It cost me $12 to get from Baltimore's Regional airport to Union Station. It would have cost me $6 if I would have taken the local train in ..... but I didn't have time to wait. I don't know about you ... but I always feel like I'm going back in time when I ride a train. The dining car was hopping ... the conductors were walking through checking on passengers .... it was all so ... so "Old School!!" Except of course ... for the wireless internet access. For someone who lives in the suburbs ... like me ....and spends at least ... 2 hours on the highway stuck in traffic everyday .... .I wish we had a system like this in the Houston area. But alas ... I digress.

I arrived at beautiful old Union Station in Washington D.C. and once again I was taken aback by the beauty of the place. I ran through the place back in November when I was up here covering the MLS Cup ... but literally that's all I did was run through and get my ticket ... as I was trying to get to the airport. The first time I ever traveled through this station was back in my high school days ...and the place was a mess. We were afraid we might get mugged just traveling through the place. Now .. .though ... the place is beautiful.

I took a few minutes to enjoy a bowl of chowder and a wedge salad in the America's lobby restaurant. Thousands of commuters go in and out of that place on a daily basis .....and I wonder if they realize what a national treasure that place is. Unlike when I traveled through here many years ago ..... the ceiling is breath taking ... with all of it's gold painted patterns and artwork. They've done a great job restoring this place. I ate at a lobby restaurant ....across the huge main floor ... from a chocolate boutique. This place has gone from "Oh My God ... what happened to this place!!!" .... to "Oh while I'm here ... I better get a some Godiva for my Valentine."

It's cold up here ....
I was greeted by 30 degree temperatures and sleet upon my arrival to the nation's capital. Heavy coats and mufflers are not going out of style anytime soon up here.

I have all my proper credentials ....after spending a couple of hours on Capitol Hill ... and I'll be in place to stand in line for the proceedings .... probably before you wake up in the morning. And yes ... I packed my long underwear!!

Happy blogging!! Talk to you Wednesday!!