Slopes and Stairs, Buses and Trains

Goodbye, D.C.  Hello, New York!

I get a great work out from all this moving about. Yesterday morning, after a wonderful extended, restful weekend, I packed up once more. This time I was able to successfully consolidate my summer belongings – my overstuffed medium-sized suitcase, my over stuffed backpacked with a couple odds and ends conveniently hanging off the sides (like my neck pillow, a small canvas bags of books, and my water bottle.. yup, I bumped quite a bit of people with these ornaments) , and finally, my black handbag that I cannot live without (it’s got the serious essentials – passport, umbrella, money, camera, etc.)

Where I stayed for the weekend, the Palisades, wasn’t accessible my the metro, so I had a ways to go before I got to my bus stop at Union Station, which would finally lead me to New York. I called a cab, but I stressed out about the blind waiting and decided to begin my treck despite all my bulky luggage. By the time I maneuvered my large suitcase past the rocky steps of the house’s garden, and up and down the slopes of the neighborhood to the main road, my face was melting in sweat. Inclines are a serious work out.

The wait for the bus allowed me cool down a bit, but my mind was still worried about making it on time. Buses in that area have been notoriously and obnoxiously late all the time. I had about an hour and a half, maybe a little more. I waited about fifteen minutes and my D6 bus rolled on down to meet me. How relieved I was! The cool air in the bus was comforting, and so was the amusing bus driver who kind of made my morning by telling me how beautiful I was (little did he know how I struggled, just minutes earlier, perspiring up the hill!). I also ignored the four calls that I think I received from the taxi potentially on its way to get me.  When I got off twenty minutes later the driver said, “Oh, I’m going to miss you.” I thought the same of D.C. I smiled, thanked him, bid him a good day and then clumsily struggled off the bus with my heavy bags.

My final ride on the D.C.  metro, was event-less, thankfully; and the timing, perfect. I was at Union Station with time to spare! Off to New York I went!