From Washington DC onwards we used Southwest Airlines for our entire domestic travel in USA.
We found them to be the only local airline allowing 2 check in baggages per person. All others allow only 1 and since we were doing a long trip, we found this very convenient.They usually fly to the smaller airports which are close to the cities and so reaching the hotel from the airport becomes easy.
Their seat allotment is also different. 24 hours prior to your flight departure, you need to log in to their site. A number is assigned to you…like a queue system. Depending on your number in the queue you are also assigned an alphabet. At the boarding area, you are allowed to board only as per your order in the queue and you are free to choose the seats of your choice. I found this unique.
They are also little unconventional in their announcements etc. The crew often indulge in small acts of mimicry to add some fun…
We boarded from Ronald Reagan National Airport which was easily accessible by metro and had a comfortable flight.Landed at Midway Airport Chicago. Our hotel…Sleep Inn Midway Airport was very close to the airport and we took their shuttle. Reached the hotel late evening and had an easy check in . Nice comfortable room and close to good eateries.
After some rest, we ventured out on to the streets of Chicago. We got to see aircraft landing at low altitude…you almost feel as if the aircraft is going to hit the buildings!!!
A short video of aircraft landing at low altitude
After a short walk around, we returned to the hotel for the night.
Day 2
Took the airport shuttle to the airport and from there took the metro to downtown.
The metro passes through some congested areas with the tracks running very close to balconies of houses…similar to Mumbai or Bangalore
The Chicago Metro….. and observe……. how close the apartments are to the station
We had planned to do a city tour on Big Bus but unfortunately it was cancelled due to The Chicago Marathon
We were in for a real surprise as the entire area was flooded with people and security personnel. Most people had colourful banners and other graffiti to cheer the participants. The whole downtown area wore a colourful look…almost like a fair.
Ofcourse there were traffic restrictions too and everyone were on their feet!!
Some pictures of the Chicago Marathon
We walked alongside the marathoners to reach the Millenium park which is a public park near the Lake Michigan shoreline. This park houses the Cloud gate, Jay Priztker pavilion and Crown fountain….some of the important tourist spots in Chicago.
Our first stop was at Cloud Gate the bean shaped steel sculpture. One of the celebrated works of the Indian born sculptor,Anish Kapur; it is also called The Bean.This outdoor sculpture reflects the sky for the most part and bridges the gap between the viewer and the sky….this is the concept and hence the name cloud gate.It reflects the skyscrapers around it and one can easily stand underneath this giant steel bean.You can see your own reflection against the background of the skyscrapers. We clicked a couple of pictures here.
At Cloud gate
Exploring Millenium park further, we reached the Crown Fountain
Crown Fountain is an example of Video sculpture. Consists of two 50 feet glass towers on either side of a reflecting pool. Video images of some citizens of Chicago are projected on the screen and gives an illusion of water spouting from their mouths.
The Crown Fountain
Next we were at The Jay Pritzker Pavilion
This huge outdoor pavilion hosts a variety of music and performing art events
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion
From Millenium park, we walked towards the Lakefront and reached the Lakefront trail.The Lakefront Trail is a beautiful path along the western shores of Lake Michigan.This trail lies between beautifully landscaped parks and the lake. It is used for walking, jogging, cycling and other outdoor activities.
Lake Michigan and Lakefront Trail
Walking along the trail, we reached
Shedd Aquarium..a very famous aquarium with plenty of exhibits; we spent about an hour there.
The Adler Planetarium, close by is another of chicago’s tourist spots.
From this end of the trail, we got a good view of the Chicago skyline
The Chicago Skyline
The Willis Tower
Another landmark of Chicago;this was originally called Sears tower. It was once the tallest tower but was soon overtaken by others. It has a viewing platform and a skydeck. Unfortunately , due to marathon restrictions we could not visit it.
The Willis Tower in the background
After the long walk around the city, we headed to a coffee shop nearby and soaked in the scenes of the marathon returnees.Most of them were tired but seemed to enjoy the festive spirit around.
As we were there, I did notice something unexpected…..someone scanning the garbage bins for something to eat!! What a paradox… a sad part of life in all parts of the world amidst so much fun and frolic around !!!
After that we headed to the metro station and headed back to the hotel.We were to leave for our next destination Portland the next day.
Our next destination was Washington and we decided to do this by road to soak in the feel of an American road trip .After the usual internet searches, we decided to take the Greyhound ( the government interstate buses)
We were dropped off at the Port authority bus terminal which is just a block away from Times Square.Needed some convincing from the cabbie that we were at the right place!The entrance looked like a small door in the midst of a busy thoroughfare!Once we were inside, it was a different world in itself!Really surprising to see so much activity going on below; unmindful of the activity in the streets above.Amazing to see such far sighted planning and implementation; way back in 1950.
