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I've flown to the UK before for London Expo..... I know the drill, it's the same the world over. It's beyond excessive at this stage, but I'm sure everyone will agree with that.
It's more the trickery around the Advanced Passenger information and visa waiver programs and the like that really worries me, rather than contraband on the flight. Contraband can be jettisoned, but issues with visas and the like can get really expensive. Getting into the US for a visit can be tricky at times.
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If it weren't for Earthquake damage from a year or so ago, I'd recommend the Washington Monument, the only guided tour in DC open really late, like 11 pm late. It still has a manually operated elevator, and if they're ever able to get it repaired like it's supposed to be, a really interesting series of memorabilia on the stairs down. Perils of it being a free-standing bit of masonry.
Be aware that if you go at night and take pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, there's a tendency for flash photography to radically change the expression on the statue.
He's supposed to be brooding, but flash photos can make him look startled.
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I thought Dartz might be not be American, but that's advice the Americans in the crowd can consider. (And, like the rest of the world, the NSA is spying on you too)
Quote: TSA employees are harried, overworked, paid to be paranoid -- and have law enforcement powers. Do not make their day worse, because they will return the favor tenfold.
I haven't had any real problems with the airport security, either at National Airport or Washinton-Dulles. So far as I can tell, the security is much more strict in more conservative parts of the country, rather than high risk areas. Note that TSA agents have law-enforcement powers but are also among the lowest paid employees in the government. So don't make jokes around them of any kind. And keep an eye on your belongings after they go in the scanners -- the TSA people stealing things from travelers is more common than it should be. But the reputation for slow lines isn't really deserved any more. Half an hour is the absolute longest I've had to wait in line for security Disneyland, though you should always be prepared for longer times.
-- ∇×V
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Both the National Air and Space Museum (and/or annexes) and the Smithsonian are what I'd consider highly immersive. If you plan on truly doing either of them justice, then set aside one full day for either. Especially the Air and Space Museum. Very much worth your time to be thorough and explore and read the material.
If you expect to take tours of the White House and/or the Capitol Buildings, then expect to schedule at least 2-3 hours for each. It's not so much that the tours themselves take that long. But take into consideration the security procedures.
You could spend a full day JUST visiting the monuments. Especially if you spend some time at the WWII memorial in the center of the mall.
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Speaking of the Washington monument. That actually looks rather snazy like that.
I'll probably give the White House and Capitol a miss because of the security. Depends on what my fellow travellers think, however.
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I can't really tell you much. It's been decades - literally - since my family went to DC to do the tourist thing.
I just remember being more impressed with the Capital than the White House. But that may just be personal taste etc.
That was long before the WWII memorial was constructed. Never been to that. But I understand it's both impressive and moving.
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You know, given everything that has been going on, I wonder if anything has changed at the NSA's museum, which I linked upthread.
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"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber." --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.
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So. Minor update. This time next week I'll be in a pub in DC. Everything's done. I've $1000 in crispy 50's. ESTA came through. Airline's booked. Hotel's booked. VHI. Only thing that can go wrong at this stage involves getting stopped at the airport for something silly.
The arguments that beset any family vacation have already begun. Like who pays for what and where do we go to the point where we'll be too busy arguing to go anywhere. It looks unlikely we'll be able to get out of the city anyway and do some of the things I want to do which is really annoying, since it was my idea and I was originally going to go by myself.
If anybody'd like me to bring something small over from Ireland, I'll see what I an do. I have a baggage allowance in both directions... Alcohol and dutiable items might be harder though. I'll post them when I get across the water.
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Once you've made it into DC, change a few of those $50 bills for smaller denominations. (Buy a sandwich at the airport, if the moneychangers' rates are too high.) There are a few folks out there who are suspicious of strangers bearing large denominations in new currency - they could be trying to pass counterfeits - but will accept $10 or $20 bills from the same people.
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Wish I could be in DC about now, but fate has conspired against me on the matter. :-(
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Fate should be arrested for conspiracy.
I'm getting obsessive about this now, checking and doublechecking all the obscure things that can go wrong. So something simple will barf up instead. Always happens... it's the wonder of travel. I've never actually done international travel like this. Can't help but feel like I'm forgetting something but I don't know what that something is. Maybe it's just a healthy paranoia.
Thanks for the advice on the money.... I'll have a few hours in JFK to spend waiting on a connection so I can take care of that there.
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Personally, I'd recommend most of that be in traveller's cheques. You can always get the bank to cancel stole TC's, but you can't do jack about stolen money.
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Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.
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Dartz Wrote:Fate should be arrested for conspiracy. But then you'd have to arrest Nanoha, too.
Dartz Wrote:I'm getting obsessive about this now, checking and doublechecking all the obscure things that can go wrong. So something simple will barf up instead. Always happens... it's the wonder of travel. I've never actually done international travel like this. Can't help but feel like I'm forgetting something but I don't know what that something is. Maybe it's just a healthy paranoia. Do you have a wallet card listing how to contact your next of kin? You shouldn't need it, but just in case...
