The DC Traveler

Not to be confused with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where visitors can watch as millions of dollars gets printed, the Treasury Building is the showcase building of the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, DC.

The role of the Treasury Department is to manage Federal finances and collects taxes through the IRS, as well as Federal duties and taxes. When money gets spent by the government, it’s the Treasury Department that writes the check.  
It’s also is responsible for producing currency, coins and postage stamps through the Bureau of Engraving and the U.S. Mint.
The Treasury Dept. also manages the …read more

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The University of Maryland near Washington, DC offers free star gazing at its campus observatory.

The observatory uses 4 telescopes during open houses, ranging from an 8″ 1960s-era NASA reflector, to a 20″ reflector. 
The star gazing evening starts with a 30-minute presentation by an astronomical expert, followed by a tour of the observatory and, if weather permits, some star gazing.
The summer lecture schedule includes topics such as little galaxies,  black holes, the Hubble telescope, and more.
Univ. of Maryland Observatory Open House NightsUniversity of Maryland Observatory - Lecture Hall Across from UM System Administration building at 3300 Metzerott …read more

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The National Aquarium at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is one of the best aquariums I’ve ever visited.  It’s up there with some of the world’s best.
And as I mentioned couple days ago, I visited Baltimore with my niece and nephew recently and while there, we also toured the aquarium.
The 2 million gallon aquarium is home to over 600 species of fish, rays, sharks, and other marine life, including birds, penguins, amphibians and reptiles.
The aquarium is split into several major sections and levels. Some of the more interesting include:

Atlantic Coral Reef -  This area is most children’s favorite stop, as they get …read more

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I came across this classic Citroën 2CV, parked on a residential street in Arlington, Virginia.
As France’s answer to the VW Beetle, just 250 of the 2CV’s were built just before the start of WW-II in 1939. After the war, when production began resumed, it became a very popular car across France.
By 1990 when production ceased, over 3.8 million had been sold.

Three engine options were available, a 375 cc, a 435 cc or the “powerful” 602 cc engine. None created more than 40 horsepower. By comparison, the current Honda Civic engines produce 4 to 7 times more horsepower than the largest …read more

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You probably first saw your first team of flying trapeze artists at the circus or on television as a kid, and thought that only kids who run away to the circus will ever have the chance to fly through the air with the greatest of ease.

But in the past few years, aerial flying has gone mainstream. Some credit the child in all of us, who secretly wants to leave our responsibilities behind and run off to the circus. While others credit an episode of the HBO show, Sex and the City. In it, Carrie, the show’s main character and relationship …read more

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Another strange bike ride encounter. This time at Cable’s Mill, a old grain mill built around 1747, located in the Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Fairfax County.
I saw what looked like some naked sunbathers on the patio of the mill.

I wondered if the park had gone clothing optional.

When I got closer, I realized it was a few medical dummies.
The dummies were part of a military training exercise. The soldiers were getting ready to go back for another tour in Iraq.
Images - from personal collection - © 2008 - Jon Rochetti
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I love taking day trips to Baltimore.  It’s less than 90 minutes from Washington, DC to downtown Baltimore and there’s always tons to do. 
Recently, my college-aged niece and nephew visited me from the West Coast and we took a day trip up to Baltimore.  We visited the National Aquarium, (which I’ll write about in a couple of days), and also the impressive Body Worlds 2 exhibit, at the Maryland Science Center at the Inner Harbor.

The exhibit is not for the squeamish, but a must for anyone interested in biology, physiology or how the human body works.  The exhibit displays …read more

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Here’s the challenge - take one of the most globally successful pop band’s library of hits, and make a high-energy, campy, fun musical that makes people smile, laugh and leave feeling great.
Try it with just about any band and the expected result would be total disaster. 
Nut take the music of Abba, and add some ingenious choreography, mixed with a funny storyline and you end up with the global sensation, Mamma Mia. 
Mamma Mia just opened at the National Theatre in Washington, DC for a 3-week run and I had a chance to see the opening.
WARNING - Plot …read more

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Before the 1872, Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC was a small creek and later, it was turned into a shipping canal, as part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal system.

The original Tiber Creek was widened during the initial construction of the Capital City between 1810 and 1815, when it was converted into part of the the Washington City Canal. The canal ran almost the length of Constitution Avenue, coming within a coupe blocks of the Capitol Building. (See map for original path.)
Since Washington had no public sewer system at the time, the Washington City Canal was used by many residents …read more

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If you need a great picnic while in Washington, DC, your first stop should be Dean & Deluca, in the heart of Georgetown. It’s one of my favorite gourmet food shops in Washington, DC. And perfect for creating a memorable picnic.
Artisan breads, gourmet cheeses, high-quality produce and case after case prepared foods, desserts, and other gourmet items, make this small grocery store with a neighborhood feel seem much larger.
The well-stocked wine hall in the rear of the store, has a wine expert on staff to help you with your selection or with suggested pairings with your meal. They also …read more

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