Buckingham Palace 1 The White House 0

Our friend and foe.
see all photos »

Well, Well.

We arrived into Washington in style  - a la Greyhound!  Not, as you might think riding bareback on the back of a skinny dog chasing a rabbit, although that may have been more comfortable!  We then got to the hostel - well the site of where the hostel used to be before 'the great fire'.  We called the man and he came to collect us and took us to the new hostel which used to be a war veteran's home, although we didn't actually need to be told - the sting of urine in our nasal passages told us all we needed to know.

Turns out we didn't assess our outfits until we took our coats off.
see all photos »

Steve - our host and compere for the 2 nights was all that you imagine a Washingtonian to be.  As soon as we jumped in the car he was ranting on about his political views which consisted of, Dick Chany's the man, Kennedy got Maralyn Monroe so Bush should sleep with Halle Berry, and, my personal favorite 'if I was a woman I'd have blown Clinton - you've got to serve your country somehow!'  He then tried to convince us to be in the hostel the following day to let the new arrivals in.  The last I saw of him was his stealthy theft of the backpackers drinks from the hostel fridge.

Do you know the man in the blue shirt? - he's the political dancing queen!
see all photos »

That evening we met Florian.  We were chatting politely to him when he decided to invite himself along for the evening out we had planned.  It wasn't actually as painful as I had imagined.  We went out for a nice meal and then went to a bar called Madam's Organ where we watch an old, aparently well know, politician strutt his stuff on the dancefloor.  I wish a could have filmed it to show you all the true hilarity of it but instead you'll have to imagine a fitting John Travolta!  The music was awesome though - there was a live rock band doing some wicked covers.  We later found out the Dave Grohl owns a club in Washington but alas we found out too late.

So mature
see all photos »

The following morning we got up reasonably early and 'did' Wahington.  We saw the White House - Not that big - The Washinton Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial, The reflective lake and Arlington Cemetry where the Kennedys are buried along with the unknown soldier.

We then had to go and meet Florian again and went to the crappest aquarium ever!  There were about 50 fish, a tiny shark and what looked like a dead aligator!

Then out for a quick meal before early to bed.  Up at four to go to Chicago - and all that Jazz!  Can't wait to leave the hostel - it's hellish.

hmmm
see all photos »

Glad we did DC - It really gives you some perspectives on your own problems - not just the fact that the American's have to put up with Bush for another 2 years - serves them right!