I love this city!
Washington never ceases to amaze me. There's so much to do - ALWAYS, it's stunningly beautiful, and yet it never feels overwhelming/difficult to navigate. I packed my bags and moved here on a whim, following the work and my camera, having never visited before. I'm SO glad I did. I lived in DC from March 2022 until February 2023. Even though I spent almost a year here, I didn't scratch the surface of everything I wanted to explore, but hey- this just gives me a reason to go back. I'll be seeing you again one day, Washington!
The annual cherry blossom bloom is a sight to behold. Trees all around the Tidal Basin and the National Mall BURST with beautiful pink and white flowers. Branches reach over sidewalks, forming flower archways, and frame our country's most iconic monuments.
I was traveling during Peak Bloom, but a few days later on a gloomy afternoon I made my way over to take some photos and take in the views. Things were a little less busy since it was cloudy and post-peak, which I preferred.
My Sweet Neighborhood: Columbia Heights
My favorite thing about moving often is that with each tumultuous transition comes an opportunity to slowly and intimately learn a new place, accept it for all it is, and make it yours. Columbia Heights became my little corner of the world, and I came to love it so dearly. The bustling downtown, Meridian Hill (aka Malcolm X Park), the corner store that sells essential snacks... these places made up the core of my existence when I lived here.
If you know me at all, you know I value (and depend on for my sanity) my outside time. Thankfully, the house I lived in had a patio in the back, and it became my oasis inside the city. I'd sit in my hammock to read, write and reflect; I'd do yoga out there; sometimes I'd even work out there.
Respite on the patio
There's so much to learn!! Visiting DC's many museums
When I first arrived here, I made a goal to visit all the Smithsonian museums. Did I meet this goal? No; it was lofty as hell! But I made a good dent in the long list and learned so much along the way; I also made a conscious effort to take at least one photo in every museum I visited. Here they are!
Ok; this isn't a Smithsonian Museum-- it's the National Geographic Museum! And their "Best Wildlife Photos" exhibit that was there in early 2022 BLEW! ME! AWAY! I read every single plaque and photo caption and left feeling SO inspired.
~adventures outside the city~
Solo backpacking trip to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in West Virginia
Did I jump the gun here? Yes; yes I did. As in: I froze my booty off on this one-night adventure in mid-April, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat! There is something SO empowering about solo backpacking. Solo trips remind me of how far I've come in my outdoor skills and remind me of everything I'm capable of. Plus, one-on-one Mother Nature time?! I can NEVER get enough of that.
Dolly Sods is RUGGED, let me tell you! The trails aren't well established- I had to pull my compass out a few times because I lost the trail. But that's the sort of adventure I was seeking for this weekend, and Dolly Sods delivered.
Frog eggs found in a shallow stream along the trail - these were ALL OVER Dolly Sods this weekend; signs of spring and new life!
Tadpoles hatching, doin' their thang
Pulled over at a rest stop to take in West Virginia's scenery; those look like some happy cows
A collage for every season
In case you couldn't tell from the contents of this blog, I'm a very visual person. I'm also constantly romanticizing my life by snapping photos of little moments. NOTHING brings me more joy. A lot of the ways I remember and associate different seasons of my life is through the photos I was taking at that time. And oftentimes, those photos live in subgroups in my head based on a theme or aesthetic. I can't quite explain it, but as I'm taking a photo of something I'll remember other photos I've taken recently that are similar in some way. All this to say, creating these digital collages was a way of putting those mental groups into physical form, and it was SO satisfying. It scratched the creative itch in my brain, and now I have these memory boards to look back on of the Summer, Fall, and Winter I spent in Washington, DC.
Demon Girl Summer
Dirtbag Girl Fall
Dreamy Girl Winter
Highlights from the last year
I LOVE YOU WASHINGTON, DC <3
2/16/2023 - Where do I even begin?! This year has filled my cup to the point of overflow. The people I've met make my heart burst with happiness, the museums have stimulated my mind and reignited my passion for learning, and the outdoor explorations have rejuvenated me and provided so much inspiration. This is an incomplete list and an inadequate homage to this wonderful, chaotic, bustling, glorious, exploratory season of life, but here it goes:
1356 Girard - it all starts with the place I've called home for the last year and the people who made it so. I love our tall little row home and all its quirks. I love coming home to people having heated discussions upstairs or a random, very niche movie screening. I love how much we all roast each other, all the banter in the group chat, and how these strangers are now dear friends and some of the people I feel most comfortable around.