The bus ride was comfortable with push back seats and the bus had a toilet too.The distance to be covered was approximately 370 km took around four and a half hours.The fare from New York to Washington is only around 15 dollars…very reasonable.
Once the bus left the terminus, it crossed over to New Jersey through the underwater tunnel.There are two such tunnels…..the Lincoln and Holland tunnels and the Washington bridge that connects Manhattan to New Jersey.Then we were on the highway for a major part of the journey.
We crossed New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Baltimore on the way and were dropped off at the Washington union station bus terminus.
After some snacks and coffee at the station, we were to take the metro to Shady grove station where we were to be picked up by a friend.Then was the process of buying tickets from the vending machine seemed a little challenging in the beginning but we managed to do it.There are clear sign boards and so we easily located our platform and boarded the train.Even in the train, there are maps with exact stations on the route and where to change over in case you want to go elsewhere.Life becomes so much easier when there is proper organisation…
In the train we found ourselves among the regular office goers….That’s the advantage oftaking public transport…you really get to feel the local pulse…Living and housing costs in DC being much higher than the national average; the more affordable adjoining states of Maryland and Virginia are the choice
We were picked up from the station by our friend who was our host. He actually lives in a place called Monrovia in Maryland. After meeting his family and having a sumptuous Indian dinner, we crashed for the day.
Day 2
After a breakfast with the family, we were dropped off at the same metro station and we took the train to union station.
We decided to take Big Bus here too ( like we did in New York) and purchased the necessary tickets from the agent at the station itself.
The first monument that you pass is the Capitol, and then the bus winds its way on the National Mall.The entire National Mall area has monuments, memorials and museums.For people who are not particularly interested in getting into each of these memorials, a ride on the bus gives a quick roundup.It is next to impossible to see everything in detail…so the best option is to decide on your choices and alight there.
The National Mall is a landscaped park with tree lined avenues and it houses many memorials and museums like the Washington Monument and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.It also houses some of the most treasured museums in the world…The Smithsonians.
Our first stop was at Washington Monument.
Built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of USA,it is a hollow Egyptian style Obelisk……surrounded by a row of the US national flags.
Construction started in 1848 but was halted for a few years due to the civil war and lack of funds.The colour of the stone used during the first and second phases of construction was different. The difference in colour between the top and bottom of the monument is due to this .
The Washington Monument
Next we visited the Lincoln Memorial
Built in 1868, this memorial is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and externally resembles a Greek temple.The monument has highly symbolic elements…the 36 columns representing the 36 states at the time of his death, and 48 festoons above representing the 48 states in 1922.There are three main chambers and the central one houses a statue of Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln Memorial
Boarding the Big Bus, we passed by the Jefferson Memorial
Built in memory of President Thomas Jefferson, it lies on the banks of the Tidal basin on the Potomac and houses his statue.The highlight of this monument is the cherry trees planted near it…a gift from Japan.If you visit this monument at the right time, you can have a visual treat of the cherry blossomed avenue.
The Jefferson Memorial
World WAR II Memorial
Built to honour the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in WW II, this is also a memorial of national significance.Consisting of 56 pillars representing the states and two arches surrounding a fountain,it was dedicated by President Bush in 2004.There is also a freedom wall with gold stars representing the Americans who died in the war.
The pillars at WWII Memorial
As I said earlier, it’s almost impossible to cover all the monuments separately, so we drove past them on the bus which did offer reasonably good views.
Smithsonian museums
A description of the National Mall is incomplete without a mention of the Smithsonian.Named after its founding donor James Smithson, they are a group of museums and research centres. There are 11 museums and galleries on the Mall and several others elsewhere.Entry to all these are free….the goal being Diffusion of Knowledge
Some of the museums are:
Air and space museum
Holocaust Museum
Museum of Natural History
Museum of American History
Hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden etc
Needless to say, it is almost impossible to cover all these.
So we decided to visit the their flagship museum……the Air and space Museum
Air and Space Museum
It is indeed an awe inspiring museum and is a centre for research in spaceflight.Exhibits of aircraft from the Wright Brothers era to the latest are seen here.Spacecraft, missiles, rockets , space artefacts are exhibited here.A planetarium and Imax Theatre form part of the Complex.A space enthusiast can spend hours looking at the exhibits.
National Air and Space Museum
Due to time constraints, we spent only around an hour there and decided to head back home for the day.
Day 3
In anticipation of another exciting day, we followed our earlier schedule and reached union station DC by 9am. Seeing The White House and doing a Potomac Cruise was on our agenda.The bus took us on The Mall once again and dropped us off at the Wharf for the cruise.
Potomac Cruise
Since it was early in the morning, we were among the few people for the Cruise.As we sailed down the Potomac, we could identify many of the monuments on the Mall which we had visited the previous day.We also saw the Arlington Cemetery and The Ronald Reagan Airport which are actually in Virginia.
