Short hair Francis

Part 9 – Dulles, Northern Virginia, A Flying Enthusiast’s Paradise


Why did we choose to go down to Washington DC for a weekend, because both I and jfkeze needed one additional stay to requalify for Hyatt Diamond and DC tends to be great place to do Mattress Runs.


Weirdly jfkeze beat me to the Hotel lobby by about 10 mins, it took me longer to fly from YYZ – DCA vs. his megabus NYC – DCA, go figures

Sadly tonight’s experience at the Crystal City was lacking…
Empty check-in (Platinum & Diamond) desk and took 3 calls to get a complementary toothbrush and toothpaste from housekeeping. Eek

Hyatt Regency Crystal City




I want Cinnabon, not some copy-cat version


It was either a Double Bed Room or a King Bed Ambassador Suite, as both boys didn’t want battle for the bed, Double Bed Room it is.




One of the things what jfkeze wanted to do was to visit Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center out near Dulles Airport, finally a weekend where we finally found time to do that.

Going the very slow way, first on the Washington Metro


Journey went from Blue Line from Reagan Airport to Rosslyn, then Orange Line to East Falls Church, Followed by the Washington Flyer to Dulles Airport then the little connector bus to the Museum.

Overall took around 1 hour 15 Minutes which normally doesn’t sound so bad, except for the fact that the Rains from last night (cold front) went through and temperatures now were at a wonderful 30F with 25 mp/h winds, wind chill 16F.
Not so wonderful standing outside waiting for the bus huh.

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center



Please keep your guns outside, no 2nd Amendment violations?


What comes for the next 4 hours was a bazooka load of planes enthusiast’s paradise.
Probably not a place to bring your loved ones unless they loved this type of thing.



Well, maybe you can bring them to watch the Hunger Games.
Bringing pride for my district

*The next one anyway hehe

Since there were so many pics I took that day, and I can’t even categorize them all even if I remember each of them
I’ll just lay them out as is and break them into 20 pics per post for easier quoting for anyone else.










Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Jfkeze wanted to do Shuttle Discovery tour where a volunteer would explain the Shuttle Discovery in detail.



Don’t Forget us, your friendly neighbors from the North, Oh Canada








There was just one thing that wasn’t cooperating that day, well other than the very windy weather outside.
That would Wideroe, dropping Fuel Surcharges off United flights and slue of others.

*Photo from TFD

So the boys decided, screw it, let’s not disturb the tour.
Stand to the side elsewhere and sit on the floor, pull out the smartphones and start booking.


He ended up picking up a WAW and LIS while I got a LIS trip for myself.
MXP was by far the cheapest except neither of us had any interests in Italy, nor Milan for that matter.
For starter, both of us have long gotten Italy off our Country Visited List.

That was by far another key experience in life.
Booking a Mistake Fare ticket at an Airplane Museum off the list, talk about the irony LOL

Now where were we, back to the planes…

Come on computer, issue the ticket!!!













Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Something newer













Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

More of the Weird Helicopters









Oddball Planes






From the James Bond’s Movie Octopussy?



Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Off to more modern times












Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Enola Gay








Finally some from the Very yesteryear




Part 9 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

After spending about 4 hours at the museum with no food since breaky, which is a miracle in itself for SHF.
It was time to head back out to DC to meet DCA based FTer Flirtatiousflyer + her DH for dinner

So the shuttle back to Dulles airport, and on the “Express” 5A metrobus out to L’Enfant in Downtown DC.

Boy was that a scary ride with a fully loaded bus, bus driver driving 75-80 mp/h while texting on her phone, YIKES!!!

Took us about 20 mins to walk up to Penn’s Quarter from L’Enfant, in that 16F windchill again, ugh…

As Flirtatiousflyer is the local, she gets to choose the eatery which was
Luke's Lobster on 7th and E Street NW.
Link - http://lukeslobster.com/penn-quarter/

A bit expensive but very tasty food, plus nothing is better than swapping stories with fellow FTers of course



I ended up going for the Taste of Maine
1/2 Lobster Roll, 1/2 Crab Roll, 1/2 Shrimp roll with Drink, Chips, Pickle and 2 Jonah’s Crab Claws




And around 10pm, Flirtatiousflyer dropped us back to Hyatt Regency for the day.

