Washington D.C.: Heat, Tourists, and Metro

Well, as always it's hot, humid, sticky, and teeming with tourists. So, taking Metro (our public transit rail system) provide two opportunities: (1) solace from the stifling heat, and (2) tourist-watching. Tourist-watching is cousin to people-watching, but particularly tailored to that class of people that show up in Washington every summer to see the sights, visit the Smithsonian, and sweat uncontrollably.

In the past two weeks, I have shared a metro car with folks from South Carolina, California, Australia, and Illinois; groups of summer students from Japan, China, and Estonia; and an evangelical group from Southern Virginia. And, that is only a snapshot of the people from all over our fair country and the world that come to visit our Nation's Capitol, only to think "Ugh, it's soooo hot." Well, the city was built on a swamp, and it's in the South. (People tend to forget that.)

Metro, however, continues to amaze me. Despite D.C.'s climate and topography, Metro's high rate of usage by residents and visitors, and the crime rate in the city, Metro stations are consistently clean, well-maintained, safe, and free of the various forms of four-legged and fuzzy, or large, six-legged and winged wildlife that thrive in D.C.'s hot and humid climate.

As for the tourists, I am pleased to report that I have seen a remarkable decline in the number of fanny packs grazing the hips of our tourists; however, the number of sock/sandals combinations, or pulled up socks with loafers and shorts has alarmingly seemed to have increased.

The heat here (often around 90 degrees plus and 85% humidity) also inspires people to tote around those little hand-held battery powered fans. When the air isn't moving, I guess it's a decent solution. But I have also seen a correlation between people with those little fans and people wearing jeans. The fans won't help much in that case. I understand fashion is sometimes a last concern when it is so hot, but at least common sense should take precedent. It's reminiscent of the first English settlers that showed up in Virginia wearing wool. Um, duh!

D.C. in the summertime. Tourist mecca.

-N

Next time: It's Blue Claw Crab Season!