Discovering a new area in Virginia

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pictures, postaday2014, travel, Virginia

My husband’s new client has taken us to a new part of Virginia; not far from Reston, but it definitely has a distinct flavor different from my usual environment.

The area is called the Mosaic District in Fairfax county. It is a microcosm of boutiques, organic markets and old fashioned services such as an outstanding barber shop, a gorgeous tea shop and a wonderful stationary store.

The area is tiny, when I left the hotel to walk the perimeter, I quickly found my way back to the front of the hotel and not only because I walk really, really fast. It is perhaps four square blocks of real estate or 16 blocks in total. What was the most striking to me is when I walked past the last block of the Mosaic District; I was reunited with the flavor of Reston Virginia because it actually isn’t too far away. If I remember the drive correctly, we are about six exits farther away down the highway.

I do like this small haven of creative and eclectic shops and restaurants; it feels like a little vacation getaway hidden away, yet in plain sight.

Arlington Virginia

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pictures, postaday2014, Virginia

Today I am wandering around Arlington, Virginia. Architecturally it seems to be a hodge-podge of various architectural styles and inclinations making for an eclectic mix that is rather unique in my opinion. I do love all of the tulips in bloom, with the crisp chill still present in the air, the tulips will be in bloom for quite a while which is a boon to the residents of Arlington because who doesn’t love tulips?

So far I have visited Reston, Herndon, Chantilly; driven through Fairfax and now walking around Arlington. All of these areas are charming in their own way; everything seems so new compared to Boston or even New York City. I get the sense of large areas and spread out vistas as opposed to everything built upwards due to limited space as we have up north in the two cities that I know best.

These visits down to Virginia has given me the chance to get to know a part of the States that I had previously sped through on my way further south, it was always a point on a map, now I am getting familiar with this point and it is rather pleasant.

Springtime in Virginia

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pollen, postaday2014, spring, Virginia

I spent a good part of the day taking in the beauty of various neighborhoods in the surrounding Herndon and Reston areas of Northern Virginia with my husband and Jack; getting an idea of the lay of the land. I have to say that the landscaping, everywhere we visited, was top notch, everything well groomed and immaculately pruned and maintained, the gardener in me was greatly impressed.

However, as much as I love the blooms and the beauty of it all, as we were walking outside and I noticed petals and pollen swarming around our heads, I couldn’t help but think of the latest headline that I saw with the word vortex in it; the upcoming pollen vortex. Since we had been assaulted by those nasty polar vortices, all the new growth, instead of appearing in a staggered manner as usual, was going to all appear, simultaneously and thus the pollen vortex, all pollen at all times. I am not sure if I am being psychosomatic but my nose is feeling a little stuffed at the moment. 😀