D.C. in Photos: Travel (Metro and Airports)

/ April 16, 2015

As long as you put your smart phone on airplane mode, you can do pretty much as you please while on board these days.

And that made my iPhone 6 handy indeed for the front and back end of the travel portion of D.C. in Photos.

Clear sailing to start in Syracuse, N.Y.

Clear sailing to start in Syracuse, N.Y.

There were no delays at Hancock International as my dear wife Karen started our Easter Weekend getaway the Friday morning prior.

Full plane.

Full plane.

The flight was full for Destination D.C., and everybody weathered the pretty extreme turbulence for the 70 minutes airtime without a peep.

Metro Station, Reagan International.

Metro Station, Reagan International.

After deboarding, we grabbed our one large suitcase from the baggage carousel, I pulled out the long handle, and we followed the signs to the Metro station. I had printed out a Metro map and a map of D.C. with our hotel at the center at home, so we again took to signs and the fare card machines … but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask the guard at the gate which stop was best for our destination.

He walked us to the machine, punched a batch of buttons, and told Karen she needed to insert $7. Out came our two fare cards. He told us to go to the Yellow line, and informed us of our stop.

Karen looks like a Metro pro.

Karen looks like a Metro pro.

The train was clean and comfortable. I’d ridden the Metro when it was new, before I’d moved from Maryland to Syracuse in 1983. It looked just as spiffy, above ground at Reagan and underground in the District. I was impressed.

Karen discovered our iPhones worked even underground, as long as you remember to turn the airplane mode back off.

Clean station.

Clean station.

Hello, D.C.

Hello, D.C.

We were ready for our ascent to our excellent adventure. As it turned out, however, something had been lost in the translation of our needs to the helpful Metro policeman. We came up on N and 12th. Our hotel was at H and 7th. It was raining lightly. My jacket kept me mostly dry, and the wheeled suitcase worked perfectly.

Monday morning, we knew the best Metro station from which to depart was under the Verizon Center, at G and 8th.

Reagan station incoming.

Reagan station incoming.

It was a beautiful day upon arrival at Reagan International. However, at the TSA check-in, I forgot that I’d taken bottles of water and iced tea from our hotel fridge and put them in my carry-on. After I walked through the screening, the guy looking at the bag innards called over the supervisor. Mine was flagged. I was pulled out of line and called over. My heart jumped. I’d forgotten. What had I done? She asked me if I wanted to go back out and drink the beverages or leave them with her? Karen and I said we’d leave them with her. Phew. I wasn’t a smuggler.

Our plane.

Our plane.

For our flight back to Syracuse, we were all loaded on a bus at the gate and driven to the plane on the runway. Cool!

Thrill ride.

Thrill ride.

As we rolled down the runway for departure, two little girls across from us threw their arms in the air as if we were on a roller coaster. Very cool.

Over D.C.

Over D.C.

Our route didn’t take us over any of the monuments or memorials, dagnabbit.

Snow and ice.

Snow and ice.

As the captain told us we were preparing for landing in Syracuse, I was reminded that it has snowed again while we were away, and, yes, it had been a very cold winter, deeply freezing the rivers and lakes.

Coming tomorrow: Finale (Odds and Ends)

When was the last time you flew, and how did you find the experience? Have you ridden trains lately, and please you tell us about the trip if you did. Which photo is your favorite, and why?

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61 thoughts on “D.C. in Photos: Travel (Metro and Airports)”

  2. I’m enjoying the train photos and the escalator photo even though I don’t like to ride them, it’s so perfect lit up like that. you really captured it

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  3. I found this post to be very interesting but ran out of time to say so, Mark. I will push like and go back to comment, which you know my system. I have read people should read and then push like, but I wanted you to know I skimmed the photos. ha ha!
    I did like the way you made sure to include details like turbulence, escalators and the little girls raising their arms up. I like Karen’s photo looking at her cell for Metro data, sorry to see snow upon your trip’s return. Dagnabbit!
    I have not been on a plane since 1980. I have been to Florida four times in a car, Myrtle Beach once and also, New England since then once all on land. I would jump at a chance to travel again, but will be content with what fun times i have had on Lake Erie and road trips around the areas of Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. I made it up to the U. P. !! Smiles, Robin

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    • Hooray for the Upper Peninsula, Robin. See, I know my Midwest. 😉 Thanks for commenting and liking. Or liking and commenting, I should say. I think you get around just fine by car, by the say. ❤

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  4. I liked this post in your series – and I was surprised at how clean the metro was too –

    and side note about the TSA – I can’t believe they offered you the chance to drink your beverages. I have forgotten at least 3 times – and I am always denied the option to do a fast chug. They say they have to keep them…
    anyhow, how fun that you caught the girls with their arms up – they must really like flying.

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    • The girls’ mother was opposite them, in front of us, and she smiled at them. I wondered if it was their first flight, but didn’t ask, Y. I didn’t realize TSA was being nice in allowing us the option of a quick chug!

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      • well in 2010 – I forgot and was bringing back a beer for my husband – I know duh! and they took it at DIA. and then on this last trip – totally forgot about the bottle of water in the pocket – and I was thirsty and they said no – and a couple years ago it happened with water = not a big deal because I try not to drink plastic bottled water – but I do think it was nice of them to let you keep it.

