Walking and eating, eating and walking

Here in DC, we have been doing much more than visit the museums and memorials.  Everyday, we are out and about usually walking between five and ten miles.  With exercise comes hunger, of course.  We stop at restaurants to meet up with friends and family along the way.

Here we are at Rock Creek Park.  Did you know that it is a national park created by Congress in 1890?

This house built in 1823 sits on a bluff within the park and overlooks Rock Creek Valley.  The house and land surrounding it were transformed into DC's first commercial nursery. The owner Joshua Peirce was an avid horticulturalist. Today this house serves as the Park's headquarters.

If you have been following our blog, you will know that we have not been been very successful in our search for good Tex-Mex food during our travels across the Northeast and Midwest.  Our luck changed the other day when we stopped at a restaurant suggested by Donna's friend Kim - Laredo Mexican Restaurant.  It was the best Tex-Mex food we've had since we left Texas.  Of course, we had to try some Mexican beer and a margarita!  Thanks again Kim!!

We met up with another one of Donna's friends from the Federal Reserve - Julie.  It was great to chat with her over a cup of coffee.  She made some wonderful suggestions about traveling the country.  Working remotely during this pandemic, Julie and her husband have lived in multiple US cities over the last two years.  They have biked, hiked, skied, and boated their way from one end of the country to the other.  Wow!  Sorry, we forgot to snap a pic of the three of us.  At Julie's suggestion, we stopped by a local restaurant in Alexandria, VA - Lost Dog Cafe - for a whole wheat crust pizza.  As you know, we never turn down pizza.  Yummy - thanks for the recommendation Julie!

We walked around Arlington National Cemetery - the first burial occurred in 1864 during the Civil War.  There are about 400,000 veterans and their families buried here.

President Kennedy's and Jackie Onassis's gravesite.  JFK is one of only two presidents buried here - the other being President Taft. Teddy and Robert Kennedy are buried nearby.

There are many dedications to Infantry groups as well as others like the astronauts from the Columbia and Challenger space shuttles.  We saw Supreme Court Justices' graves like Ruth Bader Ginsberg's grave.  We also attended the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier that houses an unknown soldier from World War I.  Folks can watch every half hour (April through September) or every hour (October through March).

We met up with Donna's cousins at Founding Farmer's Restaurant a few days ago.  Donna hadn't seen them for a number of years.  They are her only cousins on her dad's side of the family.  It was great to see them.  Thanks for making the trip into DC - cousin Sheila and Colleen.  It was the first time Donna met Colleen's daughter Willow and Willow's husband Marlon (sp?).

During our walks around the city, we saw a lot of interesting architecture.  There are so many buildings and homes that are well over 100 years old.  The history in this city is both interesting and mind blowing!  You have seen a lot of it already in prior posts.

We attended a Catholic Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthews the Apostle.  Construction of this church took 20 years and was completed in 1913.  Inside the church was beautiful.  JFK's funeral mass was held here in 1963.

The entry to Chinatown.

Here is an eclectic residential front yard we happened upon.  Evidently, the owners change up this Barbie diorama depending on the holiday and season.  This scene celebrates Valentine's Day. So fun!!!

Just a few more days here in DC.  The mood is changing with the happenings of the world - Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the rumblings of a truck convoy headed this way.  It seems disrespectful not to acknowledge it as we continue our journey.  We hope for peace!