Book 1: Settling into Life Day 7 (June 13, 2015)

Woke up this morning, left for the Smithsonian at 11. Got there at 12:40 with lots of almost getting on the wrong train and walking in the wrong direction from the Metro Center (train station close to Smithsonian) to the museum. But I made it, despite how hot and crowded and chaotic it all was, and I wandered the Mammals exhibit. So many pictures, and I'll put some below, but I guess I could probably make a facebook album too... I think I'll go back again tomorrow to try to finish up the rest of the Natural History museum.

The Pride Parade was supposed to start at 4pm, or at least I was told to get back by then to avoid the crowd. I left the museum at 3:40, but ended up getting back to the apartment at 4:20. The train was extremely crowded and there were already people decked out in rainbow apparel walking the streets. I got back, and ended up going to the pride parade.

So the parade. Started at 4:30pm, ran until 7:15. It was hot today and the sun was intense (I'm pretty sure I'll wake up tomorrow with the right side of my face noticeably darker than my left...) but it...wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The parade itself...less music, so less blaring speakers. However, there were two marching bands, and though the quality was so bad (blasting trombones, a metal piccolo...overall subpar instruments), it was a nice change and I found myself looking forward to them. There were lots of shirtless guys and lots of skin being revealed but not too liberal. Though I was given codoms 4 times. The first time, I didn't realize what it was, and then the following three times, they were handed to me, and I surreptitiously dropped them a few seconds later (since I was told I would need them and thus couldn't give it back). But besides that, it was fine. One little boy walking in the parade (he looked about 5 years old) walks over and hands me a wristband. I was so surprised, but that was adorable. People there are so nice too. People standing next to me or around me would talk or be excited, and sometimes if they caught something, they'd offer it to me, and if I caught a necklace or something, I would offer it too. If anything, the atmosphere is so positive and inclusive, and it was well worth the 3 hours standing.

Exhausting day, but well worth it. I'm starting to know my way around DC that's proximate to "home" and I've also realized how much of DC I haven't explored yet. Maybe going out for runs isn't such a bad idea afterall...