Washington D.C. skyline at night

Washington, D.C. is such an iconic city that it is hard to image it not existing.  But like all great cities, our nation’s capital was imagined, planned out and then built, and certainly not in a day.

In 1971 Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War and a comrade of George Washington’s, was announced as the master city planner for the future capital.  He envisioned a place that married grand European style with American ideals, a city designed for citizens who were were truly equal.  In that light, he turned an area full of marshes, hills and working plantations into open public squares, wide avenues and formidable architecture.

Image source: Wikipedia

After surveying the land, L’Enfant came up with a very Baroque layout for the city. His plan called for ceremonial spaces and grand radial avenues, while respecting natural layout of the land. Thus, as his design took shape it became a system of diagonal avenues intersecting with and laid on top of a grid system.  L’Enfant symbolically placed the Capital building, the seat of Congress and therefore the people, on a high point of land, a location usually reserved in European city plans for the monarch’s palace. The grid would begin and branch out from where the Capitol Building would be built. 

The U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

As L’Enfant biographer Scott Berg, explained to Smithsonian Magazine “The entire city was built around the idea that every citizen was equally important,” Berg says. “The Mall was designed as open to all comers, which would have been unheard of in France.  It’s a very sort of egalitarian idea.”

This was L’Enfant’s vision, and a good one at that.  However, he did not have popular support for his plans, in large part because his plan required the demolition of a number of high-ranking official’s houses L’Enfant eventually resigned his post, and at the time of his death in 1825 he had received no compensation, recognition or realization of his efforts. But a century later, the Senate organized a team of architects and planners to resurrect L’Enfant’s original plan and finally bring his concept to life.

Image source: Wikipedia

This vision culminated in the National Mall, a site L’Enfant had called a “great public walk.”  The National Mall stretches for two miles, from the Potomac River to Capitol Hill, and is lined with shady trees, gardens and the Smithsonian Museums.  While the end result, as we know it now, may not have been completed in L’Enfant’s lifetime, it has certainly lived up to his vision as a great congregating area for public events and protests, as well as many a pick-up ultimate Frisbee game.

Planning a trip to D.C.? Check out Smithsonian Journeys’ new Washington, D.C. Family Adventure here.

The regal female Leopard Legadima overseeing her territory. Photo by Claire Tinsley

When on safari, the “Big-5″ are on the top of everyone’s list of animals to see, and it is true that lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos are extraordinary creatures to observe in the wild. Seeing a majestic elephant bath itself in mud or a lion greeting its pride is a magical moment that will make any journey into the bush unforgettable.

Yet, there are so many animals to see, many equally as exciting or unique as any of the Big 5, that you may be surprised to find yourself at the end of your safari with a new and unexpected favorite! With that in mind, here are five more animals to look out for while on your game drives.

Photo by Claire Tinsley

Two animals to reevaluate and pay more attention to on a safari are the hyena and the giraffe. Giraffes are simply regal. Watching them walk across the savannah as the sun sets is like taking a deep breath during yoga; it centers, calms and keeps you present. Giraffes are most closely related to the camel (you can see the resemblance if you look closely at their faces) and are among the only animals that walk by moving both legs on one side of their bodies at the same time. In order to drink water, Giraffes must spread their front legs very far apart (like they are attempting to do the splits) to get their faces close enough to the water.

Giraffes at Dusk. Photo by Claire Tinsley

Hyenas may seem like an odd animal to highlight. In fact the majority of people claim to dislike hyenas (perhaps because of their poor casting in Disney’s The Lion King!) In reality, these inquisitive creatures are fascinating to watch, especially when their young come up to your vehicle and start sniffing and chewing on the tires. Don’t worry, they aren’t trying to give you a flat tire; rather, this is how they experience and learn about the world. If you knew everything about your house, and then someone came and parked a car on your front lawn, you would probably go investigate it too! Hyenas are immensely playful animals and among the most social species. You may see the young scuffle around their den, but they are quick to stand at attention if their mother calls, as the Spotted Hyena is a female-dominated species. Hyenas are generally thought to be scavengers, and while they are indeed opportunistic animals and wouldn’t pass up trying to steal a good meal from another species, they kill as much as 95% of the food they eat. After making the kill Hyenas often make a laughing sound, to signal the rest of their family members that “dinner is ready.” However, this call may also bring in “unwanted” dinner guests, such as lions, to the table.

Three young inquisitive Hyena pups. Photo by Claire Tinsley

Be sure to be on the look out for the Red Lechwe. If you mention wanting to see one to a guide, you might get a surprised look, but this will be because they are in fact quite common. Part of the antelope species, they stand out due to their hind legs. Lechwe, which eat aquatic plants, are found in marshy areas and have evolved to use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their hind legs are considerably larger than their front legs and all four are covered in a water-repellant substance which allows them to run quite fast in knee-deep water. This, more often than not, keeps them safe from land-dwelling predators, such as lions and leopards (although crocodiles still have the upper hand). Seeing them run through a flood plain is a wonderful photo-op, so make sure to have your cameras ready!

