Had a walk down the Mall and went in to the Air & Space museum as planned. Spirit of StLouis, Glamorous Glennis. . . You get the picture.
We then drove to Union Station and purchased tickets for the 1200 Acela to Baltimore in First Class and returning on the 1344 Amtrak Regional in Business Class for a whopping $101 each (it's only a 40 min run).
This was another 'first' for me on this trip in that it was my first time on an American express train (albeit a TGV clone)
and once onboard I found the first class carriage quite comfy but one thing I found very strange was the fact that there were only 6 cars on the train with two 8000hp locomotives (one at each end). Acela is a very apt name!
There had been a big doo in DC the night before and Jacko pointed out that Regis Philbin was sitting across from us while I listened as a woman proceeded to tell him about having to help Donald Rumsfeld upstairs during the evening!!!
Anyway, the stewardess came along and took a drink order and and noticed we were only going to Baltimore so suggested we should order food straight away if we wanted it. We both chose the veal and it was DIRE.
Even the thought of it now makes me queasy - it was fatty, slimy and frankly disgusting.
But enough of that. On the way back we were on a bog standard loco hauled Amtrak Regional service (a proper American train). The cars are wierd looking things from the outside in there corrugated stainless steel skin with tiny windows. The ride was a bit lively so say the least compared to the Acela but I found the seats had a lot more recline.
Back to Union Station then off in the car again (a beat up Sebring Convertible with 35k miles on the clock coutesy of Avis) to the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Centre.
If you like planes then this place will blow your mind. Enola Gay, Concorde, the prototype 707 and most impressive of all - Space Shuttle 'Enterprise'.
Other than the shuttle displayed in all it's glory it was was quite difficult to get clear photos of the other stuff as it's all packed in. I did think Enola Gay and the 377 needed a bit more space around them especially but you can't have everything.
Finished the day off with a few beers and some dinner in Ned O'Briens near our hotel in Herndon.
John
