Back from DC

This week a colleague and I spent a couple of days in Washington, DC for work training. I learned a lot in the class, met some really great people and had a fun time!

Arrival

Scott and I (yep- we both have the same name) arrived at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in the heart of downtown DC late in the evening on Tuesday. As we pulled up to the grand entrance on the corner of 14th and K Streets we were greeted by the valet who assisted us with our luggage and then whisked our company car away to parking.

The architecture of the Italianate lobby was breathtaking. The vaulted ceiling glimmered with medallions in rich gold tones. We were informed by a smiling lady at the desk that everything was taken care of and we were off to our 12th floor suite. The 12th floor is special in that you must have special privileges to access it. We had to scan our keys in the elevator in order for it to take us there.

When we walked into our suite it was quite a sight. The lights were on in the sitting room and bedroom areas. Everything looked welcoming, plush, and airy with hallways and multiple rooms to explore. The walls were covered in golden, damask and stripe patterns. The upholstery and decor were designed in a classic American empire style. It didn't take me long to notice the chocolates at my bedside. I sampled one then another - drenching my taste buds in the rich, delicious flavor. I knew I was going to like this place!

When I drew back the draperies, a breathtaking view of Washington met my eyes. The lights of the city evoked a panoramic, cosmopolitan galaxy, beyond which the Washington Monument pointed heavenward - bright and white in the glimmering darkness.

I sank deep into the luxurious fabrics of my enormous, king size bed and drifted off...

Training

In the morning we set out walking to our training destination , the Evening Star Building along Pennsylvania Avenue. It was quite a few blocks from the Crowne Plaza, but it was less than a mile so we decided to walk instead of fighting traffic. I'm glad we did. It was an interesting experience and photo opportunities were all around. I had packed my camera in my messenger bag and could whip it out any time I saw something interesting. The early light created a beautiful scene (above) on Pennsylvania Avenue as we crossed Freedom Plaza toward the Morning Star Building.

After greeting our instructor we indulged in some pastries, part of a continental breakfast. Scott loves coffee and was thrilled to see they had gourmet flavors on tap with the Flavia system. I went for some good ol' H2O not knowing there was a hot chocolate option. I didn't find that out until Scott told me on the way home. Grrrr..... :)

It was fun meeting all the other trainees there from many different companies. I met people who worked for Verizon, the National Archives, The Census Bureau, and various financial institutions to name a few. Everyone was very nice and friendly. It was great. Scott and I quickly became friends with our table team mates; Tammy, Dana and Charlotte were wonderful. We all had a good time learning new things through the training and also having lunch together at Elephant & Castle (above).

The next time you visit Washington, DC, you need to visit Elephant & Castle for lunch. It's along Pensylvania Avenue, sort of across the street from the Ronald Reagan Building. It's has a very British-Irish ambiance, and the food is great.

A Surprise Awaits

As class ended on the first day we were informed that for an assignment we should prepare to give a 5 minute presentation in class the next day. We began thinking about what we were going to present then headed back to the Crowne for a rest before hitting the town for the evening.

When we entered our suite something seemed odd. There was luggage on the sitting room floor that didn't belong to us. We barely had time the consider the mystery when a bellhop arrived carrying more bags. We looked at each other in surprise and he asked us if we were leaving. We said no, that we had another night to stay. He smiled and promptly phoned the registration desk. While he discussed the matter another gentleman arrived and we realized there had been a mix up in rooms. Apparently when we checked in we were given access to the room intended for this other guy. Everyone was apologetic. After some initial awkwardness, the management worked things out and kindly assured us that everything was fine and we could remain in the suite. :) I'm assuming the other guy got taken care of to his satisfaction.

After a refreshing rest, we headed down 14th Street amidst the sights and sounds of rush hour...

Site Seeing

Since we weren't far from the National Mall, we decided to go down there and visit some of the monuments. All the walking was great exercise. I got some photos from the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. While I had been to these sites multiple times before, Scott had never been there. So I showed him around.

While we were strolling around the Mall it was common to see groups of young people (young professionals?) playing softball on the open expanse. There was a quiet, leisurely atmosphere despite it being in the midst of the seat of national power. It reminded me how the greatness of America is often comprised of timeless, small town values.

As the water of the reflecting pool continued to cascade its way into the World War II Memorial, we made our way toward the Lincoln Memorial in the distance...

Though I've been there before, the Lincoln Memorial is still one of my favorites. There is something about it that gets me every time. I think it's the reverence you feel when you walk into shrine and look up at that imposing statue of our country's "Great Emancipator", Abraham Lincoln. I noticed a sense of hushed awe from the many tourists visiting there. It was very powerful!

By the time we got back to the Hamilton Crowne Plaza we were beat - our legs and feet screaming, but we knew extreme comfort was waiting only 12 floors away.

Dinner at 14K

After the site seeing excursion along the Mall we decided to eat dinner at 14K. What an experience! Scott ordered Wild Sea Bass, and I chose Linguine Carbonara (linguine, bacon and peas in a garlic cream sauce). The waiter presented the entre to me with half an egg shell nestled in the center holding a raw egg. He then proceeded to pour the egg into the hot linguine and hand toss it for me. It provided a very nice consistency and a taste that was extremely flavorful.

For dessert I chose the Chocolate-Chocolate Bundt Cake (of course!). It was a miniature chocolate bundt cake in the center of a white plate. A scoop of creamy chocolate ice cream comprised the center of the little cake. The entire presentation was drizzled in chocolate with a tiny puff of whipped cream on the side. Delicious!! I love having my art and eating it too.

Scott had Fried Banana Split for dessert. The bananas were fried and nestled among dollops of ice cream including flavors such as pistachio. He loved it.

We headed back to our suite ready to drop from a busy but exciting day.

Saying Goodbye

The last day of training proved very effective. We gave our presentations. I did mine on quoting a skate park design using only graphics as my key points. I then asked my audience to recount the steps in the process by recalling the graphics. They did so successfully and then gave me some valuable feedback. Each presenter modeled a different present-
ation style and that allowed the rest of us to see the benefits of using different methods. This was only one part of a very powerful training course. It definitely gave me new insight on how I can create more effective training methods at my company.

When it was all over we said our goodbyes. It was like leaving friends.

Scott and I headed back to the Crowne to load up and get moving before rush hour got really extreme. Before too long we were back on the tree-lined George Washington Expressway, meandering northward along the western banks of the Potomac River. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of a rower in a kayak, piercing the expanse of water.

It was a great experience. Washington is an exciting city. Maybe it's time for me to think about moving there. Hmmm....