Lost love: Washington city plan

I thought that one of the things I liked about Washington was the city plan. It's based on a grid but with circles (eg Logan Circle) that look like stars as the diagonal streets radiate out of it. The East-West streets have letter names (eg P Street) and the North-South ones, numeral names (eg 14th Street). The diagonal avenues have State names (eg Florida Avenue). The city is divided in four quarters (NW, NE, SE, SW), originating from the Capitol.

I have the sense of orientation of a falling leaf, so I marvel at how easy it is to find one's way with such a system. You're at 4th and P NW and you want to go at 17th and U NE? Head East (in the direction where numeral names go down) and North (where letter names go up).

The circles and diagonal streets bring variety into what would be a monotonous city plan of right angles. It creates small parks or large intersections where the eye can take a larger view of the city.

That was my perception before. I have cooled off to Washington's city plan.

First, it's not applied rigorously. Follow me on 17th street NW as we cross P Street, Church Street, Q Street, Corcoran Street, R Street. Have you noticed something? Q street is not right after P street! It's probably because Church street is an interrupted street. Good explanation, but I get confused (and lost) anyway. And how can I go from Church street to Corcoran street if I don't know my way? It's back to map again as the street organization can't help me.

Second, the circles don't seem well organized. I rarely drive, but when West Wing makes fun of Dupont Circle on National TV, there must be a problem. For a pedestrian, they are also unpleasant as they create detours out there in the open where you can perfectly see that you're wasting your steps.

Third, those diagonal streets may vary the landscape but they also create many awkward corners. Are we supposed to cross here? To go over there? Is there enough time? What if I want to go there? It's places you have to get used to before being at ease and that's not good planning to me.