Dartz Wrote:Thanks for the advice on the money.... I'll have a few hours in JFK to spend waiting on a connection so I can take care of that there. I just remembered: the USA still has $1 and $5 bills. (They have $1 coins as well - I actually have one - but I understand those aren't too popular.) You might want to get a few fives for tips. If you have any left over at the end of your trip, take one home as a cheap souvenir.
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Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
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We're stubborn bastard who don't want our pockets weighed down with change. However, there's still booming use of our Dollar coins in countries that use the USD as their state currency.
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''
-- James Nicoll
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Didn't you lads elect a president on a promise to bring more change to America? And ye're still using dollar bills?
Next of kin card... good idea. I'll do that.
And on that bombshell, I think I might be done. Maybe grab a book or two tomorrow, then up at 5am to get the plane. And I just discovered that I didn't have to pay extra for the meal after all - what I actually did was spend 160 upgrading everyone's meals on both journeys. Still. It's a microwaved steak dinner with wine instead of microwaved lasagna.
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Convection oven, not microwave (unless the FAA has relaxed that rule about RF equipment on aircraft recently).
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Rob Kelk
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I didn't know they used convection ovens. I knew they were reheated. I just sort of assumed microwave because electricity.
Anyway.... nothing to do tomorrow but wait and pack light.
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Here's hoping you have a fun and safe trip!
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''
-- James Nicoll
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Thanks.
Got two hours to kill before boarding. Then another three in NY, then on down to DC. Everything going surprisingly well
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Unless you've got WiFi on the flight, you'll see this either in NYC or DC. Hope the trip was uneventful...
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Rob Kelk
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A full 20 hours after leaving my home, Ive arrived.
Everything has gone remarkably smoothly.....
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Excellent! What's next on the agenda?
-- Bob
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Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
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A long tepid shower since the hotels plumbing isnt up to delivering a hot one, then catching up on a lot of lost sleep. What happens tomorrow depends on who wakes up when. But i might go get a chilli dog for lunch.
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Already glad I did this.
Air and Space was worth the journey on its own. Looked inside Columbia capsule and the thoughts of spending five daya in there gave me thw horrors. These capsules wete well named...theyre tiny. Then theres the naval aviation exhibit, and the X 15 over the entrance hall and a dozen other things that were close enough to touch. The Enterprise model in the basement is surprisingly simple...only being painted on one side and generally highlighting the production value of the original series. The windows are painted on. Ended up spending nearly six hours walking around, strolling down the mall passed the Capitol then up to the hotel. I can see it from my window....more or less. I think I understand the meaning of Big Government....it's huge.
What surprised me was how nice and open everyone was, from a station master on the Metro who made sure we had proper Smartrip cards and the best weekly pass last night when we were all mentally dead, to a Hotel manager who, after our reservation was lost due to a credit card SNAFU, accepted the receipt as proof and gave us the cheapest nightly rate for the whole week. Someone kindly warned me that the police took great pleasure in nailing people for jaywalking...especially tourists. And I met a cashier in the Smithsonian who gave me details of a model company in Texas that'll ship to Ireland.
At home, people can be a lot more reserved about things like that, leaving tourists to their own devices. Or not going to such lengths at any rate...
Eating out is interesting. Especially portion sizes thatre clearly intended to be left unfinished, while being much cheaper than at home. Sauces tend to be much better too, which might seem strange but Ive long suspected most Irish eateries buy their sauces and the like from the same wholesaler. Also, Capitol Brewing Company for awesome food and beer.... And complimentary prezels with every meal.
One of the weirdest things is the level of choice....even for a sandwich. It means sometimes it takes a while because Im used to things being a bit more set - while the person in the que before me rattled of a specific list of things a minute long, I just wanted a ham and cheese and lettuce sub and ended up being politely asked every question in the list.
Thw trickiest thing is tipping...we tend to do it differently is the best way to describe it, and by nature much less often. Its hard to remember to do at times, or how to do it right.
It's strange. We get alot of US television so many things are familiar, but at the same time just a little strange. It's a surreal effect, but hard to put my finger on. The amount of political advertising is weird, followed closely by direct drug and treatment advertising (Ask you doctor about...), then things that seem far more normal.
Natural history museum tomorrow...something else in the afternoon. Planning more than that is silly...we stick to plans like polystyrene cement sticks to ABS?
Also. Should've brought my laptop, typing on a tablet is bloody hard.
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Quote:At home, people can be a lot more reserved about things like that, leaving tourists to their own devices. Or not going to such lengths at any rate...
Hmmm. My mother visited Ireland eleven or twelve years ago, and she's rhapsodized ever afterward about how warm, welcoming, and helpful the Irish are....
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Big Brother is watching you. And damn, you are so bloody BORING.
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