A Day in DC

A couple of weeks ago my husband decided to take me on a date to DC to see the cherry blossoms and go to a couple of museums.  As we were driving to the train station it started to hail.  Off in the distance we could see blue skies so we figured the storm had already hit DC.  By the time we got to the station it stopped raining.  It looked like it was going to turn out to be a lovely day.  We got off the train at the Smithsonian exit and headed straight for the cherry blossoms.  They were absolutely beautiful.  This is the first time I had seen them and it was well worth it.


I brought along two cameras, one was a vintage Ansco Viking F6.3 folding camera and the other was my trusty Canon Powershot SD600 Digital Elph.  I've had the Canon for years and it's never let me down.  It's the perfect size.  It fits in my purse which allows me to have a camera with me wherever I go.  I just received the Ansco Viking from one of my husband's relatives.  They collect antiques and were kind enough to give me the Ansco Viking and a Kodak Brownie.  The Ansco Viking is quite compact as well.  It is only 3" x 6" and fit nicely in my purse.  This was the first time I was trying out the Ansco Viking.  I took quite a few pictures of the cherry blossoms with it.  Unfortunately, I went to get the film developed today and the whole roll was blank.  However, I took some pictures with the Canon anticipating that the Ansco Viking wouldn't work.  Below is my favorite picture from that day.

As you can see from the picture, it looks like a storm is coming from behind the Washington Monument. Not long after that picture was taken it started to hail.  Luckily there had been a 10 mile run earlier that day and there were still booths and a stage set up.  My husband and I found shelter on the stage along with one hundred of our closest friends.  It was very surreal to see everyone running for shelter.  The hail storm lasted about 15 minutes and then we were on our way to the National Portrait Gallery.  I highly recommend the National Portrait Gallery.  When we went they had an exhibition about photographers who photographed their family's.  I loved seeing that exhibition because it gave a very intimate look at the photographers private lives.  It makes you see that even though these photographers are famous they live pretty normal lives like the rest of us.  I really enjoyed one photographers project that she did with her daughter.  Every morning for about ten years they would take a photograph together.  The photos she picked to display were great because you could really see the good and bad of their relationship.


We ended our date at Jaleo.  Jaleo is a Spanish tapas restaurant in DC.  I've always had a weakness for tapas.  I have to say, Jaleo was fabulous!  Their sangria was excellent and every dish we tried was so good.  I highly recommend it.  I would also recommend making reservations.  We got there around 5pm and it was already packed.  Luckily there was room at the bar.  It was actually a lot of fun sitting at the bar.  All in all it was a wonderful date!  I can't wait to go back to DC!