Joe and I just returned from a two-week trip to Washington D.C. I really intended to blog while we were there but I didn’t have much time to spare. We’re both still recovering from the physical and emotional exhaustion of it all.
This was a strange trip for me. I was half home and half away, half saying hello and half saying goodbye. I was having fun for half the time, and undergoing a painful transition between my old life and my new one for the rest. At one point I burst into tears in the parking lot at Tysons Corner Center (Tysons 1, outside L.L. Bean Great Outdoors). It’s hard to explain why, other than to say I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
Amidst all the drama was Joe – half tourist and half emotional support system. His presence changed the dynamic of the trip for me; instead of just visiting home, I experienced everything familiar through a new set of eyes.
Joe loved Washington and everything around it. We spent hours wandering through parks and tree-lined streets, gazing at houses and trees – Joe had never seen American fall leaves and found them a constant source of wonder.
In between sight-seeing trips, Joe endured endless gatherings of my friends, family, and colleagues, and did an admirable job remembering names and making small talk. I was lucky to have him around.
I’m finding more and more that it’s easier to tell my stories through the photos we take, so here is a short visual history of our trip. As this was Joe’s first time in Washington, the photos and stories center around him.
After 48 hours back in Joburg, I almost feel human again. I’m looking forward to some downtime, free of lunch dates and happy hours. But it’s also time to get serious about things like driving and getting a job. Watch out, South Africa, I’m here to stay this time.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.