint and charming. A step down from the sidewalk, exposed brick, sliding caulk menu board and a loely pour over bar - they make a delicious cup of the Ethiopian Dara Wata or Wato (I can't remember) - washed. Also the Kenya Samuel had was quite amazing. (note from Mj: i had the Ardi and they roasted it too dark. The fruit was masked behind a milk chocolate base) We sat on the brick steps and enjoyed the brisk air. We then headed to Peregrine Coffee, another lovely shop. Wood and metals join in making this space feel a lot like Seattle. At this point I was a little jittery from just finishing my 3rd cup but everyone enjoyed the coffee immensely. Later in the evening we went to Big Bear for TNT (Thursday Night Throwdown) Philedaphia v. DC. The place is packed and anyone can sign up. There is a screen broadcasting something live but the feed was terrible and I couldn't make it out. We stayed for a short time and enjoyed the company of Samuel when we both were fading from the lack of sleep and being over caffeinated.