The first halt was at Alexandria Pier, which has a quaint old world charm about it. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on the banks of the Potomac.A leisurely evening is probably the time to visit Alexandria.
Alexandria Pier
After a half hour halt at Alexandria, we sailed to the National Harbour. There are many US Navy institutions near here. We did see an aircraft marked US 1 there. After the National harbour, we returned to the wharf to be picked up again by the bus.
This time, we took a different loop of the bus which goes to the Virginia side.As we traveled around in Washington DC we found ourselves moving between Maryland, Virginia and DC.This is due to the peculiar history of the formation of DC from the states of Maryland and Virginia
It is essential to give a brief history to understand the geography of these three territories; as we travel along.In 1790, the US Congress established a territory which would be the permanent seat of the Federal government.This territory was named District of Columbia after Christopher Columbus.President George Washington chose this place on the Potomac River and it was named after him.That explains the name Washington DC.The adjacent states of Virginia and Maryland ceded land to this new territory.The Virginia portion was subsequently returned…This explains the close intermingling of the two states and DC.In fact as you travel along, you will often crisscross Maryland and Virginia.
Our next destination was The Arlington Cemetery.
It might sound a little odd to the lesser exposed ; that, a cemetery is a tourist spot.Well, this needs some elaboration.
Cemeteries are very different in this part of the world!They are so well landscaped and maintained and spread over vast areas.I saw such a cemetery first when I visited Canada and it really hit me!!!The reverence shown to the place of final rest of ancestors is something to be seen.
Now Coming to Arlington specifically,
Arlington Cemetery is a military cemetery and hold your breath…..it is spread over 639 acres!!!Located in Virginia across The Potomac, it is the final resting place of many Americans who died in conflicts starting from the Civil War.
The Arlington Cemetery
We just spent a few minutes there strolling along the well manicured lawns and seeing some of the tombs.
Took the bus again which actually took us away from the Mall.Here we did see the streets of actual Washington city .
We then headed to Madam Tussaud’s Museum
The museum in Washington is much smaller than the others I have visited.So it was a bit of a disappointment.The exhibits relate mainly to dignitaries of the US …that too very limited.So if you have seen it elsewhere, and there are time constraints, it can be skipped!
At Madam Tussaud’s….
After seeing the wax replicas, we decided to see the President in person and went to the White House!!!President Trump was the president at the time of our visit.
The White House
This neoclassical style building is the official residence of the President of The USA.It also houses the offices of the Presidents staff and Vice President.Due to security constraints, we could not get anywhere close by.Sitting on the White House grounds and enjoying the ambiance around is all that we could do.Pennsylvania Avenue, where it is located is shut to the public.At the time of our visit, the height of boundary walls were being increased and hence there were temporary structures there.
The White House
Our next stop was The US Capitol
The US Capitol
Located on Capitol Hill, on The National Mall, it is the meeting place of the US Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the US Federal government.This is also built in neoclassical style and has a white exterior.The structure draws heavily from well known churches and buildings in Europe like the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican and St Paul’s Cathedral in London.Like most of the National Mall, it has lush green lawns and we did enjoy the rest there after being on our feet the whole day.
The US National Library known as the Library of the Congress also functions at Capitol Hill.
The US Capitol
Finishing off day 3 at the Capitol, we walked to Union Station and headed home.
Day 4
Our last day at Washington, we decided to take it little easy.
This is essential in long trips like what we did…a day to just laze around…to help soak in local ambience.
We walked around the local community, visited their garden and play area etc .What struck me was the importance given for open spaces, parks and recreation areas in all communities.Lot of effort and planning goes into this …not only here but in many countries.That makes a lot of difference in the quality of life of its inhabitants.Something that should be an example in town planning.
There is a Hindu Temple close by.Our host took us to the temple and also visited the priest who is his friend.It was news to me that it is easier to migrate to the US as a priest than most other professions.Their residence permits etc follow different rules and time frames.The daughter of the priest enthralled us with a brilliant Bharat Natyam performance.Perhaps we would not give that much importance to a temple visit or a dance performance when we are here.
It is really strange how INDIAN we feel when we are abroad…alas..the strange ways of the human mind!!!
With these thoughts, we finished our Washington leg of the journey. Next Destination…Chicago
The land of opportunities….USA beckons one and all.
So let me start my travel blog with my experiences as I traveled across USA.
We started our US trip from New York.
We traveled to New York from Toronto by American Airlines flight to La Guardia airport as our hotel was in the financial district near battery park.The self tagging and loading of luggage on the belt was a first time experience for us. This might prove a bit challenging to the lesser exposed .As the flight took off from Toronto we had spectacular views of the Lake shore area of Toronto , the massive Ontario lake and of course an aerial view of Niagara falls at a distance which was truly a bonus!
