"My four hours in Washington D.C. !!!" Washington D.C. by amsterdam_vallon

National capitals are renowned for being the least interesting places to visit in any country, but Washington is an exception. Its tree-lined avenues and grand 19th-century buildings create a surprisingly warm, almost cozy atmosphere - though some neighborhoods are less so than others. The capital is a microcosm of the grand ideals and grim realities of the USA - as the potholes and homeless people everywhere will attest. You don't have to be unpatriotic to be aware of the depressing irony of poverty and racial segregation in the shadow of glorious monuments proclaiming 'equality for all.'

Washington certainly isn't as hip a town as New York or San Francisco, but its museums rank with some of the country's best (and most are free), its architecture is impressive and its dining and nightlife are more cosmopolitan than you might think.

Orientation

Washington is plonked down in the District of Columbia, a little enclave chopped from the state of Maryland. It is bounded on one side by the Potomac River (on the other side of the river you'll find Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia) and on the other sides by the state of Maryland. The city covers 69 sq miles (111 sq km).

Washington is ringed by a freeway bypass called the Beltway, which divides the urban insiders from the suburbanites. The Capitol isn't just the symbolic center of Washington: from here the city is divided into four compass-point quadrants along axes following N Capitol St, E Capitol St, S Capitol St and the Mall. Identical addresses appear in all four quadrants, so you need to know the directional component of the address you want.

Streets are arranged on a grid of north-south numbered streets and east-west lettered streets. This grid is overlaid by broad diagonal avenues. The geometric pattern is further interrupted by traffic circles that add to the city's appeal but can make DC a challenging place for outsiders to navigate by car.

Most tourist sights are located around the Capitol, along the Mall and in the northwest quadrant. Downtown includes the monuments dotting the Mall but is otherwise strictly business. Dupont Circle is an upscale business and residential address with a funky fringe; Adams-Morgan is bohemian, funky and international; Shaw has historically elite residential areas and ghettos; and Georgetown has pristine historic houses, a university and lively bars.

The Capitol and I

The purpose of my trip to D.C., was to go see a Redskins game. Like all good «tourist» my friends and I went for a city tour.

This is the resume of my four hour tour of D.C.

The first hour -Pentagon-
I was always impress by the picture I saw on tv of this monument. But to go there was another thing!

The second and third hours -Around the Capitol-
A beautiful area, with all the white marble building but the summum is the Capitol.

The Fourth Hour -Inside the Mall-
A big big touristic place but worth the price.

FedEx Field

That was the highlight of my trip!!!

Enjoy the atmosphere of a NFL game.

Go SKINS Go!!!

• Pros:A part of the US history
• Cons:Where are the locals??
• In a nutshell:An administrative city...A touristic city...A great football team!!!