We moved here, in part because we wanted to live in a city that had a good public transit system. I bought this condominium in part because it is a 10 minute walk from the Huntington Metro Station in the Washington DC Metro Rail system. For 15 years, the subway was my ride to and from the office nearly all of the time. The first five years, the building my office was in didn't have parking and being around the corner from the White House parking was difficult and expensive. Then we moved to another building and I could drive to the office and park in the building, but I seldom did. Traffic was frustrating, parking expensive.
The DC system is far from the largest, NYC, and Chicago have much older and much more extensive systems, but the system here is good. In the city of Washington DC, the system is underground, out here in the burbs it is mostly above ground.
When I was commuting to the office, my train ride gave me a little over an hour a day of reading time, enough to regularly read a book a week. Mostly e-books on my Kindle. I have replaced that with reading in the evenings, an hour or two a day, sometimes more.
The ride from here into the city, I still pause in two places to look up. I almost always look up when the train passes National Airport.
Thru the trees, at the end of the terminals, I check to see how many private jets are in today, there are none in the photo above that was taken last Saturday afternoon. I love airports, the station at at the airport has been my gateway to many grand adventures.
The second place I look up, is when the train comes up above ground to cross the Potomac River.
The views of the city never grow old.
I ride less than I did when I was commuting, but I still enjoy every ride. If anything more now when I can go in the middle of the day when the trains are uncrowded.
I like the last photo. As I am sure you know, my preference is for public transport. Your country has some of the most amazingly beautiful railway stations, even if most are twentieth century.
ReplyDeleteCome of the stations are from the 1800s.
DeleteI like trains better than subways. I use to use the subway all the time in NYC when i use to go up regularly. I saw many shenanigans going on of all kinds in the late hours. I recollect only doing the DC metro once.
ReplyDeleteLate nights can be a bit wild. I am usually in bed by then.
DeleteI love subways, commuter trains, and national trains. My favorite ways to travel.
ReplyDeleteThe second stop from Huntington, is King Street. The Amtrak and VRE station is parallel to the Metro station.
DeleteThe first subway I was ever on was Montreal and then Toronto. I was 21. Then I wasn't on one again until I was 40 and came to Edmonton. Our downtown stations are subterranean, but the rest of the light rail system is above ground.
ReplyDeleteI will be back in Toronto next summer for a join meeting of the ABA and i think CBA.
DeleteI like the hassle-free [no need to look or pay for parking] method of mass transit. Too bad there isn't more of it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Americans would walk more,
DeleteThis post reminded me of the times my Grandma would take us on the El train to downtown Chicago to eat lunch at Marshall Fields at Christmastime. We so enjoyed the Christmas decorations in the shop windows and the large tree decorated in the center of Fields. What a happy memory! Thanks, David!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great store in its day.
DeleteOne thing I enjoyed about my two years in Chicago was "the El". I used it all the time. And, of course when I visit London I use the underground. I have a goal for my next visit to London. I want to take one of the bus routes that goes from south of the river to way north of Hampstead Heath. I think that would be a fun ride with lots to see.
ReplyDeleteWe have friends that live in the north side of London, and often ride the bus for the views.
DeleteRegarding private jets - Just because somebody is rich, should that entitle them to burn up fossil fuels without restraint? Surely we all have a duty to sensibly control our consumption of aviation fuel.
ReplyDeleteMusk's jet was there Wednesday afternoon when I came home.
DeleteMusk burns off far more than his fair share of aviation fuel. I wish he would bugger off to Mars and stay there. He looks like a Martian anyway. Just need to spray him green.
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