It Seemed Like a Good Idea

DH had an errand to run this morning and we had stuff to do later this afternoon, so we broke one of the cardinal rules governing living in D.C. in the summer.

If you must visit the Smithsonian on a hot, sticky summer day when it's supposed to rain, visit first thing in the morning and get out before lunchtime.

Because of DH's Very Important Thing To Do, we didn't get to the Natural History Museum until just before 11 this morning. It took a half-hour to find parking. And then, once we got inside, it was beyond packed. Every tourist from every corner of the earth was there. Pushing and shoving and banging into each other and missing deodorant and letting doors slam in faces and everything that just so totally rocks about living in a tourist city in the summertime. 

We caught a glimpse of the Hope Diamond, visited the insect zoo, flew through the mammal wing, tried to see the dinosaurs (good flippin' luck), and then got hungry. Starving hungry. Thus violating rule #2 about living in DC in the summer.

If you find yourself at the Smithsonian during lunchtime, do not, for the love of God, eat there. There's a reason admission is free, and there are ways they make up for that.

The four of us had three slices of cardboard pizza, one plain hot dog (Hebrew National--a grocery store brand), one small soda, and two milks. 

$35.

I kid you not. Thirty. Five. Dollars. DH about choked when it rang up. "I've eaten for less than that at the Kennedy Center," he told the cashier.

For your reference, should you ever find yourself hungry at the Smithsonian, there are at least four street vendors outside the door, selling exactly the same food, for exactly one-third the price. I highly recommend visiting them and enjoying the ambiance of our lovely Mall for your meal, and then going back inside the museum to fight the crowds and see whatever your heart desires.

After lunch, my heart desired home. So we went. And it really was a fun morning. But next time, I'm doing it during the week. On a day when most schools are in session, but our school is off to venerate a saint in the comfort and privacy of home.

Catholic school tuition has its privileges...