| The grand formal vista of the National Mall contains many of Washington, DC’s most important monuments and institutions. The Mall is particularly striking during the spring blossoming of the Japanese cherry trees and in the winter with the Christmas trees and lights. Most dramatic are monuments like the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Capitol that seem to glow against the night skies. Smart townhouses, cobblestone streets, cafés, shops and lovely riverside walks, plus a lively nightlife, make the elegant neighbourhood of Georgetown quite attractive. Washington’s elite occupies many of the homes. Across town, Chinatown, with its colourful Friendship Arch, is the centre for oriental speciality shops and restaurants. A favoured recreation ground for city dwellers is Rock Creek Park in the northwest of the city. The creek itself passes through the heart of the park, which also has bicycle, bridle and jogging paths. Since 11 September 2001, the Pentagon, the country’s heart of national and international security, is no longer open for public tours, but if it is intrigue you seek, visit the International Spy Museum. It chronicles the history and schemes of spies and espionage. |