Lions, Tigers and Panda Bears

Today was our first day off in DC, and we definitely made the most of our free time.  It was cloudy and misting at times, but a really comfortable temperature for the middle of January.  We started with a quick metro ride to Busboys and Poets for a tasty brunch.  The fun and quirky restaurant had a variety of menu options; from sweet potato pancakes to unique omelets to different salads and sandwiches.

We had a great brunch at Busboys and Poets

Our next excursion was to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, where we were lucky enough to see one of the famous Giant Pandas.  The new cub will go on public exhibit in another week. There were also a lot of other cool animals that we got to see up close.  Some of my favorites were the elephants, wolves and the cheetah.  We also got to see one of the orangutans using the “O line”, a set of cables between exhibits high above the visitor pathways.  It swung across the wires, precariously hanging from its arms way over our heads, until it made its way down into the exhibit.

Outside of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
-Photo credits to Megan Jones-

After a long afternoon at the zoo we headed over to the White House and the Renwick Gallery.  Unfortunately, the line for the Renwick was extremely long, so we decided it would be best to try something else.  We ended up going to the Cakeroom bakery just north of Dupont Circle for a treat.  The bright pink facade of the bakery and the delicious cupcakes made it a sweet way to end our day out.

Cloudy day in Washington

The Cakeroom bakery- definitely a must if you are looking for a sweet treat in DC

Tomorrow is our last day off and then we have just two days of class left in the program.  Although the first week of our time in Washington is over, the last few days are just as packed and exciting; there is still a lot to look forward to.

-Katie Koontz ’19