Did you ever see that commercial where some people are on a whale watching expedition and one woman leans down to get another piece of gum, because her nonlong-lasting gum has lost its flavor, and misses the whale? I felt a bit like that today in Rock Creek Park, though I was distracted instead by a conversation with a nice police officer who'd been sent to check on some suspicious people who'd taken up a position on a quiet strip of the parkway where Waterside Drive shoots off to head up Massachusetts Ave. (i.e., some young woman, a guy walking his dog, and me). On the plus side, I've never had such a peaceful stroll through the park, which was closed to non-Popemobile traffic. All I could hear was the gurgling of the creek and the chirping of birds (and the occasional helicopter and police siren). It was truly a religious experience. I will try to take some of that serenity with me during tomorrow's rush hour, as the Pope will be traveling across town to say Mass at Nationals Park. According to The Washington Post, the Pope will enter the park at 9:30, and gates will open to the faithful at 5:15 a.m.(!). Presumably that means the worst traffic and Metro crowds will be quite early. See information on road closures here.






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