Foggy Bottom 12/08/06

It was a hot day, even by American standards, probably about 26 centigrade and humid. The air seemed to hang like a duvet, almost stifling. It had been decided to play tennis today, and we drove back over to Maryland University to use their courts as there would certainly be at least one free. Interestingly the only two racquets we had were of a rather antique vintage, made of wood and most probably cat-gut strings. They were in good condition though, and after a few minutes of adjusting to the smaller size it was possible to play a competitive game. It was tough playing in that heat, and after nearly two hours we sloped off the courts in need of some serious refreshment.
Fortunately America's fast food culture extends to light but very refreshing snacks of all different kinds. We visited a smoothie joint, which was almost one big advertising wall. It was also suprisingly health conscious, and very much geared to sports drinks. All sorts of energy drinks, cleansing drinks, toning drinks, refreshing drinks, and vitamin-boosting drinks were on offer, and after much consideration I ordered a blueberry dream. It would be true to say that it surpassed my expectation and was, after half an hour of sucking it though two straws, very refreshing. About half the drink was ice, crushed and smashed in a blender, so I guess it was also kind of hydrating. It certainly tasted goooood.
I spent a good few hours after this chilling out with a few beers. I can say, after a good deal of experience, that beer never tastes better than after a bit of serious exertion. Bud light was no less so.
Later that afternoon we went back into DC to meet up with some friends from my home University. We had all met during one particular year in Sheffield and stayed in touch to some degree. We met this time in a tappas restaurant just a few blocks across from the Hotel Washington and we ate quite a range of different dishes, from shark to cheese on toast, and squid cooked in its ink to spanish sausages and garlic mashed potato. With a few pints of beer it was very pleasant, and a good opportunity to catch up on people's situations.
Afterwards we walked down across the mall just in front of the Whitehouse, towards Foggy Bottom, although nobody was really sure of the way. We zig-zagged between the Corcoran Gallery and the Executive Office building and back down towards George Washington University and 23rd Street. Foggy Bottom is around the Georgetown area of DC, and is quite a rich area. Many financiers and bankers and similar people go to drink here amongst their own crowd of people- which is a little exclusive. Although in pleasant company it was not really my scene and being a little tired from the short week's events I bid farewell to my friends and made for a metro station.
Later that evening we dropped into a bar just along from Bently's Bar over by Maryland University. The whole area was very much geared up to Friday night, and bouncers stood around outside the bars checking I.D.s and taking entrance fees. It was different to many English bars in that some people just sat around and drank, but there was an area at the end of the bar for dancing and more lively entertainment, helped by a dj mixing on his decks in the middle of the room. At the bar a guy standing next to me was somewhat plastered, and fired venemous complaints at the bar staff about not being served immediately. He was, after a brief attempt to reason with him, ejected unceremoniously by a bouncer who clearly had the advantage over him by virtue of his incredibly large girth. Although I missed the precise incident I imagined the bouncer simply pinched the guys collar between his finger and thumb and tossed him out onto the street. Job done. No messing about. Next orders please.