ree weather. We've definitely had the rain of spring over the last week. So, as most of you know, I moved to DC last year, but haven't gotten to spend tons of time here since then. Although, I've now been here for six weeks straight after returning from giving that training in Tajikistan. Have I mentioned how much I love DC? I have? Oh well, I'm going to tell you another 3 or 4 times!! So, I actually live in Northern Virginia, not in DC proper, which people living in the District are happy to point out. But I love where I live. It is a cute area and there are TONS of 
dogs here! Woo hoo! The only downside? It's not within walking distance of the DC subway (called Metro). But there is a bus that stops right in front of my apartment and I love taking it to work because it's like a little tour of DC each time we go. Come with me on my bus ride.
First, we pass the US Air Force Memorial on our way to the Pentagon. Sometimes I get off at the Pentagon and take the subway, if it's raining or I'm running late. After the Pentagon, we go
over past Arlington Cemetery where JFK and the unknown soldier are buried. After Arlington, we head across Memorial Bridge to th
e Lincoln Memorial and down to the Washington Monument, where I get off to begin my walk to the office. I cross Constitution Avenue, pass the Organization of American States, wave to the Obamas in the
White House and walk past the Old Executive Building toward my office. The entire commute, bus and walk takes about an hour, but thankfully we don’t start until 9. So I get to sleep in, get a tour of t
he nation’s capital and still make it to work on time.
You know it’s spring in DC when the Cherry Blossoms bloom and tons of tourists start pouring in for the Cherry Blossom Festival. I got my bum out of bed this morning and drove with m
y neighbor to park in front of the Smithsonian American History Museum. Then we walked past the Ellipse and White House down to the Washington Monu
ment where we met up with 15 other people and went on the 5K Chit Chat Run. We ran down to the WW2 memorial, then we stopped and got a little “chat” about the memorial and WW2. Then we jogged over to the Vietnam Memorial and stopped for another short “chat”. Then, past the Lincoln Memorial to the Korean War Memorial and around the corner to the WW1 memorial. There is
a new Martin Luther King Jr. monument being built across the street from the WW1 rotunda. Then we jogged around the tidal basin under the very pretty Japanese Cherry Blossom trees to the FDR memorial where we had another little 
“chat”. Over to the Jefferson Memorial in the Tidal Basin and then…it was over. But, wait….we had to get back to the car. So we followed a few people in the group back over to the Washington Monument to head home.
Ok, so it wasn’t crazy easy, like I thought it would be and I did actually have to walk a few times, which was pretty embarrassing, considering the National Park Service ranger who was leading us was in his 60s and was kicking my arse! However, after a total of 7K (which sounds way more impressive than 4 miles), I was feeling pretty good and ready for a cupcake. Good thing the bakery doesn’t put them out till 11am.
Well, just wanted to share. Enjoy the pics! My neighbor and I took them all on Saturday. Lots of Love, Jill