Happy yellow scooter

Yesterday when it was about 20 degrees out I thought this scooter was just the most cheerful thing. I’ve got a little scooter too (it’s silver, not yellow) but I’m definitely not brave enough to ride it in this cold.

Incidentally, this was parked right across the street from the IMF headquarters, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the person that rides a yellow Vespa and parks on the sidewalk also works there.

Hippo yawn

Hippo

So I’ve heard that hippos are one of the deadlier animals out there, mainly because they are both very unpredictable and very strong (with big teeth). Typically at the zoo they just loll around in the water, but this guy was up and about, nosing around his ball and showing off his teeth. It really was quite intimidating, and enough to convince me I never want to encounter an angry hippo …

Bear sloth!

I’m not sure why, but I think these are the coolest animals. Also taken at the National Zoo this weekend.

Another panda

Because I’m pretty sure you can never have too many …

Happy panda

Today I made the trek over to the National Zoo and discovered that the animals (at least some) love the 40 degree weather! This is Tai Shan, the baby panda who was born at the Zoo in the summer of 2005. Today he was munching away for quite some time, right in front of the observation area. You can see the pandas live by going here!
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On a personal note, I apologize for the break this week – it’s been hectic lately but I’m doing my best to stick with this!

Fuzzy

My friend’s puppy, who I take for walks in the afternoons …

Back to DC…

After a weekend away (yay for federal holidays!) it’s back to DC today.  This is the fountain at Dupont Circle, where Connecticut Ave intersects with 19th and P St NW. 

The fountain honors Samuel Francis DuPont, a Rear Admiral in the US Navy who served in the Mexican-American War and in the Civil War. The current fountain (which replaced an earlier statue of DuPont himself) was installed in 1921, and the figures represent the sea, the wind, and the stars.

Like spring, but indoors

A welcome suprise in my bedroom when I went home for a visit this weekend. Pretty impressive that this was in full bloom when there was actually snow on the ground outside!

Union Station

Snapped this one – quickly – as I ran for the MARC train on my way out of town this weekend!  Union Station is pretty neat because it is a beautiful building but also a functioning train station, with Amtrac trains leaving all the time.  I came in on the metro and then caught the commuter train up to the Baltimore airport – not the quickest way to go, but relatively cheap, which is nice. 

Union Station opened in 1907, and while train travel has decreased since WWII, Union Station is still a hub for shopping and tourism – about 20 million people visit the station each year.

On every corner

Yesterday there were flowers for sale on every corner!  This guy was at 18th and M St NW, I think.

Pink

Icy Day

After a night of freezing rain here the roads were slick enough to win us a two-hour delay at work today.  Things quickly melted and by now it’s just mud …

Old beauty

Saint Patrick’s Parish, built around 1792, also near Metro Center and Chinatown.

Old Exceutive Office Building

The Old Executive Office Building, next to the White House – actually much bigger and more imposing than the White House. Built between 1871 and 1888, it now houses the offices of the Vice President and the National Security Council.