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They say that nobody's really from Washington, DC and everyone's there for a reason. It's been called
the murder capital and the capital of espionage. It's
one of the most famous cities  in the world, but its
local culture is relatively unknown. Justine Shapiro goes beyond the myths and mystic to get at the real
DC and the real Washingtonians, from the corridors of
power, to the bluegrass bars, to the hot international
restaurants, to the indigenous music and good-time vibe
of the new U Street.
As a special guest of Orrin Hatch, Republican senator
from Utah, she walks right into the US Capitol
building and meets the Senate Majority Leader in his
office.
Justine soon discovers that the rest of this city of
600,000 is bursting with colour: she visits the Smithsonian's
American History Museum, where famous objects
from popular culture such as the ruby slippers from
the Wizard of Oz take up permanent residence. Further
adventures take her to U Street, where
she joins in a 'step' dance rehearsal - a true test
of whether she's got rhythm.
 Adventures outside DC take her to civil war country
in Virginia, to a realistic civil war
re-enactment at Cedar Creek. She also learns about the first
settlers and the founding of the nation at Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown.
She even visits Mount Vernon, home
to the founder of Washington DC, George Washington himself. |
