Two Things Challenge: Noisy / Peaceful

Looking west/southwest along I-395. Traffic on the right is coming off
of I-295 and headed into Virginia. Traffic on the left is coming off the
14th Street Bridge and heading east into Washington.

This week's Two Things Challenge was Noisy / Peaceful. My interpretation of Noisy: Traffic. Washington, D.C., ranks second in the nation for worst commute. Commuters from all over the region spend an average of 29.3 minutes per day traveling to and from work. We rank fifth for road rage and general discourteousness.

Looking east along 1-295. Traffic on the right is heading into southeast Washington,
traffic on the left is westbound headed toward Virginia.

These two photos show I-395, an artery that feeds into Virginia and I-295, an artery that feeds into southeast D.C. and Maryland. They meet at the point where I took these pictures--the top of L'Enfant Plaza. I should have taken these photos at the height of the commute hours to emphasize my statistics, but that would have put me in crappy traffic and might have made me angry and who needs that, right?!

The Sonoma Coast in springtime, Sonoma, California

My interpretation for Peaceful comes from my archives. These pictures are actually four or five years old, but they represent this second part of the challenge perfectly for me. One of the biggest things I miss about living in the East is the beach.

Patrick's Point State Park, Humboldt County, California

I moved back to D.C. from northern California and, for me, the beach was the place I went to re-energize and center myself. There's nothing more bracing than a good, stiff coastal wind to blow the cobwebs out of your cluttered mind and soothe your soul. D.C. sucks you dry and spits you out and offers few spaces and places to regroup. At least, that's the case for me. When I think of peaceful, I think of the coast.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

L'Enfant Plaza

Just one small section of the boulevard that comprises L'Enfant Plaza.

In the background, Benjamin Banneker Park.

L'Enfant Plaza is a rather utilitarian mish-mash of government office buildings and agencies on the southwest waterfront. Named for Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who mapped and laid out the city in its confusing grid of avenues and traffic circles, the plaza is ironically uninteresting as a whole.

Close-up of the fountain in Benjamin Banneker Park.

Regardless of its aesthetic shortcomings, the plaza contains a number of treasures, including a park with a fountain dedicated to Benjamin Banneker, a freed slave who assisted in surveying the future boundaries for the city. Despite its disheveled appearance, L'Enfant Plaza at dusk can look lovely. These are just a few examples.

Detail of one of the lamp fixtures in L'Enfant Plaza.

About the only architecturally stunning feature of L'Enfant Plaza are the lights that line the wide boulevard on both sides. The first picture shows just a small portion of the lights. As I was getting into my car to leave, I looked up and saw the above photo opp and took it!

The only other treasure in this dull plaza is the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel's courtyard. See the entry below for pictures of that.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

The only interesting architectural feature of the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel:
this Pei-esque/pyramid-like-the-Louvre skylight.

Located near the top of L'Enfant Plaza is the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. The front of the building is an office for yet another ubiquitous federal agency. The hotel itself is on the back side of the building and features subterranean retail space. That space is capped by this Pei-esque/reminiscent-of-the-Louvre pyramid skylight. This is about all that's interesting in this space.

Subterranean space at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

As I was leaving the hotel's plaza, I noticed this stairway to the subterranean space and thought it made a nice composition. My understanding is, the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel has pretty reasonable rates and is far less expensive than hotels about a mile away in the Penn Quarter and Golden Triangle neighborhoods. The hotel is also very conveniently located to the National Mall and all of the Smithsonian Museums. Plus, it's just a short walk down a hill to the Southwest Waterfront and a fish market where you can get fresh crab, lobster, shrimp, and a wide variety of fresh fish. I'll feature photos from the fish market in a week or so.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Capitol

The U.S. Capitol from L'Enfant Plaza

Just another picture of the U.S. Capitol building. This one was taken Friday evening at dusk from L'Enfant Plaza. I'll be posting more pictures of L'Enfant Plaza on Tuesday.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08