Journey From Hell

What an anti-climax! Flight was delayed by about an hour, but it was quite pleasant except for the behaviour of some vulture-like passengers as soon as they see some spare window seats with extra leg-room. A woman who was originally sat in the seat next to me kept moaning about her seat, when I was considerably bigger than her (all muscle of course) and I was stretched out quite happily. She couldn't get out her £30. quick enough when she was told she could move to the available seats for this extra fee. Good riddance I thought. At Heathrow, seemed like miles of corridors to walk down before collecting baggage and getting through Customs. Then on to the packed Underground to South Kensington, STAIRS, change for another Tube to Victoria, STAIRS, then to Victoria overground Station.....STAIRS! At Beckenham Junction another 15 minute walk to home. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!! It's not all bad though, I have had a great experience, been on a real 'Journey', as they would say on something like I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! If there was anyone out there reading this Blog, who didn't die of boredom, thanks.

3 hours in Baltimore

I am writing this whilst waiting at Washington Airport for my flight home - the weather is so bad now that I can't even see the planes out of the departure gate windows! Oh well, anyway as I didn't need to drop off my hired car until 5pm, and as I have seen most of what I wanted to see in Washington, I decided to drive the 60 miles or so to Baltimore. I originally planned to go to Baltimore before Washington but I didn't know if I could spare the time to go there. I am glad I went to Baltimore and wish I could have spent more time there. I went on a boat trip around the Inner Harbour - the Captain on learning I was English, pointed out that we will see Fort McHenry - which was the last time the British tried and failed to invade during the War of Independence. Baltimore was said to be a dump prior to about 20 years ago but the waterfront has benefited from much redevelopment. Once again I found a tall building from which I could overlook the City, and oh, I met and shook hands with a guy wearing an Arsenal top - 3,500 miles away from the Emirates Stadium! After enjoying an Iced Orange Custard, drove to Dulles Airport. I have loved driving in America - I have driven about 700 miles and crossed the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia & the District of Columbia. Initially it was a bit scary driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, and especially not having driven an Automatic Car before, but after a while it becomes second nature. Anyway, unfortunately now heading for home - looks like my flight will be delayed...
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Seen it, done it, got the Fridge Magnet!

The day started strangely - I arrived in Washington and headed straight for the Old Post Office, getting directions from a woman at an information booth. What's strange about that? Well the woman had a Beard!! Anyway that didn't put me off my breakfast (and it turned out its all I had all day) of a Steak and Cheese Paninni. The Chinese woman who served me recognised my obligatory Arsenalwear (I just made up a word) only to tell me that she liked and had been to Manchester United. I told her that I didn't like them, and I said that before they prepared my food which could have been risky! The Old Post Office is now a shopping and eating place but has a high Tower with good views across the City, which is why I went there. Then at 3pm I had a reserved ticket to go up to the top of the Washington Monument. I originally thought it would be like our Cleopatra's Needle or Nelson's Column - but it is massive. It was in fact the highest building in the World at one point. Once again, fantastic views - especially looking towards the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial. Stopping frequently to get ice cold bottled water at $2-3 a time, I walked past the World War 2, Korean War + Vietnam War Memorials up to the Lincoln Memorial. As well as the famous statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting in a chair, there is that iconic view looking across the reflecting pool towards the Washington Monument - I really felt privileged to see that. By this time it was getting into early evening, and as my blister was starting to make me limp I headed back to the Hotel. What a day!
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Apollo Creed

Going back to the Rocky films, in one of his fights Rocky's eyelid was so swollen that he couldn't see out of it. He then requested his trainer to cut it so he could carry on fighting. Well, I had to perform a similarly heroic action this morning in relation to a large blister on the soul of my foot! Sorry if you are just about to have your dinner....
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Hail to the Chief

I drove a few miles to Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station from where I could get a Train into Washington. Within a few minutes from leaving Union Station the Capitol Building comes into view, and it is truly magnificent. I went in the Visitors Centre there and had a look around. One of the amusing things I read was that the Americans went into the then British Territory in Canada and looted York (now Toronto), so in retaliation the British sailed into Washington and inflicted damage to the Capitol and other Administrative Buildings and then left again! From the Capitol there is an underground tunnel to the Library of Congress, which has a very decorative interior and an impressive Reading Room. I met a Scouser in there, (I was wearing an Arsenal top once again) but I kept my hand on my wallet. I ended up in the National Air & Space Museum for a few hours, passing the Supreme Court on the way. It is extremely hot once again, in the 90's, so I have had to resort to some desperate measures......that's right, wear a Baseball Cap! I don't think I am lacking hair enough yet to wear it, because men seem to wear caps when they are going bald. I must admit I started to like wearing it but that's probably because I couldn't see what a berk I looked! Ignoring the National Monument because I have a ticket to go up it tomorrow, I finished the day at The White House. You can't get too close to it of course because of security, and you can only go on the tour inside if you arrange it through a Congressman/Senator. I am sure I see Obama look out of the window at me and shout 'Goooooonerrr'.......

Poverty

The car park suggested by the City's website seemed to be miles away from the centre of Philadelphia. But this was a blessing in disguise because I spotted on the Delaware River nearby the Battleship USS New Jersey, so I took a look around. Also conveniently there was a Ferry Service across the river. Into Philly there was once again some interesting buildings like the City Hall, as well as some fantastic skyscrapers. It was however noticeable that there is more poverty here than in any place I have been to on this trip so far. I passed maybe 100 people in a park sitting on benches with what was probably all their worldly belongings - I was very wary of being robbed. Most disturbingly, when I was in McDonald's (getting another salad of course!) a woman walked in off the street and started looking through the rubbish bin for food, and there was a bit of a slanging match when the staff escorted her off the premises. It nearly put me off my Burger...sorry, I mean my salad! On to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell - it's a Bell with a crack in it but it is symbolic of Americas independence. There was one more sight I went to see in this very historically important City - that's right, the Rocky Statue! It is situated near the Arts Museum, the steps up to which in one of the films Rocky runs up and jumps up and down with his arms in the air. Even though it was 97 degrees, I promise you all that I did run up the steps, although I wasn't brave enough to jump up and down with my arms aloft because there was a lot of people around! When I had recovered about an hour afterwards, I did the 3 hour drive to Washington.
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Into Philly

I am just about to check-out of Crosslands Motel in Maple Shade and drive into the centre of Philadelphia, apparently the 6th largest city in America.
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