June
June was the month for getting settled and sorted.
When we first arrived in DC (Arlington, Virginia actually) we were provided temporary accommodation for up to four weeks in an area called Crystal City, in the Sur Apartments. The apartment was beautiful and in a wonderful complex, but with only two bedrooms was somewhat challenging for Laura and Ben! We were blown away by the number of dogs who also lived in the complex - big and small. The largest we saw was a Burmese Mountain Dog, happily riding the elevator with their owner. The complex even had a dog grooming room. There was also a beautiful terrace on the twelfth floor which overlooked the train line and Ronald Reagan National Airport which made for some entertaining viewing whilst having an evening beverage. Surprisingly, we hardly heard the planes as the runway was parallel to our apartment so there was no overhead action.
The terrace
Ronald Reagan National AirportWe were fortunate enough to get a hire car for two weeks on arrival, which we collected from aforementioned airport. The rental office was only two kilometres from our apartment so Russ, Laura and I decided to walk there. It was hot. We got completely lost walking around the airport trying to find the rental office. What should have taken us twenty minutes ended up about an hour later after we eventually caught a shuttle bus to the rental office from the arrivals area of the main terminal! I wasn't insured to drive the rental as it was provided by Russ' work so I got to sit back and be chauffeured everywhere.
The search for a car and house was next on the agenda. We found a car pretty quickly at a local VW dealership. It's interesting here as there is no haggling over the price. What the car yard has on the car is what you pay. We bought a 2021 VW Tiguan which is very comfortable and quite roomy, which we collected the day we had to return the hire car.
House hunting was a little more challenging. Prior to arriving in the US we had been keeping a very close eye on the properties coming on the rental market in the area we wanted to live, which was tied to school zoning for the kids. Plenty of houses were popping up each week, leading us to think it would be easy to find a rental. Nope. The week we arrived it was like someone turned off the rental housing tap and there were very slim pickings. We looked at the three houses that did get listed in the area we liked but they were all less than ideal. After assessing our options we decided to broaden the search area and found the perfect house the same day. In retrospect, we have ended up in a much better location as it is much closer to the Metro (rail system) and shops and restaurants. Laura is going to a different high school than we had originally hoped, but feedback from locals is that hers will be fantastic.
Hopefully this link works (if not, google the address in the link and click on the Zillow page)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1806-N-Danville-St-Arlington-VA-22201/12078322_zpid/
The house is a private rental and our landlord, we'll call him Jon (because that's his name!) gave us a walk through when he handed the keys over. I'm not sure how he thinks we live in Australia, but when we got to the kitchen he double checked that we understood what a microwave was and reiterated how important it is to make sure the glass plate is sitting properly in the base "as the plate turns, you know, that's how the food cooks evenly". He also demonstrated how to close the dishwasher door "firmly, so as to ensure a good seal". All jokes aside, he is a great landlord and has been quick to resolve any issues we've had.
We moved into the house on June 28, borrowing kitchen items and linen from the apartment until our removal from Australia arrived on July 2. Everyone was very happy to be in a proper house again, especially Laura and Ben!
Our backyard is home to some rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels, which we love watching. Squirrels are everywhere here, often running across the footpath when we're out for a walk and scurrying up trees.
Bunnies
Mr Squirrel just hanging out
ChipmunkAside from car and house hunting we got out and about around the area in June. We had the compulsory photo of the first trip to Target (first of many!)
We also visited Pentagon City, a huge shopping mall with a Macys and Nordstrom, like a Westfield but Americanised (we have been there many times now!)
On a more touristy note, we had a day in the National Mall, taking in the Lincoln Memorial, the World War Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building, which were all stunning, and so much bigger than expected. We did also try to get a look at the White House, but all of the parks surrounding it were locked down so we could barely get a glimpse between trees.
In the National Mall
Lincoln Memorial
World War Memorial
Washington Monument. You can buy tickets to go to the top of the Monument, but they are hard to get. We will try to get up there at some stage. I have heard it's slightly easier to get tickets in the colder months.
The Capitol Building
...and again.
View down the mall from the Capitol BuildingParked all around the Capitol Building were food trucks, offering tacos, burgers, fried chicken etc etc. We came across one offering drinks and ice cream, and all got something. Nice and refreshing on a scorching day. We just about fell over when it cost us $40 (AUD$60) for the four!!
Another day was spent out at the National Air and Space Museum, which had all sorts of historical planes and space craft, including a Concorde and a Space Shuttle. All of the museums are run by the Smithsonian Institution and are free to enter.
https://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center
Beautiful town homes in Old Town
Street lined with restaurants and cafes
Roosevelt Hall - National War College
Arnold Auditorium in the Roosevelt Hall
A magnolia in our neighbourhood. Taken on an evening walk so apologise for the darkness of the pic. That is a two story house next to the tree!
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