If you read my earlier posts, you’ll know that I’m going back to Spain in a few months. I love Spain, but man, the visa process can be very stressful. It can take months to compile all the documents, and a lot of money, especially if you want to get the documents faster, like me.
Getting to DC
Luckily for me, I live in Virginia, so my consulate is in Washington, D.C. There is no need to make an appointment for the DC consulate/embassy. (All of the other Spanish consulates require an appointment made months in advance.) So when I finally had everything, I decided to make a day trip to DC to finally apply for my visa!
Tip for anyone traveling to DC: unless you have a hotel IN the city, TAKE THE METRO! Parking is almost impossible to find. There are stations on both sides of the city that allow you to park and take the metro into town. We parked at Vienna-GMU, and took a 20 minute train into the city. Vienna-GMU is on the Orange Line, which hits all the main parts of the city. We got off at Foggy Bottom, just a five minute walk to the embassy.
I’ve now gone up there to apply for a visa three times, but it still makes me nervous. What if they tell me my documents are wrong or not good enough? I don’t think I waited in line more than two or three minutes before they called me. I handed over my documents and I was finished in five minutes. Whew. Done with that!
America’s Most Famous Residence
It was only 11:30, so we decided to walk around. The Embassy is on Pennsylvania Avenue, so we decided to walk down to the White House. Tip: take the metro. Just because both are located on Pennsylvania Avenue, it does not mean they are close! We walked for about 30 minutes. Sweat was dripping down our backs. But it was worth it.
When we first went to DC many years ago, you could go right up to the gate and peer through to get a glimpse. Then, they put up a barrier in front of the gate. Now, you have to admire the most famous residence in the country from across the street. Isn’t is beautiful, though? No matter your political preferences, it’s amazing to think of all the history that has passed through those doors. I wish I could live there myself!
So many places to see!
We didn’t have a lot of time in DC because we wanted to visit some friends who live outside the city, but we did pass some pretty cool things along the way. One of my favorites was Farragut Square. I have a personal affliction for Farragut because 1) his father was Catalan, and 2) he created one of the most famous phrases in Naval history. The square itself was really pretty and they were having a food truck festival. The food trucks were lined up along the curbs and there was quite a variety, from Egyptian to Mexican.
I had wanted to check out some of the shopping (aka H&M and Zara). We had never really been to that part of the town before, but we walked around the area a bit. We found Ford’s Theater, where Lincoln was shot, and the house across the street where he was carried to after the shooting and then later died. There’s a new Ford’s Theater where you can still see plays right next door to the infamous theater. We also found a really pretty cathedral in the same area. It’s not world famous or very important, but the architecture was gorgeous and worth a picture. It’s St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, built in 1796, and it still gives daily masses.
For people who ask me what is the best place to visit in the US, DC is always at the top of my list. New York has the vivaciousness and Los Angeles seems beach-y and laid back (although in reality, it’s not very touristy), but DC has some of the most interesting history and museums. We only scratched the surface with our few hours in the nation’s capital, but there is so much more to do. You can go to all the Smithsonian museums FOR FREE, tour the National Mall to see all the important memorials, and there is great shopping.
My final tip: If you’re going in summer, make sure to hydrate. Or take the metro. And maybe a mini-fan, too.