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      • yeah = and they chuckled at the time too – and maybe that is why they had to keep it -because it was in a brown bottle and felt suspicious – like who would so stupidly (in this day and age) try and pack a large liquid like that – I really was not thinking – but then again it was a colorado brew – lol

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      • ha! and maybe all my reasoning went out the window to try and bring my hubs a taste of home (he is from Colorado) and not sure how my friend was able to do this – but in 2004 she brought us 6 of the large bottles of fat tire – and came in through RIA – I dunno – but I usually pack with this in mind – and it makes for easier travel – and thankfully I never missed a flight for inspection delays….

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      • Maybe packed tight in an unopened six- or 12-pack in the carry-on? I’d have to read up on the TSA restrictions, Y. But I like your friends benificence in 2004, that’s for sure.

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      • Oh mark – it was truly special because it was before Fat Tire was everywhere – and also remember many years ago when my husband’s brother called him from MD – all excited because he saw the first Fat Tire truck… but in 2004 it really was like she delivered love with that taste from Colorado –

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      • oh dude – thanks for the sobering reminder as to how darn long ago that was (womp, womp) – boy did this last decade go fast…
        did it go fast for you?

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      • flew is a good word. and hope you have a good night Mark

        xxooo

        also – thanks again for the thing you said with the award link post – I took a screen shot of that and filed it – along with the other bloggers you linked – and so this summer I can visit some of them.

        sweet dreams and a hug to K

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  7. DC is such a great town to visit. Don’t know about living there. Seems kind of packed with traffic. And then you have all those politicians. That brings the real estate values down. But it’s perfect for visiting. If I remember correctly, the metros have indoor/outdoor carpet. If they tried that in NYC, the locals would tear it out and install it as runners in their apartments.

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    • The six years I lived down there, Mark, (last two for UMaryland as transfer-in and four for my first newspaper job) I managed to get best of the city by living a half-dozen miles over the line in suburban Maryland with less of all that you mentioned. Then when my New York gang visited I took them into the District so we could all be tourists together. You’re right about the City mentality not jibing with the Metro sensibility.

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  10. Wow… one of your commenters already has me beat on how long it’s been since their last flight. I’ve only flown twice, and you read about those two flights last year. So it’s been 14 years for me…. and there was nothing as cool as the girls holding up their arms! I’d have probably done the same had I been expecting what takeoff would be like that first time…

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    • Bill, you are a man tied to your routines. I can imagine you throwing your arms up on your next flight, in horror at the takeoff! Keep to the thee miles to Mecca in your Neon and all is well, my friend. Oh, yeah, at to Busch to see your beloved Cardinals!!

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  12. I fly across the nation every few months or so. My boys live in Cleveland, Ohio. I enjoy flying because it gets me to where I need to be and quick!
    I loved the thrill ride picture… I like it when the flight is a bit entertaining.
    I have enjoyed your pictures of your trip! Fun times had by all!

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  13. I’ve always been impressed with the cleanliness of D.C.’s Metro. Did you know you can take the Metro right to the gates of the Nat’s stadium (okay, you gotta cross a street, I think). My sister and I went to the Verizon Center twice – once for Cher and once for Madonna; on each occasion we made time for a Nat’s game the next day. I love DC.

    The two girls with their arms raised in the air impressed me. Mine are usually clasped tightly in prayer. Can ya tell I’m not at my best when flying? 😀 😀

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    • Did you clasp your hands together in prayer for a certain song at the Madonna concert, Kate? Pray to the pop goddess? I bet that was a great show. I am envious! Cher, too, for that matter. I have not seen either. Great idea, staying an extra day for the Nats games, too. My dear wife Karen was upset that she did not investiigate enough while booking our getaway to discover that our Mets were at the Nats the day we left for home, on Opening Day. 😦

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  15. I like the roller coaster pic, and the snow and ice is very cool. Our last plane trip was last year to South Carolina and we’re headed there again in June, but mercy, do I not care for riding planes now. Wish it could be like it was decades ago. Thank you, terrorists. Train rides always look so glamorous, but when I’ve ridden them (last time was a short hour ride in Kansas), it’s always hot and sticky and no beverages, and it clatters about and you breathe in the stench as it wafts in the open windows. 😦

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  16. The rig marole we have to go through when flying compared to how it was when I was a kid is just crazy, i.e., bringing water on the plane. I like the photo of all the people standing on the platform at the train station best, Mark.

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  17. As a seasoned New Yorker, you become very intimate with the subway system. Subway stations rarely were as clean as this one, although maybe that’s changed since I lived there, what with the whole ‘clean up NY thing’. The trains that went into upstate were much nicer…and as I’m writing this, I’m remembering that you’re from NY anyway! Why am I telling you this? I think all the D.C. photos are throwing me!!

    Anyway, I like the pic of the full plane. Something about it just catches a moment.

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    • Thanks, Marissa. I am a veteran of the New York subway and Long Island Railroad and upstate Amtrak, all, you are correct. The Amtrak is the cleanest, I agree! The Metro was cleaner and smoother than any of those by a whole lot.

      The full plane was cool to take a shot of. Thank you for your kind words.

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  21. My last flight was February 1998!
    I used to travel quite a bit, but now I’m very settled. One day my lil people will be much bigger, or likely, gone off, and I’ll travel quite a bit again!
    Love the snow and ice photo, personally 🙂

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    • We’ll see how far the li’l people actually go off, Joey … MDW Karen and I’s are 25 and 35 miles down the road. 🙂 No matter, you and hubby will be able to fly wherever you want. Cool beans!

      Yes, that snow and ice photo floored me. On April 8. Oy.

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