We had a few hours' layover in DC; plenty of time to check our bags, get some lunch, and settle in to the Ambassador Lounge, to which we are entitled by virtue of traveling in a sleeper.  We ate lunch at Au Bon Pain, which was open.  The last few times we've been through here it has been closed--and the last time it looked to me like it was closed permanently.  (My sandwich was not as good as I would have expected from Au Bon Pain, and the problem was the bread, which was really not very Bon at all. Surprising.) Quite a few shops were open today that have not been open in the recent past; business apparently picking up again.  That's good news.

After we checked into the lounge (in line behind a young woman who was wearing something that I swear to you looked like a bathing suit (two pieces with a tank top, but the shorts did not qualify as shorts.  They might have been underpants, even).  Amazing.  I am obviously getting old, as I was rather appalled.  That was utterly inappropriate "clothing" to be wearing in public and for traveling on a train.   She had a toddler with her, and when the clerk asked her if she wanted assistance from a Red Cap, and, when Ms. Bathing Suit said yes, the clerk asked her:  

"Do you have an infant with you?"  

"What?"  

"Are you traveling with an infant"?  

"What?"  

"Do you have a baby with you?"  

"Oh, yes."  

I swear the young woman did not know the word "infant."  I was greatly surprised. For the second time.

Since we had a couple of hours, I went out to take a walk down to the Capitol, where there is a Virtual geocache, and then on to the Library of Congress, where there is another one.  I was curious to see what the security would be like around the Capitol, and you really can't get very close in a car, but there was no problem walking down there.  I walked right by the staircase where the madness occurred in January.  You can't walk up it any more, but there are signs everywhere to lead you to the Visitor's Center, where you can sign up to take a tour.  They are still running tours of the Capitol, which I think is great.  Monday through Friday 9-4:30, I think--but not on Labor Day.  That was fine: I didn't have time for that anyway.

Back to the station with an hour or so to go before boarding time.  They did actually board quite early (about 3:15 for a 4:05 departure), as it happened.  The train originates here and is an overnight to Chicago, so they can board everyone early and avoid a massive rush.  Our sleeping car attendant has been by to take our dinner order, and the train left right on time.  We hope to arrive in Chicago tomorrow on time, but we have something like 5 hours' layover there, so we'll be fine.  Next up is the California Zephyr--the train through the Rockies.