Getting Your Trek's Worth

As an intern, one of the first things you learn about is getting your money's worth. When you make about $2/hour, you really have to know how to stretch those bucks. Equally important to the newly arrived intern is the lesson "Getting your Trek's Worth".

The lesson starts off like this, you first slect an exotic location to visit in your new city. Second, you look on your handy dandy map, provided by your intern coodinator, and you see that hey, this exotic location looks like you can take the metro right to it!

For me, this exotic location was the Washington National Cathedral on a Sunday morning. Having just arrived in DC the night before, I was hoping to get in at least one tourist excitement before heading off to work on Monday. On Saturday night I pulled out my handy dandy map and plotted my route. It seemed easy enough, just take the yellow line to Metro Center, jump on the red line to Woodley Park, and then walk a nominal map distance to the cathedral. Easy.

Here we arrive at the first problem in the lesson: it's never easy. Catching the Metro itself is fairly simple and straightforward with DC having one of the most intuitive and easy to understand underground systems in the world (This is probably due to the fact that the people of DC for the most part live as underground moles in order to avoid enviromental exposure which can slow down business). I made my first train without difficulty, however, my first surprise was waiting for me at Metro Center. This summer in DC, the lines are getting a facelift which means that each weekend one of the lines is shut off at a certain point, usually a major stop, and the rest of that particular line is covered by bus. Being a new arrival and unaware of this particular practice, I jumped off the train, fueled by my success thus far and proceded to wait at the empty station for about ten minutes before some kind soul took pity on me and informed me of the construction issues. Embarassed, but still full of hopeful excitement, I quickly made my way up to the street level. On the street, I managed to catch a bus due to the kind and helpful screams of the Metro employee directing me, "WOODLEY PARK? GET ON THIS ONE, NOW!" Thanks to the heartfelt advice of the Metro worker, I made my bus and was again on my way.

Approximately twenty minutes later, I disembarked the shuttle and looked around expectantly for the National Cathedral. Not seeing the majectic turrets and stained glass windows I had heard about, I turned back to ask the driver if I had taken the correct stop just in time to see her pull away to rescue more tourists. Realising that for better or for worse I was on my own, I pulled out my phone and typed in my desired address to get walking instructions. Silently revelling in my modern travel ingenuity, I waited for my phone to give me the easy walking instructions I was waiting for. I watched in horror as instead, the manevolent machine pulled up the most complicated instructions I had ever seen for a two mile trek to the National Cathedral.

For a second I weighed the pros and cons of attending the cathedral that day. I mean, due to my travel issues I was already late for service and by the time I got there I would be even later. In addition, my polyester dress and heels made the walk in the already sweltering climate even less appealing. It was at this point that reason kicked in. I have already spent $2.60 on this trip. That is more than I make in one hour. I AM GOING TO THAT CATHEDRAL IF IT IS THE LAST THING I DO.

With my can-do American attitude back in place I began the uphill climb which led to my destination. I barely saw the houses, parks, and other pedestrians as I immersed myself in the singular task of arriving at the cathedral. When I first saw the impressive architecture rising above the trees like a majestic palace, I thought it was a mirage. However, as I turned the corner onto the cathedral premises I discovered I had indeed arrived at my destination. I rushed into service and as I sat down and began to take in my surroundings one thought began to run through my mind, "Once this is over I am going to take and OBSCENE amount of pictures of EVERYTHING." Thus, I had sucessfully learned the leasson of "Getting My Trek's Worth".

Choir Loft at the Washington National Cathedral

 My visit to the Washington National Cathedral was fantastic. The building itself is spectacular with hundreds of stained glass windows which make up the largest collection of stained glass in the United States. The interior is comparable to anything seen in Rome and the grounds are stunningly kept and home to Bishop's Garden which houses one of the largest collections of antique and hybrid roses with some varieties having been grown while Lincoln was in his presidency. I ended up staying at the cathedral for over four hours simply taking in the sights, taking copious pictures,  and enjoying the fstivites of a Sunday at the capitol.

Stained Glass Window and soaring ceiling

 

Myself on the grounds

Rose Garden

 

One of the Vintage Varieties

 

When I began the trek home late that afternoon, my heart was buoyant and there was a spring in my step. While I'm sure to the casual onlooker I appeared to be a bedraggled mess of a tourist, really I was an elated intern who had learned an important lesson on not only the mysterious ways of the Metro, but also the value of an afternoon in an exciting and historical location.

Watch out Washington, I'm here to get my trek's worth. Lesson #1: Passed.

Washington National Cathedral