THE MARCH FOR SCIENCE IN WASHINGTON DC

On Friday, the 21 of April, we flew from LA to Washington DC.  We took a cab from Dulles airport to our hotel.  After watching the traffic in Washington, I was incredibly grateful that we opted not to drive a rental car.  What a mess.  Our driver, from somewhere in the middle east had obviously been driving around there too long.  He spent the drive yelling at other drivers and muttering to himself.  Our hotel was on H street.  Some good news:  it was amazingly convenient, very clean, very high tech, and not outrageously expensive.  Some bad:  it was very spartan, our room was small, but we had one of the larger rooms.  OK.  I should have realized the name of the hotel gave it away POD hotel.

A view from the Starbucks on H street and 7th.  Obviously very near China Town in Washington DC

We went out our first evening to check out the neighborhood.  About a half block away from the hotel was a Nando Peri Peri eatery.  We'd eaten at one in Karrisdale in Vancouver.  Great chicken, delicious sauces.  What a happy find.  Unfortunately, I don't believe they're in California.  I hope they expand.  I mentioned to Charlie that there seemed to be an awful lot of doofy people on the streets.  Most of them had red shirts.  It turned out we were a block away from the Verizon Center, the Washington DC sports arena.  The red-shirted folks were Capital fans.  There was a Toronto Maple Leaf vs Washington DC Capital Stanley Cup playoff that night.  Clearly, I am oblivious.

 

The next morning, 22 April, was drizzly. but we got up early, and off we marched to the AAAS office on 12th and G streets.  Again, very close to where we were staying.  They served breakfast there, had a few inspirational speeches, and gave us signs to carry.  They also gave us great hats.  Given the weather, my umbrella wasn't enough.

Our signs say "Scientific Method, It Works"  Notice the lady in short sleeves.  California folks have thin skin - I was not exactly freezing, but it was in the 50's and drizzling.  Brrr

From there we walked to the Washington Monument.  The committee organizing the march had estimated 50,000 people.  I know there were a lot of people, but I never found out how many actually showed up.  A stage was set up near the monument, loads of porta-potties, and huge screens so we could see what was on the stage.  The best thing there was Jon Babtiste of Stay Human (his group).  He is on the Steven Colbert show, but in Washington he played after each set of people who spoke about why they were there to march.  He is really fabulous.

Jon Babtiste is on the stage, but clearly we needed the big screen to see him.  The keys to his piano were wet.  I hope he didn't get sick playing there.   He must have gotten drenched.

We were standing next to the World War II Memorial, you can see the Jefferson Memorial in the distance.

We wandered about a bit, found lunch at an Au Bon Pain.  Fortunately, we got in early.  The crowd came in about a half hour later and the place filled beyond capacity.  We were supposed to meet the AGU marchers on the steps of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum at 1:30.  The official march began at 2.  My favorite part of all my marches have been the signs - this one was no different.  My own sign dissolved in the rain - too bad - I liked it.  But my hat was forever....

On the way to lunch we passed the EPA office.  It was a Saturday, but the place was clearly locked down and closed.  Sigh.

The AGU group somehow got in front of the march, so we waited for the formal march starters to go past.

I'm not sure why T Rex was there, but he's been in every march we've attended.

The march formally ended on the Capital lawn.  We wandered back to the hotel from there.  The photos below were taken as we walked back toward the hotel.  The march was still moving with huge numbers of people the entire time we were walking away.

The line of people were marching a full 40 minutes after we finished.

Thanks to Facebook I've managed to keep in touch with a friend that I knew in State College, Pa many years ago.  Her oldest son and my oldest are a few months apart in age.  She and her family moved out of State College and settled in Virginia.  They live very close to Dulles Airport.  We hadn't seen them in years.  Eegads, more than 30 years.  We got in touch and she invited Charlie and I to spend our last evening at their home.  What a special treat for the end of our week-end in Washington DC.  We took the Metro to the last stop.  She and her husband picked us up.  We had a great meal and 30 years of catching up during the evening.  

Monday, Charlie and I flew back to LA.  Onto our next adventure....

WITH A WINTER OF RAIN!!

I normally don't write blogs about home.  I usually show photos and talk about trips we've taken various places.  This winter for the first time in FIVE years, California had a normal rainfall.  It even had a larger than normal rainfall.  During the five year drought I pulled out my pathetic lawn (no great loss) and put in a drought resistant garden.  My hardy little plants struggled along on a drip watering system that Charlie had put in.  They didn't die, but they were obviously not real happy.

Then along came this winter's rains.  Wow.  The plants may have been drought resistant, but they secretly craved water.  Here's a few photos of the results.