Due to some surprise!madness! my host was in a rush to get me from the airport back to her place. She had an unexpected flight to catch to Atlanta for a meeting the next morning. I was whisked through some of Virginia(BROWN road signs? WTF!), across the river and hauled up through a basement to an apartment, where I was pointed to the door keys, and the fridge - with its many takeout menus - and left alone in a strange apartment. This is where I had the joy of letting everyone know I wasn't lost in some random airport in the wrong state via a handy cell phone I just happen to carry with me everywhere.

Here is a lovely view of the basement!

The BASEMENT.

Only about an hour later, my host’s roommate returned from wherever it was she goes all day to find me alone on the couch. The following conversation involved ordering food (I had no idea the address!) “Tell me embarrassing stories about my roommate’s childhood!”, and “SHE TOOK YOU THROUGH THE BASEMENT!?!”. After which I was shown the proper, non-basement front door and given some idea as to where I was and how to get about. I also acquired some directions to the National Gallery which would be entertaining me until my host returned from surprise!Atlanta.

I slept in a bit the next day and journeyed off to the Nation Gallery. Here are a few photos. I have more, but I’ll let you go there, or go through their online archives to see some of the sheer amount of art they have. I am very surprised that you could take photos, even with FLASH. Crazy. Only in a few, heavily signed places, was photography banned (or so I was told, as I saw none of these areas.)

(Let me know if you want more info about any of these. I took pictures of the info plaques so it’s all at my fingertips. Or check it out through
National Gallery)

Looking somewhat disgusted - Potrait from the National Gallery of Art DC

This ship is going to sink! Ships crashing into rocks and some highly detailed storm clouds and waves. - National Gallery of Art DC

Epic fantasy before electricity. - National Gallery of Art DC

A REAL PERSON! IN A PAINTING. - National Gallery of Art DC

Girl Reading - National Gallery

Lucky for me you don’t have to actually leave the gallery to cross to the other building! (One less security check makes everyone happier at the end of the day.) They have an underground tunnel, that goes through a cafeteria and second store.

To far to walk? Just ride the moving pathway under the street to the next building! Watch the trippin' lights as you go. - National Gallery of Art DC

The lights moved in a rather wavy fashion. I didn’t use the moving walkways. They were slower then the ones you would find in airports.

I ended the gallery viewing at the sculpture garden, which was outside, had no security checkpoints (yay?!) but had a giant skating rink in it. Which I found rather unexpected, but is apparently normal. From the garden I caught a lovely view of the National Archives building which I texted to my archivist friend (the Archivist!) who would be uber jealous if she wasn’t showing up in DC that evening to join in on the shenanigans.

Everyone should note, there is a bit of a spider infestation, and these guys are HUGE!

Bit of an infestation in this sculpture garden....

So watch where you step. It might leap over and web you.

I stopped in the cafe hiding behind the mutant spider, and bought some delicious cocoa. As I sat down I got a message from my host who had just landed back in DC – wanting me to know that it would be great if I could get back to the apartment, as I had the door keys. I gulped my hot chocolate, and ended up walking up and over three blocks to catch a ride – since apparently there just isn’t enough taxi traffic through there.

We ended up spending the rest of the afternoon in a diner catching up, ( how was surprise!Atlanta – “AUUUGHHHH”) and munching on delicious food. We kicked back until the Archivist showed up which happened to be 5 hours late and past everyones bedtime. But! we had new, delicious pan-asian takeout to munch on and movies to view in the meantime.

More to come!

Also, here are some photos from the storm this weekend:

There is more to come – as well as more at deviantart. Go ahead and take a look.