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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Liberty

I had just the morning left in NYC because I had to check-out by 11 o'clock, although I could leave my car in the Hotel car park for a few hours afterwards. So back down to Battery Park and a visit to the Statue of Liberty. Once again, I had been here before but as with the Empire State Building its one of those places you feel you must go to. The Statue is of course very impressive - but what it symbolises is even more impressive - which probably makes it the number 1 terrorist target in the world. Different to when I last visited, you can now go all the way up to the actual crown of the statue - but this is restricted to very limited numbers and those who planned well in advance and reserved a place - which I didn't. It's probably just as well because you would have to climb hundreds of steps and I probably wouldn't have made it! Then farewell Howard Johnson Express Inn - it was ok but the wi-fi connection was rubbish, maybe because my room was in the basement! Driving to Philadelphia, my sat-nav took me through Midtown Manhattan past the Empire State Building and through the New Jersey Turnpike where Tony Soprano takes a ticket in the opening credits of the Sopranos. Because I hadn't eaten and was low on petrol I ventured into New Jersey, walked into a McD's, saw the clientele and the way they looked at me, and walked straight back to the car again! Because of all my rushing around and the heat, (90+ degrees) I decided to have an early night so I could plan my day in Philadelphia.

Nutter!!

Here is a picture of a bloke who came up to me in Broadway, pointed at me and said 'You're dead!' From my photo it looks like he was saying the same thing to somebody else! If he was trying to scare me he obviously didn't know that I was brought up in Walthamstow!!
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Farewell NYC

I have to leave New York today and drive 100 miles to Philadelphia. When I last came here I was desperate to come back - well I did. Although there are a few places I wanted to see which I couldn't because of lack of time, I can handle not coming back here for a few years. When they finish the Freedom Tower I will come back - earlier if I win the Euro Lottery and come back to search for an Appartment overlooking Central Park!
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Battered in Battery Park

Started the day with a real local delicacy - Egg Benedict - English Muffins, Poached Egg, Canadian Bacon, Hollandaise Sauce and served with chopped Potato! The plan for today was to just pass through Ground Zero then go on to Downtown Manhattan and go on a sightseeing Cruise. Well, when I visited Ground Zero 5 years ago, it was just a sad hole in the ground. However, now you can see the first maybe 10 storeys of 2 new skyscrapers being built. There is also now a Memorial Centre in which they show short films relating to 9/11 as well as stories of some of those involved. There were also items that were found in the wreckage - one in particular I remember is two guns which had melted and fused together. Continuing walking around the large building site, I ended up in No.2 World Trade Centre in which there was a very trendy eating and shopping area right next to the Hudson River and Battery Park. Battery Park is from where you get the Ferry to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. Anyhow, about 45 minutes before my Liberty Harbour Cruise was due to leave, yeh you guessed it, it started to rain, and hard! I sat on a park bench with my umbrella trying to keep dry but my feet were soaked. The rain stopped just before the Cruise was meant to start, but the Cruise was cancelled! Finished the day exploring Wall Street and the downtown parts of Broadway and Tribeca . Apparently there have been record high temperatures in recent weeks and then followed by some huge thunderstorms. The weather is due to improve and get into the mid 90s. Big news here is Mel Gibson's drunken threats to his Wife!

On a lighter note....

You make up the caption......

Bird's Eye View

I met this bird at the top of the Empire State Building.....

Ground Zero

Just been to Ground Zero and the Memorial Centre - very moving. Two big Towers, including the 'Freedom Tower', are well on their way to being built. The people who were responsible for the destruction of the old Twin Towers are still hiding in caves - that says it all really....

Top Of The World

Set off early yesterday morning because I was heading for the Empire State Building where the queues are said to be 'legendary'. I did the right thing because I got there just after it opened and I was up on the 86th Floor pretty quickly. I have been here before, but the views still amaze me. I am sorry everybody, but you will realise (especially from seeing my pictures) that I like views from high places and love high buildings. Perhaps it's because my Dad is a Builder that I appreciate the architecture and just marvel at how this 'Forest' of great structures are built. Different to when I last came here, for a bit extra money you can now go up to the 102nd Floor of the building. For those anoraks out there, the 102nd Floor is 1250 feet up (381 metres) or about a quarter of a mile! Once again, my Arsenal shirt proved an 'ice-breaker' - I talked to some English Women who live only a few miles from me and a Security Guard got speaking to me because his Wife loves 'Soccer'. When we talked about USA's team, he said that they were getting better but needed to buy some more players! Back to the view, I love all the straight lines of the buildings and even Central Park is a rectangle, each side lined with perfect lines of skyscrapers. On exiting the ESB it started to rain heavily, although after what I had experienced in Boston, this was nothing. I cowered in a shop doorway until I decided to buy an umbrella, as well as a few I love NY t-shirts so I can save a few Arsenal shirts for Washington! I walked for hours down 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, on route looking at the Flatiron Building, Chrysler Building (probably the most beautiful building in NYC) and Trump Tower. Late afternoon I walked across Brooklyn Bridge and back - more great views of the skyline.
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Roger Moore

