Day Four

Woke up at 3am sweating like a pig. Had to put noisy air con on due to intense heat. Then had to turn it off again when cooled down as it was so noisy. Bad start to the day.

Awoke properly later on tinged with sadness that we had to leave New York already. Wondered what the next place would bring and would it be as good.  Thought about a jog, decided it might rain so didn't bother.

Packed everything up by 8.30am and left the apartment. Luckily rain had just stopped. Carried the world's heaviest luggage to the subway station. Some issues getting through the barriers with so much stuff. Waited for a train. One turned up, no chance of getting on it as it was heaving and we were carrying 16 elephants.

Eventually got on metro and travelled to Penn Station. Got lost looking for the ticket machine, couldn't find it anywhere. Gave up lugging heavy stuff around and was sent to find out where ticket machine was. Asked someone, they said upstairs. Went upstairs to find the big concourse with a million machines. We'd been wandering around the wrong level. Scanned barcode from printed email we'd had for months and machine magically printed our tickets. Waited for train.

Amtrak 141 to Washington DC

Journey took 3 and 1/2 hours. Seemed to pass by in a couple of seconds. Main entertainment was Marv the guard, who obviously enjoys his job. Pure entertainment everytime he walked down to check tickets or spoke over the PA system. He sang, wisecracked and generally arsed about the whole journey. Legend!

Arrived at Union Station, Washington DC at 1pm. Station was incredible, absolutely massive and stunning.

The amazing Union Station

Weather looked ok. Got a cab.

Indian driver asked us where we wanted to go. We said 'The River Inn'. He then pulled away, chatted on the phone to someone for ages before pulling over and saying 'Here we are'. We said 'This is the Regency Hotel'. He looked confused. Took quite a while to explain where we actually wanted to go as he didn't appear to speak English.

Eventually arrived at the River Inn, Foggy Bottom. Checked in, people seemed really friendly. Made a change. Got up to room 406, a Potomac Suite, which Ann had negotiated as an upgrade last November. Good work, the room is bigger than the New york apartment! Has a great feel to it.

Lounge

Lounge

Bedroom

Kitchen

Bathroom

Dining area

Got acquainted with the room and let thunderstorm pass before heading out to Trader Joe's to buy some grub. Crossed over Pennsylvania Avenue on the way there. Big famous house further along it apparently.

Back for tea and relaxation before tomorrow's big day of stuff.