Why would anyone want to walk seven miles along
the Washington mall? There are plenty of logical reasons why. There is no
parking. You are some kind of walking guru. Or in my case you want to see the
MLK Jr. 50 year anniversary speech. Maybe you could compare this short walk to
the March on Washington. When you think about that, it makes the seven mile walk
seem like a leisurely stroll.
There are many ways to tour the city. You can rent
a Segway (which I might say is rather funny because they look like a herd of
native lions in the wild prowling their territory……maybe it’s just me). You can
rent bikes or take bike cab. Lovebirds can even take a horse and carriage.
However, walking in my view is the best way to take in the city. I can go at my
own pace and stop at any time to take a picture.
While I am walking, I see beautiful marble
buildings from the most beautiful angles. When I walk, I see things that my eye
wouldn’t catch if I were driving. Looking at the sculptures, I can stop and
admire them. Instead of catching a flash of silver and which then disappears
behind a tree, I can admire the outdoor sculpture garden with a metal tree reaching
for the baby blue sky. I can hear the banter between the construction workers
as I walk past. I can hear the city: the sound of the birds, people, vehicles,
bikes, shoes. When I walk, I get the essence of the city.
There is no better way to explore a city than to
walk it. And at the very end, you can sit down and enjoy a nice cup of coffee
from one of the coffee shops. Or stop by any of the diverse food trucks and
pick up some grub. My personal favorite after a long walk is ice cream. Feeling
the coolness slide down my throat makes the whole thing all the better.
This was written for the Wandering Educators Teen Travel Blogging course online.
Where there is tea there is hope
Arthur Wing Pinero
