So... What next?

27/11/2009

Last thursday of november is when Thanksgiving is celebrated. It is possibly one of (if not THE) the most important holidays in the United States and is celebrated traditionally amongst a huge family, with a big, stuffed turkey dominating the center of the dinner table. My friend J., with whom I stayed for a few days in New York, invited me to spend the festive days with her and her family in Washington D.C.


With J.

D.C., the capital of the nation, is a pretty strange city. It's generally very quiet, but also very touristy. And the funny thing is, all tourists come here to see governmental buildings. Sure, everyone loves a monument or two, but the majority of people come to see the white house, the capitol, the supreme court etc... Isn't that really bizarre? Those buildings having nothing extravagant when it comes to their structure or architecture. Instead, everyone comes to visit them for their status in the political world. I bet that if the very same buildings were located in Madagascar, not as many people would look forward to taking their picture in front of them.


The beautiful autumn colors


Shouldn't the reflecting pool have a bit more water in it?


The subway had something different about it...

Just one pointer. Make sure you visit the Albert Einstein statue!! If you only have time to do one thing in the city, do that! You can find it behind the bushes, on the right of the Lincoln monument. :)


Assing out with Einstein

Within a day, we were done with the touristy side of D.C. and we went on to the grub. Thursday night and we're going with J. to her aunt's place for the big feast. Now, had I mentioned that J. is russian? Well, she is. And so is the rest of her family. So, there I was, spending thanksgiving in the U.S. with a big russian family that had prepared a humongous feast that included a bit of turkey somewhere amongst all the dishes.



It was a very surreal and beautiful image at the same time. People of all ages, having left their country many years ago, being all gathered around a big table, celebrating a strong north american tradition, while still maintaining their own culture, habits and style. It really felt like I was in Russia, and not in the US. I really admired they way they lived and spent that significant day. It was truly very inspiring and traditional or not, I don't think I could have spent a better thanksgiving elsewhere.
Thank you J. :)

M.