A rather long day, let’s see how Wideroe is doing???

*Oh well, you snooze, you lose, except for one problem.

They only did that to their homepage so if you logged in earlier, all the back booking stuff was still running as-is for another 15 hours.

Who needs Fuel Surcharges when we have Wideroe?
Now I just need a Norwegian trip to return the favor


Next Part
Part 10 – A Foreshadow to the North American Winter of 2013/2014, Crazy Windchills of Washington, DC

roadwarrier

Cannot believe I missed this until now.

Eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Short hair Francis

I don't blame you roadwarrier, since this TR has been an on-off thing for the last 3 months or so.

Luckily you have next to no wait for the next installment

Short hair Francis

Part 10 – A Foreshadow to the North American Winter of 2013/2014, Crazy Windchills of Washington, DC


After the Dulles visit yesterday, today was the day to do something more local near the Washington DC area prior to our flight home, home as in NYC I guess haha .


First, a Visit to the Arlington National Cementry, well maybe not in 20F, Wind Chill 4F weather though.

Couldn’t get indoor fast enough to stay huddle up.

Arlington National Cemetery







In Honor of the Kennedys



And the other Kennedys
Robert K. Kennedy


And Edward “Ted” Kennedy


And the former Defense Secretary, Robert McNamara


Look Across to Washington, DC itself


Pentagon just across the Horizon


Arlington Memorial Amphitheater




Tomb of the Unknowns


USS Maine Mast Memorial



Space Shuttle Challenger




Part 10 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Iran Hostage Crisis


After about 90 Minutes of strolling the ground, now to get huddle up now!
Best and most accessible place on a Sunday, The Washington Metro of course


Washington Monument

*Still under repair from the cracking issues

Smithsonian Museum


Let’s save the skating for the days when it’s not so windy



United States Capitol

*Also known as the Capitol of Dysfunction

With some time on our hands, we went to a museum to stay warm.

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum




The legacy of Ronald Reagan, fire the Air Controllers


Who wants to pay for their ticket?

*That’s your budget

Want some legroom? Some perks?


Want all the luxuries, sure you can but it will cost ya


I will take a Flying Nosh for flying today’s shuttle over the Dougie Basket




Drone Attack



More of the World War 2 varieties




Part 10 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

They did a lot of monsterious things at that time but their uniform was also memorable



This one, not nearly as much





I want my Hello Kitty Jet!


Department of Transportation

*Always folding like a cheap deck of cards

Traffic Camera can’t keep a city safe, who were they kidding

*Only Guns and the NRA can LOL

Lastly, we made it to Chinatown around 2:30pm.

Since we haven’t had food since breakfast, what’s the best food in the winter?
A Warm bowl of noodles in Soup!

After Chinatown, it was time to head back to Reagan airport since we were done all the attractions we wanted to do. The outdoor ones are just unfeasible today.





Next Part
Part 11 – The Most Memorable Eagle Flight of 2014, American Eagle First DCA – JFK

jfkeze

you almost forgot about the race we had, me from Union Station and you from DCA to the hotel. I think my cab was like 20 bucks...
Also I went the classy way, took Greyhound instead of Megabus... it was a bit cheaper and left from 8th and 42 versus all the way on the west side hehe

offerendum

Thanks for bringing back memories

Short hair Francis

No I didn't forget the race
You were debating Cab vs. Washington Metro and you said eff it, it's been a long week.
I probably would've still beat you if I didn't get stuck waiting for the Hyatt shuttle at the DCA curb for over 15 mins.

Megabus, I don't think anytime in the near future I'm gonna do that again, eek.
Stop is in the middle of nowhere!

You're welcome offerendum.

Still it's tough to compare jfkeze sitting down at a museum booking tickets vs. the recent experience I had.

We cancelled Mama SHF ticket because her last name is too short, ya that can be a reason for cancelling a ticket.
Let's just say there were a Lots of swear words after that one

Those are by far the craziest experience I've had in the last little while.

Next Part should be up sometime today or tomorrow ^