A Red Lechwe. Photo by Claire Tinsley

And don’t overlook the smaller animals out there. Crimson Breasted Shrikes are small but striking birds with a white wing stripe and florescent red underbellies. They have a distinctive chirp, which will alert you that they’re near, but it’s the bright red in a land of browns and tans that will catch your eye. Look for them in drier thorn-bush areas, thickets and acacia scrubs.

A Crimson Breasted Shrike. Photo by Claire Tinsley

Chameleons are small and fast, but not as hard to spot as you might think, particularly at night. Their ability to change color is well known, but this is not done to match their background as commonly believed. Rather the color changes are used both to communicate and to regulate body temperature. When you come back from a game drive after dark, it can be hard to carry on looking for the bigger animals because all you have to locate them with is the reflective color of their eyes. Chameleons, which you would think would be infinitely harder to find, actually reflect light with their entire body! When a spotlight hits them, their whole body is the color of pearl, for the first couple of moments at least. This occurs because Chameleons have multiple layers of chromatophores, the top layer has red or yellow pigments and the bottom layers have blue or white pigment. At night the Chameleon shrinks these cells to preserve heat, which makes the blue and white cells more prevalent, and easier to catch in a spot light. You are most likely to see them in trees or bushes where they hope to spend a safe night hidden from predators. They vary greatly in length – from 2.5 cm to 50 cm – so be sure to keep your eyes peeled and get ready to impress your whole group by spotting a chameleon, at night, while driving 30 mph! Just don’t expect to get a picture of this phenomenon; it probably won’t come out very well!

Come experience the African wild with us! Learn more about our African Safari trip here.

On March 4, 2013, Smithsonian magazine announced the 50 finalists from their 10th Annual Photo Contest.  The contest attracted over 37,000 photographs from all 50 states and 112 countries.  The photos easily transport you around the globe, stopping off in places like the Bac Son Valley in Vietnam, Sossusvlei Sand Dunes in Namibia, and the Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.  See a selection of travel photos below, and view the full 50 finalists here.

Which ones make you want to travel the world?

“Lone Acacia, Sossusvlei Sand Dunes.” Taken by Bob Bush (Altadena, CA). Photographed May 01, 2010, Sossusvlei, Namibia.

“River ferry operating in the early morning in Xiao Donjiang, China.” Taken by Teng Hin Khoo (Shah Alam, Malaysia). Photographed November 28, 2012, Xiao Donjiang, Hunan, China.

“Musicians arrive early at the bullring to take their places.” Taken by Raul Amaru Linares (Bogota, Colombia). Photographed October 2011, Quito, Ecuador.

“Monks releasing lanterns during Loy Krathong.” Taken by Daniel Nahabedian (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Photographed November 01, 2012, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

“Rice Terraces Close To Harvest Season.” Taken by Vo Anh Kiet (Tan Phu District HCM City, Vietnam). Photographed September 2011, Yen Bai Province, Vietnam.

“Puli Kali”- In the annual festival “Onam.” Taken by Indranil Sengupta (Hooghly, India). Photographed August 01, 2010, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

“A lone hiker viewed the path before him as the Milky Way rose in the night Sky.” Taken by Jason Hatfield (Lakewood, CO). Photographed May 01, 2012, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT.

“Bac Son Valley.” Taken by Hai Thinh Hoang (Hanoi, Vietnam). Photographed July 01, 2012, Bac Son, Lang Son, Vietnam.

“People harvesting salt the traditional way.” Taken by Giang Hai Hoang (Hanoi, Vietnam). Photographed August 1, 2012, Ninh Hoa district, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam.

Next time you are out for brunch, or even better, grabbing a cocktail in Venice, order a Bellini!  Originally concocted in Venice, Italy sometime between 1934 and 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani (the founder of Harry’s Bar), the Bellini’s popularity won it a permanent place on the menu, after having been originally created as a seasonal drink.  It got its name from Giovanni Bellini, the fifteenth century Venetian painter who used a color pink that Cipriani thought was recreated in his cocktail.

Image source: Wikipedia

Among the famous customers to frequent Harry’s Bar and sip on a Bellini made by Giuseppe Cipriani, are Charlie Chaplin, Barbara Hutton, Orson Welles, Truman Capote, and of course Ernest Hemingway.  Hemingway was writing Over the River and Into the Trees while staying in Venice and mentions Harry’s Bar many times.  When told that Hemingway gave Cipriani and his bar free promotion, he responded “It was me and my bar that promoted him.  They gave him the Nobel prize afterwards, not before.”

