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Before Spring Break started, my ninny self was at war with my brave soul over driving into DC to visit sights with the kids. Everyone around here tells me, “Drive to the Springfield station and take the Metro.” We did take the Metro on the 4th of July and with the cousins at Christmas, but the thought of going alone with 4 kids and one of them not getting on or off the train was too much for me worry about. So, my brave soul declared that I had driven in a country where they drive on the left, I had driven in countries where I couldn’t read the street signs. I certainly could drive into DC. I researched to find parking garages available and printed out my google map. Monday morning we set forth. I made good time driving to the city because I was able to take the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. I’ve had a HOV for years and just never knew it. I managed to cross the Potomac safely and then promptly missed my turn. The problem with following a google map printout is that if you do something wrong, you’re out of luck. There are no directions on how to get back to where I had been previously. So began our DC scenic tour. The advantage with this tour is that you see the Capitol from all sides. I’d drive around awhile, take a few turns and then “Look! There’s the Capitol!” I’d drive around some more, take a few turns and then “Look! There’s the Capitol” I’d drive around again, take a few turns and then “Look! There’s the Capitol” The kids soon lost interest and I soon lost all concept of NE, NW, SE, and SW. Somehow I eventually managed to find the parking garage (car park) (Just for you Juliet) and I let out a yell of triumph until I read the sign that said it was for monthly parking only. No worries, I had written down the location of another one. It also said monthly parking only. At this point I started to pray. Thankfully, a few blocks down, I found a daily parking garage and pulled in with a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks. We had an enjoyable time at the Smithsonian museum of Natural History looking at dinosaur bones, stuffed mammals, and the hope diamond. I made the drive home without any mistakes and went to bed feeling quite confident. So, I woke up thinking…I’ve driven to the Smithsonian, I can drive to the zoo. Once again I had my google map and once again I started out at the tail end of morning traffic. I should have turned around when I saw I95 at a standstill. There had been an accident two exits north and everything was backed up. I’ll take the alternate route, I decided. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one to consider that option. It took me twice as long to get into DC and when I finally crossed the Potomac, I promptly took a wrong turn at the Lincoln Memorial. We then got to see the Washington Monument from all sides. It is inevitable that I have to make the wrong turn several times until I can convince myself that it is the wrong turn. Connecticut Ave just ended and I was on 17th street. I didn’t want to be on 17th street, the zoo is on Connecticut Ave. “I’ll make 4 rights and Connecticut Ave will not stop at the statue of the guy on the horse,” I said. As Connecticut Ave ended again and I was once again driving down 17th street, my brain finally worked out that I was going the wrong way. If I am at 1000 Connecticut and I need to go to 3000 Connecticut, it might be best to drive in the other direction. I arrived at the zoo two hours after I had started out. The drive was only twice as long as it should have been. Parking at the zoo is extremely limited and they warn you that if you don’t arrive early enough, you won’t get a spot. I drove past several lots that were full and came upon a lot with available spaces. There was a woman about 9 cars ahead of me arguing with the attendant. He got mad at her and sent her and the next 5 cars away. He then listened to something on his walkie talkie and then let the car two ahead of me drive in the lot. At this point, he was busy talking on the walkie talkie and the guy ahead of me and I decided it was best not to make eye contact and drive ahead and hope for the best. We got a spot. The kids liked the Amazonia building, the gorillas climbing on the cables strung over the zoo, and the panda. I took one wrong turn on the way home, but we once again arrived home safely. Tomorrow we are going to attempt the Cherry Blossom Festival. I am quite certain that at some point tomorrow I will declare, “Hey Look! There’s the Capitol!”