Day 271/365 - Pedalboat Pier

This is the pedalboat pier across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. I guess it's DC's version of the Molo in Venice. I pass by it whenever I walk home from work, like I did tonight. I've never gone out on the Tidal Basin in one of these pedalboats, although I really want to. It's a very touristy thing to do, but I don't care. I still think it would be fun. Next time someone comes into town for a visit I'm going to have to try and talk them into going out in a pedalboat with me.

As far as I can recall, I've only been in a pedalboat once before. My mom and I went out in one on some lake when I was a kid. Going out into the lake was fun, but I remember getting back to the dock took forever and left us exhausted. Another thing I really want to do in DC that is equally touristy is go for a tour on one of the duck amphibious vehicles. I've tried talking one of my friends into going on the tour with me, but so far no dice. That's another thing I may have to wait on doing until someone comes for a visit.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)

Day 174/365 - Cherry Blossom Time in DC

The cherry blossom trees have started to bloom in Washington, DC. The blossoms will only last for about another week, so I decided to make the most of the clear skies and warm weather today and walk home. My path home takes me right along the edge of the Tidal Basin and through the main grove of cherry blossom trees. The trees were a gift from Japan to the United States and, although they don't actually produce any cherries, they do put on a beautiful display each year in early Spring.

If you've never seen the cherry blossoms before they are an amazing sight. I've been here ten years and they still astound me. The day I get so jaded that they stop astounding me is the day I need to turn my eyes back in and let them give them to someone else who will make better use of them. Most of the cherry blossoms are a brilliant white, but some are a light pink. They make the trees look like they're full of snow or cotton candy and then when the wind blows some of the petals pull loose and tumble and flutter along on the breeze like snowflakes made of satin.

As someone I know said: "thanks, Japan, for the trees."

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)