Operation Dupont

Today was the last day of orientation activities before our internships begin.  Today we divided into four groups and undertook a photo scavenger hunt throughout DC.  Each group member had to locate their own office building before meeting in a particular Washington neighborhood.  We were assigned the Dupont Circle area.  My trip consisted of leaving the Cannon House Office Building, where I will be working, and riding the Metro to the Dupont Circle Station.

There were plenty of interesting sites not far from Dupont Circle.  One was the Phillips Collection, which is the oldest museum of modern art in America.  The headquarters of National Geographic can also be found nearby, along with many restaurants and shops.  Also near Dupont is Embassy Row.  These are some of the largest and nicest buildings in the District of Columbia.

What was also quite interesting was my first ride on the Metro.  The trains are quite fast and come at very frequent intervals.  It is most certainly the most efficient way to get around DC.  However, the fares can be somewhat expensive, especially if riding a long distance during peak hours.  A few tips for riding the DC Metro, which (for the most part) I was told instead of learning from experience:

1) There are 5 lines: Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, and Green.  Some of these lines will double each other, but they all break away at some point.  Make sure you know the right route because no station has every line running through it.
2) Union Station, on the Red Line, is practically a mall within a train station.  You can also transfer to Amtrak there.  There is a reasonable selection of shops and a full food court.
3) If you get a single-day pass, be careful.  The card is flimsy and easily demagnetized.
4) When riding an escalator to the station, stay to the right if you're just standing.  Someone in a hurry will always be walking up the left side.
5) Subways can be very disorienting.  Especially if you are popped out in a circle, where it's hard to get your bearings.  Ask for directions or find a street in the Letter/Number grid.