Talk:Tours

From Wikimania 2012 • Washington, D.C., USA

Pick-up and drop-off points

Hi. Could someone tell me what the pick-up and drop-off locations will be? In the sense, where we'll be gathering to depart of each tour, vice versa? Just to plan my travel/logistics ahead. Thanks! Rehman (talk) 13:01, 1 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Probably the venue, such as lobby of the Marvin Center, and we can travel together (bring your SmarTrip metro card or some cash for the metro or bus). We could have a second meeting time at NARA etc. if people want to meet us there. Aude (talk) 19:30, 1 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Aude, that'll be great! After each site, will we be traveling back to GWU together? And also, will the 3 tours be carried out continuously (i.e. GWU>Capitol>Archives>Cemetery>GWU) on the same day? Or do we have to get back to GWU after each site? Thanks. Rehman (talk) 02:23, 2 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
You don't have to do anything. ;-) It's about a 20–25 minute walk from the Capitol to the National Archives, and not much less (though less walking in the heat) by Metro, depending on how quickly the trains come. If you want to go back to GWU between these, you might have to leave fairly soon after you return. If you are going to both, maybe it would be a better idea to just use the time in between to grab lunch somewhere in the area around the Mall or Chinatown. You could all (or mostly) do that as a group, if that's what people want. Dominic (talk) 21:30, 3 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

GWU metro

Is GWU metro is in fact Foggy Bottom Metro ? Benoit Rochon (talk) 22:05, 8 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Yes it is. It's 2 blocks away. For the lazy, the #32 and #36 metrobus are even more direct and easier than the metro train. They stop on the street corner (Pennsylvania Ave & 21st St) right by the venue and drop off right in front of the National Archives and right next to the Capitol and Library of Congress. It's $1.60 with a smartrip card and a little more with cash. (bus driver gives no change) I'll see if I can make a map with the bus route and such. Aude (talk) 22:41, 8 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Can I buy a smartrip card for 1 week (Monday to Sunday), if yes, how much and where can I buy it ? Benoit Rochon (talk) 23:44, 8 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Arhives

"meet at the tour entrance of the National Archives (on Constitution Ave); meet at the security on the researcher entrance (Pennsylvania Ave) and be sure to bring photo ID for a visitor pass." - so which is it? Johnbod (talk) 06:33, 10 July 2012 (UTC


Badly Organized Tours

The conference tours suffered from lack of organization from the beginning. The tours were poorly organized, badly publicized, not properly described etc.

I have signed up to the NARA conservation lab tour. The description of which included two meeting points - a block apart from each other (one on Pensilvania ave and one on constitution avenue) both of which were wrong - the group met elsewhere resulting in a delay trying to find the participants.

The tour description listed that a photo ID is required and an official one - government one. I thought a driving license (sufficient for driving in the US) with a photo ID suffices but no. After having passed security checks (checking bags and detectors as in airport) And having to wait a bit longer, I was informed that only a passport is acceptable, and denied entrance to the tour, thus waiting a full hour and a half (traveling and waiting) due to the fact that the tour organizer is clueless.

I am not blaming the security staff there- they have their regulations, and need to follow them. But how hard would it be for the organizers to do simple basic homework and ask what is required for a foreign tourist to enter.

And I was not the only wikipedian disallowed from entering, Osama was also kept out.

My recommendation to you all - if this tour is any indication - do not bother to go on any other tours. Deror avi (talk) 19:48, 10 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I also tried both entrances, but gave up when I saw the queue at the tour one. Since I also only had my driving licence I apparently wouldn't have got in anyway. It was the same story at the Capitol tour, which didn't mention the 20 minute queue and that you would have to eat (at 10.15) or throw away your lunch, if you had it with you. Johnbod (talk) 04:14, 11 July 2012 (UTC)[reply]