Landover, MD (USA)

I got some tickets from my company to watch the Giants-Redskins game today and was happy when Brenna said she wanted to go too! We left Alexandria at 1145 and used I-495 to reach Maryland.  We had a nice conversation on the way - it's good to have Brenna home!  The trip to Landover was pretty easy but somehow I missed the exit ramp for FedEx Field (there was a lot of police and fire activity and I was talking to Brenna).  As a result, we ended up on the complete opposite side (northern end) of the stadium.  Brenna helped me (Google Maps) get to an entrance but we still found ourselves at Platinum Parking Lot E, rather than A.  Fortunately, the parking lot guys let us in there and we parked by about 1230.  It took us a while to get to my company's suite (we had to walk all the way around the field) but we arrived just before kickoff (1300).  There were lots of really friendly people from work there.  Brenna enjoyed the food and camaraderie and watched a lot of the game with me.  We stayed through the end of the Third Quarter and then headed for our car.  Because of the walk, we got on the road at the end of the Fourth Quarter (1600).  Fortunately, the game went into overtime when the Redskins tied the Giants and the traffic wasn’t too bad.  We used US-50 and a series of state-named roads to cross the northeast end of DC.  We had originally planned to park at Gallery Place and ride the Red Line but there was construction and single tracking.  We passed the pretty Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and soon found ourselves in a neighborhood close to the National Zoo.  I parked along Harvard Street and it was only a short walk to the entrance to the Zoo.  We got there early enough 1630) that some of the animals were still outside (highlights were cows and donkeys, along with an elephant sighting).  As it got darker, we walked a lot and got some hot chocolate.  Brenna commented on how much warmer it was than last year, although her hands got cold.  Once the ZooLights were all shining, we took our time walking and snapping photos of everything.  Brenna really enjoyed the experience (especially the new paper lanterns) and liked wearing the lit-up snowflake I got when I came with Mollie and Erin.  We walked around until about 1800 and, when it started to get really crowded, made our way back to the car.  Brenna then helped me find my way back to the main roads (it was tough and I worried all night about speed and red-light cameras).  Before long, we were on familiar roads (Rock Creek Parkway with pretty lights at the Kennedy Center, Memorial Bridge, I-395).  We arrived at Nicky’s at close to 1930 and I said goodbye to Brenna there.  Very glad I got to go to ZooLights with all three of my girls this year!