2/17/15 – 2/18/15
The first thing I noticed when I got to Washington DC was how awfully quiet the city was. It was only 4pm on a work day but it seemed strangely devoid of activity downtown. Even the Starbucks was closed. My first thought was how early people get off work. It was not till later that I learnt it was a snow day that day. Must be nice, ’cause there wasn’t that much snow.
Cost of living in the city was definitely slightly on the high side. My first clue was the relatively high prices in the restaurants. We had our dinner at this really cute place called The Fainting Goat (how can you not love the name). Their signature burger was good but cost $14. Just to compare, I can get a similarly yummy burger at Umami here for a few bucks less. Another interesting observation was the number of newly constructed (or still under construction) residential condos with retail on the ground floor. They look really nice and expensive.
The next day was spent doing touristy stuff like visiting the Library of Congress (reminds me of a more modern Vatican). Very impressive and definitely no expenses were spared. Even the floor was marble. The Capitol Building was accessible via an underground tunnel which conveniently kept us out from the chilling cold. It was equally as impressive, rich in history (do take the tour) and full of high school kids on field trips. The day ended with a surprising find in the heart of Chinatown called Chinatown Express. Don’t be fooled by the name. It is pretty authentic HK food and with yummy handmade noodles and dumplings. It turned out to be a great CNY eve dinner after all. Sometimes the best gems in life are found when you least expect it.
chewingvampire 