Days Inn And Suites Laurel

... empowering the poor to pull themselves out of poverty through their own ingenuity and enterprise. So, this is the second reason for this trip, to see firsthand how micro lending is working (and struggling to work) in a variety of cultural contexts. I hope to visit MFI's (micro finance institutions) in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, more specifically, in Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia. These countries were picked both because of their importance in the 21s century economy and their ...

... virtues. - Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Architecture here is magnificent. The Capitol, White House, Museums, Treasury Department, National Archives, National Gallery of Art, Old Post Office, to name a few of the best. The National Building Museum is in the palatial 1887 US Pension Bureau Building where November's G20 summit was held, and one of the January ...

... a power trip.. So I just said, "sorry didn't realise I couldn't take photos. What would you like me to do about it? Delete them" "That'd be good.." And with me still almost inside the car, he drives off.. Another encounter with a US official and yet again another PLEASANT experience. Lol.. Anyway, as you can see, I didn't delete the one or two photos I did take, but who the hell cares.. they blew themselves up anyway, we all know that... Woops, did I just say that??? :S ...

... the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, which were spectacular. Beijing pretty much outdid themselves, is all I have to say. I haven't seen much of the actual games, except one night at our hotel (for LVC orientation), my roommates and I caught Michael Phelps' 7th gold medal race where he basically won by his fingertips. Or at least that's how it looked in NBC's frame-by-frame replay. Saturday morning Unc took me to a newly-opened and refurbished cottage that Abraham Lincoln spent ...

... and so lost my ability to do at least some small talk :/ she's a sweety. She wants an iPhone too! Did I mention I love my iPhone? Yes I did and I also told her that hehe I forgot to say that we got some attention from a cop :P we were heading back to Washington DC and didn't realize our lights were off, and I thought it was cause the cop was going to give us a ticket for something hehe.

... with large well proportioned white Georgian windows, slate roofs and if appropriate white wooden clock towers above. See the pictures of Harvard square to see what I mean. That is the style of America. Sturdy, large, airy with a mixture of different styles from the beaux art to gothic that evoke its mixed heritage. But the mixing of styles has rooted in the country. Many different races, creeds and colours have come together to create a country ...

To Washington, DC. Detour to Gettysburg. Still staying off the freeways. On the "Lincoln Memorial Highway". Very winding and steep up & down. Alexis getting motion sickness in the back seat. Numerous truck runaway ramps. I'm OK. Brakes are working fine. Get to Gettysburg for lunch. Eat at Farnsworth House. Over 100 bullet holes still in the wall from the Civil War. On to Washington. Stop at Maryland Visitor Information. Decide which campground to stay at.

... laws were passed could stay and today, only one camp remains. As its resident is clearly barking mad and stinks, she doesn't seem to be doing her cause much good! My first day also marked an auspicious day in US history, the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination (14 April). So, of I trooped to Ford's theatre, the scene of the shooting and saw a risible account of the events. But anyway, I saw the balcony, took the requisite picture and wandered off. Day two ...

... in. Being that we were both very hungry by this stage we headed out to a very nice little Italian place nearby. The food was excellent, the service a little slow but they were very busy and did give us free drinks to apologise. We stayed there a couple of hours before heading back to the hotel. My colleague caught a cab back to her hotel, which was downtown somewhere, and I just crashed after what had been a very long day. I'm so going to miss my nice comfy bed here.....

... graves are the 'Tombs of the Unknown Warriors'. Ironically however, they know who one of them is! Only in America! These soldiers are from the WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam conflicts. The Vietnam warrior was later exhumed and identified by DNA however. Guards maintain a 24/7 armed guard over these tombs, and it's pretty impressive. Anyway, it was time to move on. Back to NYC and the smog! At least we got the right station this time!