EMPTY AMERICA: Washington, D.C.

From Nashville I headed to DC with an overnight stay at a motel in Charleston (shout-out to Gino’s Pizza, local restaurant!) and I will tell you this: The trip has been surreal to say the least. However, if you really want to creep yourself out, be the only guest at a roadside motel for a night. In West Virginia. It’s....fun.


I would imagine Washington, DC would still be bustling, what with the government still officially open and the press and Senate and CDC and everyone making constant appearances on 24-news media.


I wasn’t wrong. There was finally, for the first time, a bit of traffic heading into the city. Not what I’m sure a normal day would be like, but you could sense that you were heading into an area that was still mostly-functional (I’ll leave political jabs aside as such as possible here).


However, all of those cars must have private parking underground or assigned spaces in some parking garage somewhere because, at the National Mall itself, there was ample parking. I never though I would be able to park just behind the Smithsonian. (As I’ve noted before, the silver lining in all of this is great traffic easement and wonderful parking options. Not a trade-off by any means, but a silver lining)


Now I had to wonder where all of those cars went because the Mall was empty! A few joggers, maybe one family enjoying the entire open circumference of patio around the Washington Monument, but otherwise, completely empty.


You could stand at the base of the Washington Monument and take either a picture of the Lincoln Memorial or the Capital Building in either direction and only get a smattering of people in the shot.


It made sense. This is an area that, and I’m guessing here, is 98% tourists on any given day. I can’t imagine locals really hang out or transgress it to get to work. Of course I’m being hyperbolic but it is an absolute tourist area. And since tourists are mostly staying home....


So add that industry to the list of those that are rocked by the pandemic: restaurants, bars, concert halls, theaters, ride shares, taxis, and everything empty here: museums, tourist traps, amusements, street performers.... the list goes on and on.


I made my way to the White House for curiosity and saw where all of those cars were most likely going: The parking lot in the front of it was packed!


It makes sense. Inside that hallowed building there is still a government working (for better or worse) plus press and staff and whatever else makes every day press briefings and staff meetings and whatever else goes on happen.


Oddly enough, standing outside the White House amongst the cars and security and normal hubbub, I finally felt a sense of normalcy. If I looked around, I’d think the world was just fine, virus-free, no shut-down. Ironic to think that standing in front of ground zero for the pandemic response...