Where I live

I realized recently that not everyone can say "I'm going up to DC today" in a normal conversation so I figured maybe I should appreciate that a bit more. That said, I wanted to document one of the last times I went up, to the area near DC anyway.

This coming week, my company is participating in a large convention that is aimed at the military, and more specifically (I think) Navy. The convention is three days and three of the managers from my department will be taking turns manning the booth. I was offered a chance to go up with the crew to help deliver the hardware that they're going to need for the booth.

The place that the convention is being held is called National Harbor. It is very large and has a hotel built into the convention center. While we were unloading, we were taken through the large and long corridors that make up the underbelly of the convention center. It was so large that they have street names for the hallways and "Adopt a Corridor" signs labeling what group is responsible for tidying the areas. Unloading the trucks in the bays was done by a team of about a dozen forklifts all going every-which way. At one point there was a traffic jam because there were too many forklifts trying to go in different directions at the same time (and a couple of them had stopped to chat).


Near the hotel is a large covered area that looks like an in-door village with shops and restaurants. This is open to the public and while I was there, I saw a couple women with strollers looking like they were just going for a walk there.







Here are some pictures of the interior. The windows on the far wall is the hotel. The fountain was in front of that little house in the other picture. Keep in mind, it was a cloudy day, I can only imagine what it looks like when the sky is clear!

















Outside the main building, there is a series of shops and restaurants that stretches for about 3 square city blocks. We walked down and ate at a sandwich shop (Potbelly's), but thought it was interesting that there was a restaurant there called Ketchup. Apparently they serve somewhat over-priced "typical American food" like hamburgers and meatloaf, but they bring 4 different kinds of ketchup when the food is served. I guess that's the kind of place you go to just to say you've been there...



The convention center is very near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which is a very large draw-bridge. I tried to take a picture of it, but I'm afraid with my little phone, it didn't turn out very well.


Also, here's a picture looking back at the convention center from the pathway to the restaurants (that's one of my managers in the orange coat).

In the end, it was a pretty laid-back day, nothing like I'm sure the center is going to have for the next few days, but it was nice to go see something new. :-)

(Sorry about the gaps in the post, I was fighting with the editing interface)