🇺🇸 First Impressions of Washington DC 🏛️

Spent 7 days in DC for a conference and casually explored some popular spots and restaurants. Here are my raw and subjective takeaways! 🍂 DC is famous for its spring cherry blossoms and fall foliage. Even in early December, the autumn leaves were still stunning! Streets are clean, architecture is modern yet distinctive, and greenery blends harmoniously throughout the city. 🚇 Public transport is convenient compared to other US cities – fewer homeless people, and feels relatively safe for solo female travelers at night. Get a transit card – it covers almost all major attractions. Trains are frequent, punctual, and stations display real-time arrivals. The infrastructure surprised me in a good way! 🍜 Chinatown restaurants were disappointing, and even some hyped Asian spots in downtown let me down – bland yet oversized portions. Prices with tips were almost Swiss-level 💸. But the bubble tea places were great! 🍗 The best meal I had in 7 days was… American-style fried chicken wings. 😂 😊 People on the streets looked happy and peaceful – life didn’t seem as intense as the news might suggest. ✈️ The National Air and Space Museum was smaller than expected but has real artifacts like Apollo mission exhibits. The planetarium show (extra ticket) is worth it. The gift shop is huge – honestly more fun than the exhibits! 🏛️ The Capitol tour felt underwhelming if you’re not into US political values. The sculptures and murals felt plain compared to European grandeur. 📸 Across the Capitol, the Supreme Court had news cameras everywhere – felt like stepping into a news broadcast! I asked someone, “Does this actually help?” Their reply: “Not sure, but it educates people.” Talking to locals was more enlightening than the tour itself. 🛍️ Georgetown is a trendy shopping district. I splurged on brands rare in Switzerland: Aritzia, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Lululemon, Le Labo, and Blue Bottle Coffee. And yes, the bubble tea is awesome! 📌 Summary: Museums were okay – skip if short on time. December weather was mild – perfect for walks! Avoid Asian food in downtown – try other cuisines. Chat with locals – more mind-opening than sightseeing! #TravelUSA #WashingtonDC #DCTravel #FoodReview #MuseumHopping #LocalVibes #CityWander 🌆🍁