MIAMI.- Designed by the French architect Pierre L’Enfant, under the supervision of George himself Washington At the end of the 18th century, the capital of the United States of America, Washington DC, is slender and lively with its multitude of neoclassical buildings, monuments, museums and places of recreation.
It would be enough to consult the Washington.org guide, but you have to walk around the capital city of the nation, from one place to another, to experience the essence of the monumental city.
We start at The Mall, the large esplanade that runs for almost two miles, between the Capitol of the nation and the Lincoln Memorial, to realize how important it is to have a wide open space, beautified by trees, in the middle of the city.
If the large esplanade is impressive, the row of buildings that highlight the course of the walk is impressive. From the Capitol, with its lavish neoclassical dome, and White Housewhere the presidency of the nation is located, to museums covered in Greco-Roman, Romanesque and Gothic attire.
Of the museums, the National Gallery of Art stands out, where it houses an extensive collection of pictorial and sculptural works by great European authors, such as Raphael, Van Gogh, El Greco and Dalí, in addition to a single piece by Da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere, as well as as an impressive collection of works by American artists.
A few more steps, uphill, and we find The Phillips Collection, where there are pieces created by Renoir, Van Gogh, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Mir and an amazing interpretation of the lost head of the Spanish painter Goya, created by the also Spaniard Bernard Roig. .
Downhill
Walking allows you to discover places that do not appear in tourist guides and after visiting the imposing Greco-Roman mausoleum of Thomas Jefferson, which lies on the north bank of the Potomac River, we found a small park, between a car park and the 14th Street bridge. , where lies a modest monument commemorating the victims of the explosion of the battleship Maine in Havana Bay in 1898.
The inscription reads: This cup was sculpted on a fragment of the marble column of the monument to the victims of the Maine, erected in the City of Havana, whose column was demolished by the cyclone of October 20, 1926.
A few steps away is The Wharf shopping district facing the river, where in addition to a seafood market there are restaurants, gift shops and residential buildings.
Of the restaurants we highlight The Grill, a modern restaurant that has a wide variety of very well presented dishes, from seafood to meats and pastas.
Try the mussels, made in a white wine, blue cheese and chipotle sauce. Finish by drinking the broth as if it were a soup.
Transportacin
There is no doubt that the capital, which barely has 800,000 inhabitants, receives special attention from the federal government.
DC has an extensive six-line metro network that connects the airport with the city center and surrounding places.
If you don’t mind walking a couple of blocks, consider the subway service. In addition to being convenient, it helps you save the money you would spend on taxis, Uber or Lyft.
Up hill
Going up 14th Street NW and passing the Thomas Circle Park roundabout, we arrive at the Logan Circle neighborhood, where over the last decade, between M and U streets, restaurants, bars, terraces and specialty shops have proliferated.
You can even cruise down 14th Street on a state-of-the-art streetcar, get off at U Street and stop at Ben’s Chili Bowl, where celebrities come to try the famous Chili Half Smoke hot dog, hamburger or a nice bowl of chili.
On the corner of 14th and P Street we find The Studio Theater theater complex, which has four rooms where contemporary works are presented simultaneously.
two more
If it is about wine made in the area, at District Winery, in the southern part of the city, you will learn how they make the precious wine with California grapes. From Blanc De Blanc and Albario to Chadornay, Cabernet and Merlot.
In Washington, Ethiopian cuisine is popular and we cannot leave without trying the typical dishes of the African country at the Ethiopic restaurant. Try Awaze tibs, a dish made with pieces of beef or lamb, peppers, vegetables, lemon juice and other spices. Tasty.
Where to stay
The accommodation offering is wide, from five-star hotels to hostels and Airbnb apartments that you can rent.
However, we opted for JW Marriott Hotel, which has excellent service and delicious breakfast.
The five-star hotel is located a couple of blocks from The White House and The Mall, from where you can easily travel to museums and monuments.
If you want to have a privileged view of the city from your room, look for rooms 1137 or 1135.
