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Saturday March 31 & Tuesday April 3, 2007 - National Mall, Tidal Basin & Hains Point, NW & SW Washington DC

It’s Cherry Blossom time here in the Nation’s Capital.  It’s a party to mark the blooming of trees given to us by Japan in between the two times in the late 19th/early 20th centuries when we weren’t fighting with each other.  A few trees turned into a whole slew of trees.  I think there’s something like 1,900 of them around the Tidal Basin, with many more scattered around the District.  They’re really pretty, and the light up the entire area in color amid the muted greens and grays of early spring.  51 weeks of the year, Washington is known for its white marble.  For one week, it’s all about the white and pink blossoms.  Pretty cool.

After a fun Saturday working at the news factory, I hopped on my bike and went downtown.  It was in the 60s, sunny, and the crowds were out in force.  You had the locals, the semi-locals (people day-tripping from the outer ‘burbs), the spring breakers, and tons of Asian tourists who are drawn by the blossoms (although I can’t imagine that’s the only reason to visit DC from Osaka or Kobe - but what do I know about Japan?).  It was amazingly beautiful on this March morning.  The sun was trying its best to heat up the cool air.  The crowds were rubbing their bleary sleep-addled eyes to enjoy the color.  And despite predictions, the Cherry Blossoms were blooming a little earlier than expected.  It was pretty neat.  The crowds bunch up around the Tidal Basin, but some of the more beautiful trees are actually along East Potomac Park/Hains Point/Ohio Drive.  It’s a hike, and most people don’t know how to drive there.  But there are hundreds of trees to check out.  Pink ones, white ones, drooping ones, perky ones, and a few rare kinds which the Washington Post pointed out but for the life of me I couldn’t find.

Below are a few more pictures.  Here are their descriptions:

1. Standing in front of the Jefferson Memorial, looking across the Tidal Basin at the Washington Monument.  You can see the contrast in color between the regular trees and the cherry blossoms.  And people don’t realize how tiring it can be pedaling into the middle of the basin, and then having to get back.

2. I found some white blossoms and pink blossoms overlapping, with the sun lighting them from behind.  Do you think it worked?  I’m not so sure.

3. The arm part of "The Awakening," a statue at Hains Point.  It’s pretty cool.  And that "X" in the clouds - no clue how that popped up.  Maybe some contrails.  It’s cool.

4. A couple taking in the scenery.  The dog (which you can see kind of on the left side) moved just before I took this picture.  Foolish dog. 

5. Damn, that Monument photographs well.  Nice blue sky too.

6. There was some kind of anti-circumcision protest going on on the Capitol lawn Tuesday.  I really don’t know what it’s all about, because circumcision is generally decided upon before a young boy knows about his wang.  The protest did catch the attention of a field trip full of 10th graders.  I overheard one teacher say, "This will be the only thing they remember from the trip."  And it’s true.

Title is from the song "Daydreamin’" by Lupe Fiasco and Jill Scott.

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