Our stay in Washington was a delight. The home we rented was a first floor, one bedroom with a spacious open kitchen, dining, living area. Our hosts, Patrick and Jen and their two great boys were very helpful and prepared the kitchen with our breakfast request so we didn't have to go shopping the day we arrived. There is a fine grocery store just two blocks away so getting things for the rest of our two weeks was easy.

Our hosts were very helpful. They answered all our questions, left us a book filled with menus and maps and Metro tickets, and were always available and always pleasant, genuinely caring hosts.The best thing was their gift of two tickets to the new African American Museum which had opened just as we arrived. Tickets for January were the first available so we were very grateful for the chance to see one of the most moving museums in D.C. ... in fact, in the country.

Four blocks away is 8th Street with every kind of eating place and another two blocks down 7th takes you to the Eastern Market. Everything is easily accessible by Metro and we soon learned to depend on it daily. No need to rent a car. Bikes are available for rent near every Metro station and at least near the Potomac Station, daily rental cars were available.

Our enjoyment was dependent on our hosts, our lovely apartment, the fantastic neighborhood, our proximity to the Metro and the fact that Washington is a truly great city. We've visited many capitals in other countries but this is the most people focused. You leave proud to be an American, proud that there has been created a capital "of the people, for the people and by the people."