I was so pleased that David, Tabitha (my niece), and their remaining three almost grown-up children were able to join me for breakfast on would be their final day in the U.S.A.  Their flight back home is at something like 5.20 this afternoon.  The happy couple are making their way up to an island off the New England coast, which sounds absolutely idyllic. 

I have some time to explore before continuing my journey to Chicago tomorrow.  My train, The Capitol Limited, leaves at 16.05 hrs, and if I remember rightly, I should be at Washington Union Station over an hour before.

It was difficult to find anything worthwhile to do where I was staying. There are some spectacular rapids that are popular with locals and people in the know.  I wasn’t and nor were the otherwise friendly and helpful reception staff.  I was given a leaflet suggesting things to do in downtown Washington!  I was escorted to a bus stop from where I caught the J2 to Medical Center.  There, I caught the Metro directly to Union Station.  It took just over an hour but cost just $7.00 to get to Union Station.  If I can be efficient, I may well take the bus and train tomorrow. I already have enough credit on my Metro card, which will join my collection when I get home. I need to photograph the bus and the Metro train.  My “sadness” knows no bounds. 

I really needed to fill my afternoon and early evening productively as coming this way again is not likely.  Before venturing back to DC, I tried TJ’s a rather uninspiring but functional café at an adjacent hotel.  It was closed when I arrived the day before yesterday.  Where I am staying needs a big shout-out.  Out of hours, they produced an excellent chicken Caesar salad. I was and remain not only impressed but grateful. 

Returning to D.C. by public transport rather than private car was an experience I enjoyed despite its being nothing special.  The Metro (Red Line) seemed to take forever to reach Union Station.  There are numerous coffee shops dotted around, and I was able to find somewhere to sit and relax with a coffee and sandwich before revisiting sights but from a different tour company. 

After just over two hours touring D.C. from an open top bus, I experimented with getting an Uber  back to Bethesda.  The car was with me within moments, and the journey took 35 minutes.  It was cheaper than the taxi, but not as much as I anticipated. Thus, I am less annoyed with the taxi driver of two days ago.  And, I did get to see the Pentagon!   It was time to re-pack before having a late evening bite to eat.

All of a sudden, it’s 23.15 hrs, and I’m ready for some sleep.

Tomorrow, I take the overnight train to Chicago.

The wedding is already but a distant memory.

Many thanks for reading, David, in a now deserted bar area at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, 23.19 hrs, 04,19 hrs BST.