Oh well, it had to happen at some point. I am having problems with the Hotel wireless connection so for the time being I am relying on my Blackberry to Blog - apologies to my followers (Mum), and anyone who might have left comments which I haven't been able to see. Yesterday I drove 100 miles to New York - the only problem I had was when I had to brake hard because a large Deer was standing next to the Interstate just casually eating grass! As I couldn't check-in to the Howard Johnson Express Inn in Queens until 2, and because I had the Sat Nav, I decided to look around for a Drive-In to get some food. Of all the places I could drive into in New York....yep, I realised I was driving through Bronx and Harlem! I felt like 007 in Live and Let Die! Anyway, survived that experience, checked-in, then on the Subway to Grand Central Station. I did the 'Top of the Rock' and got some fantastic views (+ pics) from the 70th Floor of the Rockefeller Centre. The elevator does the ascent to the 67th Floor in 43 seconds! After a bite to eat (another local delicacy called, I think, a 'Mac-Donalds - this is heaven!) I spent much of the evening in Times Square where it was all happening - pics hopefully to follow soon. It reached 95 degrees yesterday but as I set off this morning it looks like its going to rain....
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Gilmore Girls?

Checked-in at Hotel La Quinta in New Britain near Hartford, Connecticut - 100 miles drive from Boston and 100 miles from New York where I am off to this morning. According to some of my Pupils 'The Gilmore Girls' live in a fictitious town near Hartford. No, I don't have a clue either, some women's television program or something.......

Trump!

First up today I checked out of Motel 6 in Tewksbury and drove 20 miles to just south of the City in order to take a look at the John F.Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. It was really interesting and what a great building in a fantastic location with views of the Boston Waterfront. During a film of JFK's speech accepting the Democratic Nomination to run for President, a guy casually lifted one cheek and let rip (perhaps he was a Republican) and nobody said a thing - but I was in the line of fire and had to adjust my position! Back in Boston, after being greeted by some Dutch because I had 'Bergkamp' on the back of my shirt, I decided that I had to watch the World Cup Final. (See, wearing an Arsenal shirt helps you overcome boundaries of nationality and language, and you immediately gain respect of anyone anywhere in the world - with the exception of T******** of course). What a total waste of over 2 hours watching that match - although it was a good atmosphere in the Pub. After a walk to the Boston Waterfront I finally went on to the Prudential Centre Skywalk - a very bland building but with fantastic views of the City from the 50th Floor. Because of the early evening sunlight and having to take pictures through glass windows, my photos didn't come out that great. Incidentally, I have posted a selection of my photos on facebook because this Blog doesn't seem to have the facility for uploading whole Photo Albums.

Boston Downpour!

Quack Quack!

I had a general idea of the places I wanted to go to and see today, but the late arrival in the City and.........the weather.........disrupted my plans. I headed to Boston Common as this was the start of the 'Freedom Trail', which is a highlighted route to take in historical sights and locations in connection with the War Of Independence. I didn't follow the Freedom Trail, but instead headed towards the Back Bay neighbourhood of the City. At this point it started to rain, well I say rain but it was the worst downpour I have seen in my life! As best as I can I sheltered under a shopfront canopy and was stuck there for approaching an hour! I wanted to go to the Prudential Skywalk which is a 50 storey high viewing point of the City, but I knew I wouldn't get much of a view because of the weather. So instead I went on a Boston Duck Tour - a tour of the City on an American World War 2 Amphibious Vehicle (code-named DUKW). The Captain of the vessel, or conDUCKtor, was Jailbird George, a recent escapee from DUCKatraz! (I didn't make these up!) It was an 80 minute trip but unfortunately it didn't include going into the Charles River because of the high water levels caused by the earlier downpour. I did however get half of the BILL refunded because of this. (That was one of mine!)

Billy Goat Gruff

It's been a bit quiet on the blogging front because i've been feeling a bit rough (Don't worry Mum). It could have been general tiredness, the Flight, something I ate on the Flight, the heat, atmosphere or air conditioning in my room, or the general confusion caused by the time difference. Anyway, after driving to a nearby Town and catching a train I finally arrived in Boston at 12 noon local time. I am now eating a local delicacy called a 'Wendy Hamburger' - I worked out that I must have last eaten 21 hours ago, which for me must be some kind of record!

Highway 93

Arrived in Boston 17:30 local time - 5 hours ahead of UK time. Picked up hired Car (Ford Focus Automatic - I got talked into an upgrade!) then drove 30 miles or so through downtown Boston and then north to my Motel in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. It is a real Motel like what you see in the Movies - and I have already seen a few scary roughneck characters. Because I have now been awake for 21 hours, and in view of my early impressions of the local inhabitants, I am going to have an early night.

Terminal 3

When I first planned this Trip I was really worried about getting Mugged, Car-Jacked, Kidnapped, Beaten up, Stabbed or generally getting Murdered to Death - but its all ok now because I am at Heathrow and waiting to fly out of this Country! It will be a 3,267 mile flight lasting 7 hours 30 minutes.
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PANIC!!

I am getting a bit stressed because I have so much to do before I leave home for the Airport. It's 5:00 am and I am at least starting to get organised - I have packed my essentials........

Hi everybody! I am going to fly to Boston and from there travel to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and then end up in Washington DC. Well, that's the plan.......