The home of half-smoked barbecue, 175 embassies, and the White House. A place full of laughs, opinions, and smiles, Washington, D.C.
Day 1:
(7am) The road trip: leaving at 7am sharp, the road trip took about 6 hours with morning, rush hour traffic. Driving from an ‘big city’ environment to seeing farms and fields of cows.
(1pm) Food of the day: The Capital: Burgers & Dogs welcomed us into their delicious restaurant at the peak of lunch time. Known as “The Best Burgers and Dogs in Virginia,” the capital’s friendly staff gave us a minute to look over their drooling menu. My Dad and I ordered The Robinson Classic Burger ($8), The I-64 Burger($10), and split the house-cut fries($4), with 2 canned sodas ($2 each). The food was great; the burgers had a juicy crust, yet not overly greasy, and were delicious. The fries partnered the burger perfectly, without feeling like it was ‘too much.’ Everything came fast and with a smile. The restaurant was not only amazing for a quick bite but a loving meal.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/capitalburgersanddogs.rva/
(2pm) Virginia Commonwealth University: Upon arrival at Virginia Commonwealth university, the football stadium was visible from a mile away. The bright yellow colors really made Virginia Commonwealth University feel like a ray of sunlight. The bubbly artwork on every building helped to understand the culture of the students and their emotions.
Link: https://www.vcu.edu
(6pm) Hotel: We checked into The Embassy around 6pm. The hotel resembles a mall with the excessive floors facing each other, and the bar/grill in the middle ground level. The service was great and the free hotel breakfast didn’t disappoint! Around the hotel you saw many murals of historical monuments, and on the exterior we were surrounded by many restaurants and stores for easy access to whatever you need.
Day 2:
(1pm) Howard University/Homecoming: Trip into Washington, DC: The quick 30-minute drive was a breeze, especially viewing the exciting faces driving and walking through the city. The clothes, paintings, and music took over when I walked through the city, culture and Art in the air. Howard University, Homecoming 2022: The Meccaverse was full of color, from the diverse people to the food and art. In the yard we saw vendors selling food, vibrant clothing, and people just being themselves. It was great to see so many different people from all different backgrounds connect and feel like family, back at ‘the Mecca,’ they call Howard University!
Link: https://howard.edu
(6pm) Road Trip home: The 6-hour trip felt like 6 days. Reflecting on each place I visited, I was met by people who weren’t scared to embrace themselves and their individuality. Washington D.C. reminds how important it is to share ideas and to make impactful social change – I’ll be back!
