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A Great Trip

It did not begin as a great trip. I arrived to find that my luggage was not on the plane. Much of my first night was spent on the phone with the airline, trying to track down my errant suitcase. This put me in a foul mood for the first day of my visit. By the second day, though, my luggage had been found and I was in a far better mood. Excitedly, I set out to begin my vacation. What ensued was what I consider to be one of the best trips I have ever taken.
My visit to Washington, D.C. had its share of issues and unexpected events. There were changes in plan that did not come about until nearly the last minute. The weather, too, proved unpredictable, with the threat of a snowstorm constantly looming. It was certainly not what one might consider the perfect trip. But, for me, it was truly memorable. In the months since my trip, I have determined that it was not one, but several factors that made the trip so memorable.
Having been to Washington many times, I was very familiar with the city. I had toured many of the museums. I had favorite places to eat. I had stores I was eager to browse again. I even had preferred routes from place to place. My week in the District gave me the opportunity to revisit old favorites and to discover new places. I reacquainted myself with the activity on the Mall. An afternoon was spent revisiting the masterworks in the National Gallery. But, there were still experiences I had not yet had. I sat in on a full argument at the Supreme Court and toured the White House, neither of which had I done previously.
Knowing Washington fairly well, I was able to be more selective about my activities. There was no sense of rushing from place to place, trying to see as much as possible. Instead, I could take my time and go as I pleased. With the exception of a few activities, I had not created an itinerary for my trip. This gave me the opportunity to experience D.C. from more of a local perspective. If there was something that I had planned to see, I made my way there. If, however, I had no plans, I spent my time strolling and people-watching.
The final factor in making a great trip was the people. My trip to D.C. gave me the opportunity to spend time with friends and family that I do not often see. Many of my memories from this trip involve at least one of my friends or relatives. We shopped and had great meals together. We went to parties and the theater. A few nights were spent doing nothing but talking. They were great company and I enjoyed every minute of it.
It was a week of friends and family. A week of new events and old. A week of leisure and fun. It was a great trip.
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