Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Travel Tuesday: Into the City

One morning recently I was in a mood for a train ride. I left early, taking the condo shuttle bus to the subway station. 

Two stops on the subway, I got off at King Street Station and walked across to the Alexandria Railway Station.  I bought a ticket on the Virginia Railway Express train into Union Station in Washington DC. This is a commuter train, running on the mainline tracks. A full fare one way ticket was $5. It is only about a ten mile ride. 


I found a seat on the upper level facing the direction of travel. Great views. 


The exit out the front of Union Station, across to the Capitol Building. 

The Folger Shakespeare Library, is behind the main building of the library of congress, I was an hour too early to see the inside (I will go back.) 


A nice new passenger waiting area at Union Station in DC. 
One of my favorite views, crossing the River on Long Bridge from Virginia into DC. The alignment of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument was accidental. 

16 comments:

  1. The last picture is very cool. I don't think I'd ever seen the tow like that.

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    1. The subway and train bridges offer a great view of the city.

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  2. The Virginia Railway Express, stopping all stations.
    Btw, I believe at your National Gallery? there is the largest exhibition of Australian indigenous art ever seen outside Australia.

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    1. I am past due for a walk at the National Gallery (it was closed for 40 days) I see that show runs through February. On VRE there are two stations between here and Union Station, Crystal City and L'Enfant plaza. I have never taken it south or west, it goes south over 30 miles.

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  3. Replies
    1. I didn't notice until I was editing this post.

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  4. The Shakespeare Library sounds promising -- I hope you'll do a post on it if you go!

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    1. I will go sometime soon, they reportedly have a nice cafe.

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  5. I forget that in the east there are trains running in all directions. I miss that out in the wild west. You got some great shots.

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    1. Both Maryland and Virginia operate low cost commuter trains, I can go to Baltimore for about $10.

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  6. I, too, love that last photo. I tried to figure out what it was before reading and was wrong on all counts.
    Years ago we went to an AIDS march in DC and arrived at Union Station. I thought it was quite beautiful inside and out.

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    1. Union Station is a grand old building, there has been a fight over control. It seems to be improving.

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  7. Such a beautiful blue sky day for your journey! Great shots!

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  8. That sounds like a great day out - proving that you can have great adventures right on your doorstep. I am surprised that you did not storm the US Capitol demanding wokeness and DEI for all.

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  9. What a wonderful day trip!

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