redwheelbarrow

IAD-DTW-BHM

We have been staying in Silver Spring, MD, right outside of Washington, DC. Our flights were cancelled yesterday because of the snow/ice. Luckily we were able to get our rental car and hotel room for an extra day. Delta kindly re-routed us through DTW (Detroit Metro Airport), instead of Atlanta, since right now Georgia is an ice block and all flights are grounded.

We drove to IAD (Washington Dulles International Airport) once the roads were plowed. After we checked in, it was shockingly empty. Many flights had been cancelled the day before and only the flights headed from IAD internationally (Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam, etc) were running. All of the flights headed anywhere in the north- or southeast U.S. were cancelled. Those terminals were empty, except the lucky 40 people (like us) that were able to get re-booked on the Detroit flight. The airport itself feels so 1960s, but a recent interior renovation of terminal B felt very modern. A three-story high atrium had stainless steel escalators darting through the space with large metallic sculptures hanging overhead. The terminal/baggage claim train platform with its modern glass backlit with bright white light looked like it, too was in motion. The large turnbuckles above holding up the undulating facade were also impressive. They had to be at least 6ft long each. Overall, the airport was a visual delight, with every architectural element working together to create a kinetic feel in both materiality and design.

- jennifer

Jan 31, 2012

The last day of the month finds me still in D. C.

It's been a nice place to visit but there is something so fake about it too.

I'm staying next to the Watergate building and it is as if it's laughing at the facade of what Washington is supposed to be about.

Kind of like when you've seen a report regarding Cuba. . . and the official government says everything is peachy and the peoples are happy and they have video footage to prove it. But you can see in their eyes that the people are sad and forced to look happy.

I suppose you can't please everyone, but in D. C., the floor is polished while the subfloor is rotting away.

There was an exhibit of the Titanic disaster at the museum the other day and the most interesting part for me was how the paper headlines pre-sinking touted how magnificent and unsinkable the ship was. Hubris at its best. Thinking something doesn't make it true.

I admit I'm biased here. The Internet is slow thus tainting my feelings at the moment and I'll be back in a few weeks to be amazed at the wonder that is D. C.

Thad

Smithsonian

Dc is a huge place with so very much to see. Today jenn and I went to the American history and natural history museums. It was amazing!!!!!! It is easily possible to spend years here looking at all this stuff. Tomorrow I hope to visit some art museums.

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