Hangs at Rock Creek Park - especially the time Victor and I drank an entire bottle of wine while hanging near Boulder Bridge on a sunny spring day.
Wharf Wednesdays after work with Lee and Kelsey <3
All my bike riding - exploring this city by bike gave me freedom & a new perspective. I loved seeing the city slowly waking up on my way to work, or to drift by chaos in the evenings, feeling safe on my wheels.
Nights out on the town - with Lane, with the 1356 gals, etc. I love a good night of impropriety.
Los museos - particularly: Planet Word, the National Geographic Museum, the American Indian Museum, and the African American History & Culture Museum
Quiet afternoons at Meridian Hill Park - watercoloring with Erin there, hammocking, reading, journaling.
All the little jaunts I went on from here as my launching point - Bonaire and Peru most of all, but also Richmond with the roomies, OBX by myself, NYC with the Goonies, skiing in Colorado with the fam and with Kylie, Assateague Island with Lee & Kels, the hiking trip with DCUL, the Dolly Sods trip with Dibya & Kels.
Once again having Lane nearby. I don't know how we've gotten so lucky, but I'm so glad we've gotten to live relatively near each other for the last two years <3 No duo has more goofy fun than the two of us...
Halloween Night - getting all dressed up with Lee, Kels, Lane, Tommy, & Avani. Such a good time! Lane crushed the makeup game, that's for sure. And going as the sun?! The best costume idea I've had in a long time.
The ICONIC brunch with Lisi, Kat & Annie at Takoda - I'm not sure how many bottles of champagne we drank, but it was a warm spring day and we were on top of the world. Literally- we went up on the roof for the rest of the day afterward. We were so carefree. To me, that day encapsulates what it is to be young and dumb in a city that is your oyster. My heart swells as I recall it.
All the back patio hangs - Doing yoga out there, hanging in my hammock, getting accidentally locked out by Pete, reading with Annie, bringing my laptop out there to work on nice days. Having easy access to the outdoors is crucial to my emotional well-being. This place was my safe space, my sanctuary.
DC's yummy restaurants - Gloria's, Makan, Oyamel, Rakuya, Keren's, Reren Lamen, Thip Khao... to name a few.
The music!! - All Things Go with Lorde, Hippo Campus, Jack Keys, Michelle... Sammy Rae & The Friends, the blues fest I went to with Mom & Dad, the Flamenco show with Victor at the Mexican Cultural Institute, Post Sex Nachos with Lane, The Lumineers with Erin, Mon Laferte in NYC with Victor and Tenzin
Going to Wonderland Ballroom with Lee for beer and fried pickles - The BEST fried pickles I've ever had! (And you know I keep a list ;)
Starting the "Good Words" list - that's been such a fun, creative, and joyful way of documenting life. May there be many more good words added in the days ahead!
Connecting with such wonderful new friends - Kelsey, Lee, Erin, Tyler, Karishma, Hannah/Libby/Anna/Shoshana (go Tigers!), the 1356ers...
Meeting Zachary and slowly falling in love with him, being loved by him. Every second with him was pure bliss. He is joy and goodness bottled up in human form. My upcoming departure was always looming over us, but the time we had together in the same city was infinite.
Adventures with Kelsey in the woods - OBVIOUSLY that trek in Peru, Old Rag in Shenandoah, Buzzard Rock, paddle-boarding at Belle Haven, spending a week at Catoctin Mountain Park filming for work. She was the first person to hear that I got accepted to the Peace Corps because she was right there when I got the email at Cato. She helped me pick up my phone when I dropped it in shock and re-find the email after it got shuffled around from my fumble (my hands were shaking and I thought I'd imagined it for a moment).
IN CONCLUSION, a year ago I had no idea who would play prominent roles in my life. Now look at all these beautiful people and look at all we've shared... Lane, the 1356ers, Kelsey & Lee, Erin, Karishma, Zach, Tyler... souls I didn't even know existed, and now I can't imagine existing without...
AND TO THINK! Now I'm on another similar precipice - I have no idea who I'm going to meet/become close to/share life's struggles with over the next 2.5 years, but I'm sure they'll be beautiful and lovely. I can't wait to meet them!
Peace Corps Costa Rica, here I come!
