Despite what looks like too many cars in the parking lots here at WC, only 61 percent of the 1331 enrolled undergraduates have a registered car, according to Public Safety and the Registrar's Office.
Washington College boasts of having major cities in a close proximity, with Philadelphia 84 miles away and Baltimore only 75, but how are the other 510 students able to take advantage of our great location?
The student shuttle provided by the school is the only answer. According to Diane Larrimore of Student Affairs, to reserve a spot on the regular weekend shuttle schedule one has to contact Transportation Secretary Dolly Robbins on campus at 7426, pay five dollars in exact change and be ready to leave on time.
Friday's shuttle leaves in front of the CAC at 4 p.m. to drop off students at the Annapolis Mall and the New Carrollton Metro Station. Likewise, on Saturdays a shuttle leaves at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the same locations, picking up students returning on the 4 p.m. shuttle.
Sunday shuttles pick up students at the Metro Station at 5:30 p.m. and the Mall at 6 p.m. Knowing that the Metro Station provides transport into Baltimore, there is nothing stopping anyone from getting to the Inner Harbor like I did a few weekends ago (except I had a car and no concept of the WC Shuttle System). My primary goal was to experience the National Aquarium, not knowing of course that on Friday nights after 5 p.m. the ticket prices drop from $17.50 to just $5.
Driving that Saturday into "The Greatest City in America" (as a city bench proudly proclaimed, naive to the world beyond Calvert Street) I stopped at the first parking lot I could find, not prepared for the $16 all day ticket fee and instead rode into the next one to discover The Gallery Garage was four dollars more.
Accepting financial defeat, I complied with parking and emerged out on the streets of the Inner Harbor, first heading into the Baltimore Harborplace. This harbor side mall was broken up into two separate buildings and provided patrons with shops, restaurants, and a food court.
Adjusting to civilization, I browsed the stores, appreciating their novelty (unimpressed as I am from King of Prussia) and jumped at the opportunity to have lunch at Johnny Rockets in the food court.
After a vintage fast food experience of chili fries and a root beer float at a reasonable price, I decided that I should make my way to the Aquarium, as that was my original goal not to be distracted by the fantastic Baltimore Inner Harbor culture on a Saturday afternoon.
Apparently I was not the only one interested in the Aquarium as timed schedules were already into effect and I had to wait for 45 minutes until my ticket would allow me to enter (moral: go there first on a crowded day or buy your tickets online). I spent this time walking around and perusing the extravagant Barnes and Noble Bookstore between the ESPN Zone and the Hard Rock Cafe.
I looked like I was interested in buying books until I used the bathroom and made it back outside to await entrance into the Aquarium. And it was worth the wait.
The new Dolphin Show was incredible, I realized, while strapped into my seat, mesmerized by the awe inspiring antics of these amusing mammals.
After the half-hour show worth more than half of what I paid for the ticket, I was herded with the crowd of Nemo-crazed families eager for a look at the fish. Hanging back, I enjoyed the sights of the world not usually visible to us, and after two hours in the dim-lit building I emerged satisfied with my dry under-water experience.
Learning that the Hard Rock Cafe did not take reservations, I decided to take a risk with the next-door new movie ride called Passport: Voyages of Discovery. This moving seats motion picture adventure allows customers a trip through time investigating the history of Rome, Jerusalem, the Ocean Floor, or good ol' America.
I opted for the last, strapping in for a lame forty minute barrage of patriotic propaganda costing me $13.50. The few moments of mist spraying, fan blowing, seat shaking did not satisfy my need for new-age entertainment.
Disappointed, I watched the sun set over surprisingly talented karaoke outside the Hard Rock Cafe as tables were cleared for my dinner. The meal for two, costing around fifty dollars complete with an appetizer, dessert, and tip, was reasonably priced for the above average quality of the food. Blocking out the loud rock videos and obnoxious drunks at the bar was the challenge.
Regardless, the dinner was a pleasant end cap on an exciting day spent in Baltimore, and I hope you would be able to do the same, but be sure to call ahead for the first come, first serve shuttle service.
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