Image source: Wikipedia

When traveling to Venice these days, you can still stop off at Harry’s Bar, order a Bellini, and imagine the days when such visionary minds of the last century frequented the tables around you.  A Bellini at Harry’s Bar goes for approximately 18 Euros, but if you are just looking to be able to say you had a Bellini in Venice, you can get a non-alcoholic version in a bottle at the train station for a mere 2 Euros.  But beware; it doesn’t have as much history packed into the taste!

If you want to bring a bit of Italy to your brunch table, try the original recipe from Harry’s Bar!

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Ready to plan a getaway to Venice?  Travel with us and explore the ins and outs of this beautiful and magical city.  Learn more about our Hidden Venice tour here.

Written by Smithsonian traveler and last year’s Smithsonian Magazine’s photo contest grand prize winner photographer, Jia Han Dong.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Cuba is truly a dream destination for every photographer. I am glad to have had the chance to participate in the program: “Discover Cuba: It’s People and Culture” People-To-People Exchange Journey. The very day I received the invitation from Smithsonian, I just knew I had to be a part of it. It didn’t look like your typical “touristy”, sight-seeing only trip; it seemed to me like it would be an adventure filled with the promise of cultural exchange and meeting people from all walks of life in Cuba.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

The program accounted for all of our meals, save for one dinner and one lunch. For dinner, we were given a sheet of recommended “paladares” – privately owned restaurants, which were underground establishments a mere ten years ago. After Raul Castro called for “actualization of the economic model” (ie. economic reform), the Cuban government began encouraging self-employment, and more budding chefs received permits to run paladares. I, along with six other fellow travelers, chose a paladar owned by Fidel Castro’s ex chef. When ordering, we asked about Castro’s favorite dish. It turns out that he really liked fried shrimp, so a few of us decided to order some for ourselves.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

While we were waiting for our food, I took the opportunity to head to the kitchen and spend some time with the chef. I noticed at one point that he pulled off all the shrimp heads and set them aside, deep frying only the bodies. I commented that the head was the best part (many may disagree, but I’m in the company of Anthony Bourdain!). Everyone in the kitchen laughed in surprise and the chef deep fried a few for me. It was delicious: crispy on the outside and still quite juicy inside; I loved them. The chef patted my shoulder amicably and grinned. Later, he sent a plate of shrimp heads to our table.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

The entire meal was absolutely delightful and well prepared. The paladar was beautifully decorated, showcasing a picture of Fidel Castro with the chef displayed on the wall. Even with a bit of a language barrier, everyone there was incredibly accommodating and friendly. We spent a few wonderful hours with great food and even better company.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

During a separate excursion, we were introduced to the traditional Afro-Cuban Rumba dance. Developed in Mantanzas, Cuba, it is entirely different from ballroom Rumba. We were fortunate enough to be treated to a private performance by the world-renowned rumba group “Los Muñequitos de Matanzas” in their rehearsal hall.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

The group was formed in 1952 at a bar in Barrio Marina in Matanzas, Cuba, rather spontaneously: a group of youths had begun dancing with dishes and bottles to the rhythms of a playing song by Arsenio Rodríguez, emulating a style of what has come to be known as the “kitchen rumba”. The group “Los Muñequitos de Matanzas” is part of the living legend of African music in Cuba, famous not only throughout Cuba, but also worldwide. The gentleman you see here was helping to set up the drums and other props. He told me he was 93 and still dancing, right before giving me a killer handshake. I could only revel in his incredible physical strength at such an advanced age.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

On our last night in Havana, I was about to grab a taxi back to the hotel with two of my new friends from the tour when this gentleman came over and asked if I am Chinese. Once he got the confirmation, he was so excited that he gave me a warm hug and told me that he himself was half Chinese. Originally from Guang Dong Province in China, his father came to Cuba to look for tuna. Instead, his father found a wife in Havana. I was asked to wait just a moment, and he came back within moments carrying his family’s photo album. He showed me his father’s picture as well as a newspaper clip about his family’s history. There was an obvious and quick bond between us, and it was a shame that we didn’t have more time to talk and more common ground in languages we speak. But I had to get back to my friends waiting for me in the taxi. Looking back, I should have sent them off first and gotten to know my new friend.

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Photographed by Jia Han Dong

Thinking back on my time in Cuba, I’ve found that Cubans are an incredibly friendly yet proud people. Smithsonian’s tour was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to Cuba, see it with my own eyes, meet everyday people living out their lives, and to gather insight into their culture, heritage, history, pride, and how, despite countless barriers, we are inescapably similar.

For more pictures by Jia Han Dong and his Cuba adventure, check out our Facebook photo gallery here.***

To learn more about our Discover Cuba: Its People and Culture click here.