Washington DC memories

The first time I went to Washington DC in the US was in May 2004. I was one of several International Fellows of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, then based in Fairfax, Virginia (now based in DC), and I attended several conferences in the US. First was the Mackinac Leadership Conference in Michigan, then the Heartland conference + Atlas Liberty Forum in Chicago, then meetings in DC and Virgina area. I stayed in the US for one month.

The second time I went to DC was in November 2009, also for another Atlas event and I was one of several panel speakers. Below, with Cindy Cirquitella of Atlas as panel moderator, Paulo Uebel from Brazil, and about three other speakers from Croatia, Nigeria, and Argentina I think. Thanks again to former Atlas VP, Jo Kwong, who would find funding for my travel scholarship.

I also attended a one-day discussion on several literatures about liberty. Below, Jo Kwong, in red dress, standing and introducing the activity.

Then I visited again the Americans for Tax Reforms (ATR) office. First time I saw their office was in 2004 and it was my first time to meet ATR President, Grover Norquist. Very articulate and intelligent free market leader. Below, with Grover's deputy, Chris Butler and a Russian lady scholar, Victoria Strokova, who authored the International Property Rights Index (IPRI) 2010 Report.

I also visited some buildings and structures, also the Smithsonian center.

I think this is the US Department of Agriculture.

I don't remember what  this building is, but it looked beautiful to me.

It was a freezing November for me; the locals would wear some not-so-thick jackets while I covered myself with a thick jacket even at daytime.

I hope to visit DC again soon.
-------------

See also:

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC -- I stayed there, Nov. 9-12, 2009;

Ronald Reagan National Airport, Arlington, Virginia -- I exited the US from this airport twice, in 2004 and 2009.

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, Washington DC

I stayed in this hotel for four days and three nights, November 9 to 12, 2009, when I attended the Atlas Freedom Dinner to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and hence, the collapse of communism in Europe. The Atlas Economic Research Foundation organized the event and they -- through Dr. Jo Kwong, then VP of Atlas -- gave me a travel grant as I was one of the panel speakers on Day 2. I first wrote about this hotel on my first night there, Mayflower hotel, Washington DC, http://travelpinoy.blogspot.com/2009/11/mayflower-hotel-washington-dc.html, November 09, 2009. I posted only three photos there.

Posting only now the four other photos I took. Upper right photo below is from the web, the rest are my old camera phone, which has already retired. These are the exteriors of the hotel. Lower right photo is the hotel lobby. It is a famous hotel in DC.

From upper left, clockwise: the corridor leading to my room, fascinating; my bed, very comfy; TV and the wall mirror; and my work area.

My total travel time, from the time I entered Manila airport to the time I got out of the Reagan airport, was probably about 25 hours. Delta Air's route: Manila-Narita-Detroit-Reagan/DC, I changed plane three times and had several hours waiting at Tokyo-Narita and Detroit. But despite those long hours of travel, I think I hardly slept on my first night as I was busy replying to emails and facebook to some of my Filipino friends in the US whom I did inform beforehand that I would be going to the US again.

That was my third trip to the US that year, my "record". I was in NYC in early March that year for the Heartland Institute's 2nd ICCC, then to Los Angeles a month after for the Atlas Liberty Forum, also sponsored by Atlas.

My special thanks again to Dr. Jo Kwong. She has left Atlas in 2010.