Washington DC: a stately city at the heart of American culture

"You might think of New York with its energy and shopping, or Chicago with its nightlife and great food, or Boston for history, Irishness, and craic - but in Washington you get it all."

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On a warm spring morning, I woke early (thanks, jetlag), made coffee, showered, and set off on a walk. I dodged early morning cyclists and sleepy pigeons on my leisurely stroll, and 20 minutes after leaving my hotel, I turned my phone around to take a selfie in front of the White House.

Despite the tight security, you can get quite close to the world’s most famous presidential residence, and I took some group photos for my fellow early risers and paused to watch the permanent protesters set up their stalls and manifestos.