When you explore a city by foot, it is not uncommon to encounter hidden gems off the main thoroughfares. On our second full day in Washington DC, we decided to avoid the potential crowds on Easter Sunday and opted to visit the National Cathedral one day earlier on a lazy Saturday afternoon. After an uncharacteristically late start (the luxury of sleeping in doesn’t occur that often on a weekend mileage run with Mr. Travelbypoints), we enjoyed a leisurely brunch at the elegant breakfast room of the Park Hyatt before even attending to the topic of what to do that day.
Copious amounts of eggs, cheese, potatoes, yogurt, fruit and fresh baked croissants later, our full tummies gave way to the task of deciding where to go first before the onset of food coma could take hold of our reserve. We quickly decided on a stroll to the National Cathedral followed by a picnic at the Bishop’s Garden, a small grassy enclave adjacent to the church. With tourist map in one hand and a prepared lunch box compliments of the scrumptious Blue Duck Tavern in the other, we hit the pavement with a spring in our uncushioned vibrams.
Two miles of pounding concrete later (vibram fivefinger shoes aim for the true barefoot experience so there is little in the way of cushion between the soles of your feet and the ground), I was moving with noticeably less enthusiasm. We had been walking for about 20 minutes and I had yet to see the National Cathedral in the horizon. Just when I was ready to unleash a surly comment about double checking the directions on the map, I saw Mr. Travelbypoints make a turn up ahead.
Curious, I quickened my pace and followed his path over a small bridge to a circular sitting area with smooth rounded concrete benches. There was total stillness in the park, save the occasional chirping bird and the sound of flowing water from the fountain at the center of the platform. Looking around, I noticed that there was just one other person sitting several yards away and as if on cue, the older gentleman picked up his lunch bag and gave us a friendly nod before heading off towards a side road. We were completely alone. Mr. Travelbypoints slowly made his way around the circular benches, each with a quote from Kahlil Gibran engraved in the concrete.
By the time we made our way back to the beginning, Mr. Travelbypoints was still moving slowly, silently. He looked up as I came to stand beside him and said, “I never expected to find this place in DC. I don’t even know who this person is, but his words really touch me.” I smiled and started to suggest that we take a moment to sit and rest our wearied feet, when he glanced up at the sky, as if trying to decipher the time, and said, “Okay, we’d better get going! The Cathedral closes early today.” So much for extended meditations, but at least as we ambled back over the bridge to the main street, there was a noticeable spring in our feet and a lightness in our spirits.
If you ever find yourself with a few hours to burn in DC, you could do far worse than to seek out the quiet sanctuary of the Kahlil Gibran Memorial. Bring along lunch and a good book and you’ll be rewarded with one of the most delightful ways to spend a lazy afternoon in DC.
p.s. Upon our return to Las Vegas, we recounted our visit to one of our dearest friends who is in the process of following her dreams and moving to Costa Rica with her husband. A few days later she presented us with her copy of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Somehow the book managed to elude the moving/donation boxes and was tucked away in an obscure spot.
It is now occupying pride of place on Mr. Travelbypoint’s night stand, to be savored as bedtime reading. Thank you, Merlinda!
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