It is a while since we have been in to DC to explore a new area. Today we chose Union Market - billed as Washington DC's farmers market.
It is a new building adjacent to a rather run down area alongside the railway tracks as they come out from Union station. The old market area, in addition to a building which was formerly a wholesale fruit and vegetable market, seemed to comprise a series of rather dubious, unhygienic looking and dingy lock-ups with unappealing signs such as 'Goat, slaughtered daily on our farm!'
In the new Union Market the mood was altogether different. Very modern stainless steel counters and many deli style shops and stalls offering an eclectic mix of cooked foods. We imagined that the new and old markets might be uneasy neighbors with the new market being a 'gentrification' of the old working market area.
The fish stall featured some rather unusual offerings which may have been more at home in an aquarium..
We wandered back to the metro and travelled one stop to Union Station.
We have travelled from here several times but have never really looked at the old station building, which has a striking interior..
The station was built in 1908 and has experienced several major renovations, the current one is to replace the gold leaf on the barrel ceilings - it was damaged during the 2011 earthquake.
Long journeys start from here, as well as the fairly short journey to New York which we have done, trains were departing today for more distant destinations such as Chicago, Miami and Boston.
The market does look rather exotic. No goat meat for you then? I remember looking around the station while you and Emma stayed with the bags. They were working on it then. One of those shops was called Maggies.
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