I must admit, the idea of staying at a bed and breakfast never appealed to me. That is, until I visited the Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Here, I experienced a stay unlike any other. My innkeeper, Kristin, was beyond hospitable. The owner, Monique Greenwood, is probably a soul-mate. I am moved and changed and more than anything else, connected.
I’m not quite sure how to explain my stay. I walked into a gorgeous mansion located on 16th Street in Dupont Circle. It was five floors and decorated in warm and welcoming colors. Kristin brought all of my belongings to my room and treated me as if I was a long lost friend.
Monique was such a delight to meet the next morning. She is the former Editor in Chief of Essence magazine, who left her profession in order to pursue her passion: cooking, decorating and serving others. By doing so, she was able to expand her inn keeping business to multiple locations, open a cafe, author a biography and go into a successful commercial real estate venture. To say that she is an inspiration would be an understatement. She is a true role model.
Monique dedicated her D.C. mansion to honor literature – so each guest room is designed to reflect an author or a specific genre. There’s the Langston Hughes suite, the Zora Neal Hurston suite, the Romance suite and even an Inspiration room. Each room was designed and appointed by Monique herself, with both modern and antique touches.
I have completed and cut my latest travel video, and while I normally like to tell my travel story, I felt it was important to let Monique walk the viewer through her property. I hope you enjoy it. . . and I hope that if you were like me, and had a pre-conceived notion about bed and breakfasts, that you allow a place like the Akwaaba change your mind.
Food With My Friends 