The District & NYC

One might think my three-week InterRail should have satisfied my need to travel. But now I've just returned from yet another trip, this time to Washington DC and New York City.

I didn't really have that many expectations about DC. I was mostly imagining lots of public buildings. But although Washington is the administrative centre of the US, it was far from boring. Escpecially since the "public buildings" also included the White House and Capitol!

Another sight was the Smithsonian Institution's many exciting (and admission-free) museums by the Mall. We didn't have time to see them all, but visited the Museums for Natural History, American History and Air and Space. Interesting and informative.

After four days in DC, New York was our next stop. Compared to DC's relatively low buildings and modest pace, the skyskrapers and swarming street life of The Big Apple seemed like the diametrical opposite!

On Saturday we spent most of the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but still only got time for a fraction of the collection: Greek, Roman and so-called Primitive art, plus paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. All the same, I got the chance to see several of my favourite artists (Surrealists, Avantgardists and Impressionists, plus the occasional Pre-Raphaelite...).

It was a great stay, but every time I visit New York, the last day has always a certain bitter-sweetness to it. I won't bother to explain why. It has to do with goodbyes.