April comes, not quite the idiot this time

The Metro was working today and the rains have gone, so my self-field-trip was back on.

A brightly fun Calder sculpture~it was breezy enough today that the arm was swinging.

First time in the Hirshhorn Museum~reminded me a bit of the Guggenheim.  The tickets for the special exhibit were already gone, but I enjoyed wandering the circular building and seeing the permanent exhibits.  There was a gorgeous wall of orchids, but it was too crowded to get a clear shot of them.

One whole floor was lined with various clock faces~this was my fav. 

Don't know the artist, but I know there's a matching one of these on the Seattle waterfront.

How do you spell 'breezy'?

The famed cherry blossoms~first sighting~even after all the years of visits to this area. 

I found a shiny quarter, but gave it to the homeless man who gave me a daffodil (which I'm sure was illegally picked~but still, it was a sweet gesture).  It did not survive being stuffed in my pocket~didn't want to see what kind of fine there is for picking something at a National Park.

Okay, I guess Ms. Millay's line about strewing flowers does apply.

Went into the African Art Museum~thought it was a small building, not realizing that there are three floors underground.

Gorgeous window and atrium design.

Part of their "Currents" exhibit on water.

A sound exhibit to give one the experience of a Nigerian marketplace.

No, I didn't take any of the pennies in the fountain.

Enjoyed a falafel al fresco.  Make that froid fresco~the sun was warm, but the breeze is still hostile.

And once again, the travel gods put me near a chatty woman on public transportation.  This one was Phyllis from Philadelphia. Although she is 70, she is still coaching dance and was in town for a conference/competition with some of her students.    As the conversation meandered, I discovered that she met her boyfriend on-line and he lives in Exeter!  Which is a teeny town in California.  She was shocked that someone out east had heard of it~told her it was easy as that's where I did 1st grade.  

And serendipitously, there is my happy place right by the Springfield/Franconia Metro station.  Feeling fortified for another week in the weeds.