The landing at La Guardia was also a visual treat;….what with an aerial view of all the islands, bridges, the Statue of Liberty , Empire state Building etc
Our hotel Hilton Garden Inn at Battery park,close to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal; offered great views of the bay and the ferries cruising along. They offered us a comfortable stay and the accessibility to town was also good.A short walk from the hotel, we were at the bay front with views of the lit up statue of liberty. We walked around the area that evening soaking up the feel of our first day at NY
City Tour
DAY 1
We took a city tour on the Big Bus….
Big Bus is an easy way to get around the city for people who have to rely on public transport.The tickets can be purchased from the agents who are available at all their scheduled stops.The guides provide a description of the places we are passing by .The cost per person was 50 dollars.
The Big Bus With open upper deck ……. and both of us On the upper deck
As the Bus wound its way through the streets, it offered us views of New Jersey across the Hudson bay, saw some of the costliest real estate in the world which is home to many celebrities, and of course the skyscrapers which are home to many multinational companies….some of the costliest commercial space in the world.
The medieval architecture of most of the buildings facing the Hudson Bay have been retained while the newer skyscrapers line the inner streets. This helps to retain the feel and ethos of a place.
The iconic Titanic pier where the ill fated Titanic was due to dock lies along the Hudson river here
The Titanic Pier
Our first stop was at the 9/11 Memorial .
The entire place is very well done up and there’s something sombre about the place…The new WTC , the shopping area, the museum, the gardens, the fountain…the entire place is well designed.
The Fountain with names of victims engraved on the side
One definitely feels a tug at the heart when we see the names of the victims engraved on the sides of the fountain. We also saw a couple of visitors break down at this place….perhaps family or close associates of the victims. Actually the atmosphere here is very sombre
The new tower….Stands tall as a symbol of Human resilience and determination
The museum with exhibits of the remains of the disaster
This is the survivor tree that was found in the rubble after almost a month, nurtured and replanted….a tale of resilience…proof of nature’s spirit of survival against all odds
The 9/11 Memorial mall Inside the Mall
Another sight that unnerved me was that of the flights whizzing past the new tower..mind you, it happens every few seconds…
Continuing the city tour we were at Brooklyn bridge
As you walk on Brooklyn Bridge you can see the Manhattan Bridge (seen in the background of the picture) which carries trains apart from the vehicular traffic and pedestrians. Notice the vehicular movement below where I am standing
The Brooklyn Bridge is a national historic landmark of the city. Connecting Brooklyn with Manhattan island across the East river; it is an example of farsighted planning. In use since 1883, the visionary thinking is hard hitting….the pedestrian bridge on top with 6 lanes of vehicles below ….how far sighted can one get??
A view of both the bridges…Brooklyn being in front of the picture.
Next we took the cruise toLiberty and Ellis Islands.This cruise came as an offer with a two day Big Bus ticket.We boarded the cruise from the designated pier.
On board the cruise as we sail by the Statue of Liberty.
This statue is made of copper and the greenish colour seen today is due to oxidation of copper. It was a gift of friendship from France. It is located on Liberty island which is close to Ellis island.
Ellis island was the immigration station in the early days.The Statue was considered an icon of hope for the immigrants who arrived on Ellis Island.We also sailed past the Ellis Island during the cruise.
This marked the end of our first day city tour. We returned to the hotel and rested.
DAY 2
After boarding the bus and taking a trip around China Town,we hopped off at the financial district, and headed for The Charging Bull…a symbol of Wall street.The Charging Bull is a bronze sculpture created by the Italian artist Modica in the wake of the stock market crash of 1987. It was originally dropped off by him at the New York Stock Exchange building and subsequently relocated to the present site.It is a symbol of power and prosperity…
Can he take the bull by its horns?
Boarding the bus again ,we were at Times Square….the colourful ,vibrant face of modern day New York.Once called Longacre square, it was renamed Times Square after New York Times moved its headquarters there.
It is a major commercial, tourist and entertainment destination and is sometimes referred to as The Crossroads of the World The colourful billboards are a perhaps an external manifestation of the glitter, glamour and business that happens there.We alighted here and walked around the area soaking in the sheer vibrancy of the place
The glitter, glamour and activity at Times Square
Leaving the glitter and glamour of Times Square behind, we changed over to the blue loop of the big bus and had a ride around the Central Park area. This part of New York has some upmarket residential buildings…many of them retaining their medeival style.As the name suggests, it is also more green…
Last we headed for the ferry terminal deciding to take the Staten island ferry.
The Staten island ferry is a free ferry service that carries people to and from Staten island . The cost of living at Staten island being much lesser, many people prefer to stay there and commute to work on this ferry.
The Staten Island Ferry Terminal
The New York Skyline from the ferry
We returned to the hotel with great memories of the city and looking forward to our next destination…Washington DC.
Travel-along.in 