After being on the road for the past SEVEN weeks, I have made it back to LA safe and sound! (FYI, I did use a plane to get back, but bought carbon offsets for the flight! Check out  http://carbonfund.org/ to learn more.)

So, now what? Is this the end of my Eco Trip blogging? I can assure you the answer is NO.

Though Marshana, Hedge, McGuire and I will no longer be snoozing in tight quarters together   and lugging around our thousand-pound bags (they seemed that heavy!)

  I still have a great deal to write about. I've seen, experienced and learned a lot over the past few weeks and will continue to post about my journey (and beyond!).

Besides, I still have to blog about the main destination of our Eco Trip: THE LIVE EARTH CONCERT!  Indeed, I have a lot to say about that event alone... what was neat  and quite frankly, revolting.

I also have been compiling a list of all my favorites (from restaurants in each city to the folks I met  ), so stay tuned for those blogs!

Thank you for your support throughout my ECO TRIP journey. I appreciate your patience as I continue to post updates! Ciao for now! Leslie  

(FYI--you can subscribe to my RSS feed or request to be on my mailing list via leslieecotrip@hotmail.com)

Can it be?? Could the Eco Trippers be in NEW YORK CITY already?!?!?!  Yes, it is true!! We have safely arrived to our last city on this ultimate environmental road trip.

I feel completely horrible that I have yet to even update my Washington, D.C. blog though! These last few days have been flying by...

I WILL bring you up to date SOON, though, so please stay tuned! Meanwhile, I hope you had a wonderful 4^th of July.  I can hardly believe the LIVE EARTH concert is in 2 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BIKES Biking around DC was OK—  I saw designated paths in parts of the city, which was nice, but Georgetown is TOUGH to navigate around via bike. The streets are typically jammed with vehicles ranging in all sizes ...from Vespas  to Hummers 

METRO The METRO rocks (minus the fact that there is no stop Georgetown, and it is somewhat infrequent compared to the NYC subway). But it’s clean, fast & efficient.

BUSES Buses are not bad—they take you specifically where you need to go, but perhaps not as often as you’d like  

CABS  be careful! Try to establish a rate before you get in a cab. Once Marshana and McGuire took a cab that cost $12 for one mile, while Hedge and I got downtown in one that cost half the price!

CARS & ECO-ALTERNATIVES Of course you can drive your own car, but be prepared to sit in traffic and pay ungodly amounts to park (tickets are frequently issued too, as I recall...)  While in DC I found out that Enterprise Rent-A-Car established an E85/FlexFuel Branch in Washington, D.C. to show their nationwide commitment to to alternative fuels and technologies.   YAY!

Despite the countless interests groups and non-profits headquartered there, it is SO OBVIOUS that DC is a city of contrasts. Just a few blocks from the White House and Capitol Hill roam some of the poorest of the poor in our nation. Though I appreciate that our country serves others abroad, I can’t help but wonder who will help out our brothers and sisters in need here at home.

I also noticed that the city has tons of gentrification.  Though it’s exciting to see formerly depleted areas renovated into places that thrive, it doesn’t solve the issue of poverty.

During my trip I met with a dear friend and former professor (Mark Bergel) who launched an organization called A WIDER CIRCLE. His mission is to empower children and adults to break the cycles of poverty and poor health. This also requires a shift in priority that motivates us to no longer tolerate the tragic living conditions that exist.

By working together, he knows we can make this world a place where every person has the opportunity to live well and to be fully human.  Check out how: http://awidercircle.org/vision.htm

The Eco Trippers and I have made it safely to Washington, DC! This city marks our 9th city out of 10 on our cross-country Eco Trip!! Stay tuned for updates including our experience at the ECO EXPO  and the fun people we've met in the Nation's Capital thus far! How does DC measure up to other cities in terms of being ECO-FRIENDLY and how is its public transportation??? Come back to find out soon! Plus, I'll fill you in on our Environmental TRUTH Campaign on the National Mall this Monday (July 2)!    What happened to Hedge's lens??? You'll find out soon!

Off to explore more...

Leslie :)

PS: I'll keep you posted on our latest TV interviews, too