Washington

It was clear and sunny when I landed in Washington, as you can tell from this picture of the Capitol in the golden light of dusk. And cold -- mid thirties which is chilly anywhere, but in Washington feels like the South Pole.

I think that whole built-on-top-of-a-swamp issue that makes the city so unbearable in the summer also makes it feel so much colder in the winter than the temperatures would indicate. It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow and Monday and I almost left my down coat at home, thinking I could compensate with layers.

What can I say? I'm sick and not thinking clearly. I have been to Washington in the winter many times, and I have never not been chilled to the bone. So I brought the coat. And a scarf. And gloves. All of which I put on within one block of my hotel when I went out this afternoon in search of a drugstore.