Capital time in the Capitol
Washington DC at a glance
You know the fellows? If you don’t, you’ve obviously been ignoring my previous blogs. I’ve done like 15, and they’re all talking about me and my friends, discussing our experiences in the USA and our lives as professional exchange fellows.
We’re a group of 15 entrepreneurial individuals from 4 Balkan countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina (that’s me), Croatia, Macedonia (North Macedonia? I can’t keep up) and Slovenia. An organization called World Chicago picked us and brought us to (surprise!) Chicago, where we were given jobs at host companies. We all got to experience the city as tourists, guests, employees and citizens, and we changed our perception of life in the States a lot.
I got the chance to visit Las Vegas — I was only there for a weekend, but I still noticed there were marked differences between life there and life in the Windy City. Washington, though, is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Vegas, although just as different from Chicago.
How?
Well, for one thing, none of the buildings are tall. After the skyscrapers and the neck-craning, I now feel as though I’m in a tiny little village. The streets have a suburbia vibe, and walking around at night doesn’t feel nearly as daring. Additionally, not everything is flat. I’ve missed that.
The fellows arrived here on Monday evening, so we had an entire day to explore before our congress began. We made sure to use it well, and I’d like to share some insights.
Going out
Washington offers a variety of very cool bars, pubs and restaurants, but the prices are definitely bigger than Chicago. Read reviews before committing to a meal choice — we haven’t regretted yet. Ask locals for recommendations, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Worst case scenario in case your food doesn’t satisfy, you drop by 7Eleven afterwards and get yourself a taquito.
Alcohol is a little trickier. Chicago is a lot more liberal with the amounts they put into cocktails, and sangria is unlikely to be anything more than juice with mild wine taste. At least that’s what 2 nights in town have shown.
Sights
You’ve seen this city a thousand times. Photos, news, movies, shows… almost every monument here is something you will remember as being symbolic of this country, whether it’s something as simple as the seal of State Department on a sign or the Lincoln Memorial. There’s a lot to see — we walked down to the museums, and it was a good walk. There were ducks. Also other things.
Museums
I separate this from the sights because HOLY MOLY THERE’S A LOT OF MUSEUMS IN THIS CITY. I had this impression that the Smithsonian was a building complex, much like the Louvre, where you have a few rooms or a building dedicated to something.
What the museums actually are is a tiny country.
They are all over the place, and most of the offer free general entry. We managed to land in 2, and it felt a bit rushed. If you have time, just set aside a week to cruise them at leisure. If you lack time, just head to the Air and Space Museum. It has rockets and a model of the Enterprise.
