Two On in the Fourth

We finally made it to D.C. with some clever maneuvering. At this point we had to go it on our own, since the Washington Nationals ballpark did not exist at the time our guidebook was published. The chapter on the Montreal Expos proved to be not particularly helpful here. MB felt badly for the Expos (due to their small fan base and the way things went down when the franchise got moved) and was just hoping that the Nationals had fans of their own. As we approached our destination significantly behind schedule, MB contacted hotels in an attempt to find one close to the stadium. This is how MB’s end of the conversation went:

MB: Yes, I’d like to book a room for tonight…Uh huh. And how far are you from Nationals Park?...It’s where the Washington Nationals play….The Major League Baseball team…Washington Nationals…No, not the National Cathedral….Not National Parks…Hold on, I think I have the address here. Yes, it’s on South Capitol Street…The Washington Nationals. It’s a baseball team….Okay, I’ll have to call you back. Click.

It is amazing how many people who work in Washington, D.C., have either never heard of the Washington Nationals or have no idea where they play. Here they are working in the nation’s capital and they know nothing about the nation’s favorite pastime? Who are these people?!

Fast forward to the fourth inning, or as we like to call it, arrival time at Nationals Park. We found the ballpark with some well-placed signs and a whole lotta luck. Parking was another matter. The structure we pulled into turned out to be for season ticket holders only, but by some miracle the parking attendant took pity on us and allowed us to find a spot. Shout out to the young man who let us in and didn’t charge us the $40 the lot down the street was charging.

Nationals Park did not disappoint. We bought our tickets at the window and entered through the front gate, which leads to the main concourse and a view from left center field. On our traditional once-around lap of the stadium, we met a lot of fans and employees who asked us about our trip and wished us well. We picked up some dining tips and headed for our cheap seats, which were...wait for it…two rows from the top row. By the time we were settled in, the 6th inning was in progress. When you see MB, ask her how she scored that game. Let’s hope this is our shortest game on the road trip…

On the plus side, we were treated to Friday night fireworks after the game. The show proved impressive, though much shorter than the Anaheim display. After the fireworks, we got another bonus with a beautiful up-close view of the Capitol and the Washington Monument all lit up. After intense discussion, we ranked Nationals Park #2, right below Rangers Ballpark. All the people we met in Washington were gracious and friendly (though not particularly baseball-savvy). And MB was relieved to find that Nationals fans cheer loudly and enthusiastically for their team.

Additional shout outs to the Nationals Park designers, who gave all the food and merchandise vendors baseball-themed names, and the store security guy who thought we were on a college road trip. I seriously thought MB might kiss him. A GARGANTUAN reverse shout out to all the people who told us it takes 8 hours to get from Atlanta to Washington, D.C.