Washington DC: More than museums and monuments

Washington DC is better than its reputation: It is said to be a cold city populated with politicians and all kinds of parasites that come to live off them. That's not necessarily a bad thing: To visit White House and Capitol Hill, to see where the decisions are made that shape so much of international politics, that's very educating.

Also, I met plenty of regular people and experienced a vibrant city, for example charming old houses, excellent shopping and all kinds of exotic restaurants. Why not try Brasilian cooking at the charming The Grill from Ipanema high up in the hills of Adams Morgan or Vietnamese at trendy Bangkok Joe's in Georgetown?

And another thing: What's wrong with museums and monuments? The monuments in Washington commemorate people and events that have not only shaped the USA, but most of the word -- for better or for worse. And the museums are world class. The museums of The Smithsonian Institution have a prominent place at the foot of Capitol Hill and house wonderful collections of art and history. They store objects of beauty, symbolic value, religious significance, and historic reference. If you love museums, you have to spend time in the Smithsonian.