So my first two days at work are in the history books. I am still in orientation mode, but I can tell you that this organization is full of talent. The WWF is doing really meaningful work around the world. Please visit their website to learn more about their 19 priority areas.
I am still trying to catch up on my blog entries! Today was actually day 211, so I am 13 days behind in my writing. Oh, by the way, if you are at the supermarket this week and see a magazine called Woman’s World, there should be a story in this week’s edition about the Year of Giving. I haven’t gotten to the store yet to check it out but am going tonight, so I will let you know.
Alexander on his pedicab (photo: Reed)
Day 198 was interesting. I spent the entire day over at my brother and his wife’s house dealing with my sick computer. At 11:00pm we were still running into dead-ends. I hadn’t given my $10 away so I grabbed my things and headed back to DC in hopes to find someone along the way to give the $10 to.
Right off of Pennsylvania Avenue near James Monroe Park I spotted a pedicab waiting to pick up a late night fare in front of Kinkead’s restaurant. I parked the car and walked over and introduced myself to Alexander.
After a career as a military air traffic controller, he tells me that he has been pedaling for the past three years for a company called DC Pedicab. “We’re the original pedicab company in DC, we started four years ago,” he tells me. It’s a nice alternative to a traditional cab. You slow down your travel and actually can take in some of the rich history of our nation’s capital. While Alexander is pedaling away he likes to share some of that rich history with his customers. After an hour and a half of chatting with him I can assure you that he is very knowledgeable about the city.
photo: Reed
Fares typically run about $15-$30, but this all depends on how far and how many people he is pulling. “I actually charge a little more if the customer is considerably overweight too. It’s a lot more work!” And he is a good judge of weight. He said he could guess my weight and what do you know, he guessed mine within five pounds!
I asked him what his longest fare was and he said he once took a wounded veteran from the centerfield entrance at the new Nationals Stadium all the way to Walter Reid Medical Center. How much? $150!
Alexander found this job on Craigslist. “I like it. I pay a monthly fee for the pedicab and then I can work the hours that I want.” He says that he earns good money and stays in shape. He also likes that he gets to meet all different kinds of people. “You never know who you are going to meet. I even drove Sir Richard Branson around at the Virgin concert at Pimlico.” Here Alexander talks about another very memorable fare that he had.
We sat and talked for a long time about a myriad of topics. From what he was doing the day MLK was assassinated and racial tensions in America to what it was like growing up in a Polish-American household in Bridgeport, Connecticut (his mother was first generation and his father second generation.) Not to mention all the DC history he shared with me.
If you live here or will be in the DC area, I encourage you to give Alexander a call. You could do a romantic night out on the town or maybe an hour-long guided tour of Washington. He offered a special rate of $45/hour (please tip him on top of this!) for the readers of the Year of Giving. Trust me it will be worth it! He can be reached at 202-531-7432.
Almost forgot, his $10 went on his metro card. Sometimes Alexander wants to sit back and relax when he travels!
Year of Giving 