Washington D.C. Trip in January

Why anyone would leave sunny warm Mexico in January to head northeast to D.C. with temperature in high 20's to 30 and very windy is beyond me. But family called, and we came.
Emma Youcha, daughter of Victor's first cousin Joe and Jessica had her Bat Mitzvah and we felt this was an event not to be missed. Plus an opportunity to have a small reunion with the Youcha side of the family. Besides, our last vacation had been to Omaha, Nebraska last July for a reunion plus Linda's two weeks in Minnesota.

Our first three days were spent sightseeing in D.C., and I found a good deal at a website called Travelzoo for lodging 3 nights for $100/night including breakfast in Georgetown at Georgetown Suites. Very roomy studio with kitchen and dining table, most comfy bed ever, nice lounge chair and continental breakfast. Strolling Georgetown the first day to relax was neat. I found one of my favorite stores, Paper Source just a few blocks away and got some bookbinding supplies on sale even. Sipping coffee and perusing books in Barnes and Nobles was a good way to slow down for Victor. Ethnic restaurants tempted us: Vietnamese, Indian, Thai especially. But it was so darn cold and the wind made it worse! Not too much fun for doing photography to be sure.

Friday morning we met a first cousin Roberta, a Rosenberg on Victor's mom's side, for breakfast near Dupont Circle where she works. More book hunting occurred next, for a big search was on for a particular Spanish book Synonyms and Antonyms. Our first museum was the Holocaust Museum. The moment we stepped onto the elevator and heard a voice over the speaker talk to us, brought us to tears. We had an intense and emotional tour, which all people on earth need to experience. Lastly we went up to the library archives, and spoke with a worker who tried to help us with a search for more information on the Youcha name as it was written in Macedonia when Victor's ancestors lived there. We were given the name of a volunteer who was from there, and whose parents lived also, who translates names.

Jumped on the Metro subway, a wonderful mode of transportation, toward the National Museum of American Indian. Had lunch first but wished we had waited, for when we saw all the fantastic ethnic Native American food available at the Indian Museum, it made our mouths water. Tell others you know about eating in the cafeteria there, it looked so good. This museum would take days to go through if you wanted to see it all. Incredible place.
I loved the art exhibit by a Breckenridge, Minnesota born Indian painter Fritz Scholder who was the most influential, political and controversial figure in the history of native art.
The weekend was spent with family for the Bat Mitzvah of Emma Youcha. Uncle Zeke and Aunt Jerry were in from New York, cousin Sharon from Philadlephia, Vicky lives in the area, and cousin Lisa from Denver. Unfortunately Sara, Liam and baby Conor had to cancel at the last minute due to illness and they were missed by all. The weekend was full of family visiting and we cherished every moment of it, to have the opportunity to be together. Sharon is the only family member who has visited us in Mexico (twice). But we talked up our location so much, I think that Emma and Zach will beg their parents to take them on a vacation to sunny Mexico sometime in the next few years, we hope.

Cousins Lisa,Sharon,Emma

Cousin Sharon, Victor, Uncle Zeke, cousin Vicky

Monday Victor spent at the Bethesda Naval Hospital following a spine surgeon and chiropractor around. I went museum hopping by myself in the cold and wind (mind you, we weren't dressed warm enough. You would think we would have known, but just weren't equipped with the right jacket. Layering was a little tricky. Plus we are acclimated to a hot climate now, after 3 years in Mexico). I went to the National Museum of Women and the Arts featuring Mary Cassatt and other great artists and photographers. The Portrait Museum (a Smithsonian Museum) was huge and I ran through that one, as I had to meet Victor at a Metro Stop and we walked around the city for awhile and ate in a Thai restaurant before heading to Arlington, Virginia (5 to 10 minutes from downtown D.C.) to stay with them a couple nights.

Our final day in D.C. was spent going out to Alexandria to
Joe Youcha's boat building school, part of his
Alexandria Seaport Foundation, which he founded and is executivee director of. His program of apprenticeships and boat building helps young people turn their lives around. It is a fascinating and inspirational program and we are extremely proud of Joe's accomplishment in creating this Foundation.
Getting to know Joe and his family was wonderful and we loved spending time with Emma and Zach, great kids who delighted us with their curiosity, sweet personalities, Zach's grandiose legos creations (Eifel Tower in his bedroom) and Emma's interest in world issues such as Women and Poverty. I enjoyed learning from Jessica about her job as an archivist and her jobs going to people's homes to help them with their archived collections (books, photos, maps, documents, etc.) that she cleans and organizes.

I could have spent another week in Washington, with all the museums and art galleries to see. It was fun to be there just prior to President Obama's Inauguration, for it was starting to get busy and festive with lots of vendors everywhere, airport and all over the city, selling Obama items. Did get caught in a traffic jam near the hotel President Obama and family had taken over before they moved into the White House. It was thrilling to visit the nation's capitol with so much to do and see. After arriving home in Mexico, I watched the Inauguration of President Obama and the Parade on the internet on my laptop.