Burlington, Vermont
Friday 24th August- Monday 27th August
I left Boston on the Friday and took a short plane journey up to the town of Burlington in Vermont.
To say the plane was ‘small’ would be an understatement.
To obtain some idea of its size, almost more people attended my failed ‘Vice City’ club night several years back than were on this actual flight.
Without wishing to sound too horrid, when a slightly large lady got on the plane and sat above the wheel, I must confess I did think that the laws of aerodynamics would be put firmly to the test.
Nevertheless we arrived safely, and that afternoon I had the opportunity to explore the incredibly laid back town centre and the nearby Lake Champlain facing the Adirondack mountain range in New York State.
In the evening I went to a nearby karaoke bar and belted out a couple of Johnny Cash ('A boy named S(t)ue') and Meatloaf numbers, and asked someone to take a picture of my efforts.
However in addition to capturing my performance for posterity, the girl also managed to delete all my photos from my previous week in Massachusetts.
Luckily I didn’t find this out until much later that evening, as firstly I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a pleasant scene if I had discovered this incident there and then, but also secondly, by some twist of fate I would in fact unbelievably manage to retrieve them from my camera when I came home.
I don’t know how I achieved this.
Maybe the ‘witches’ of Salem played their part?
On the Saturday I went to the Shelburne Museum.
An enormous collection of American artefacts ranging from utilitarian day-to-day items, to the unique and bizarre.
Initiated by the millionairess, or should that be billionairess, Electra Havemeyer Webb some sixty years ago, it was a real collector’s collection.
Amongst this eclectic collection the museum's grounds also contained a reconstructed steam train complete with railway station, a nineteenth century light house, as well as the luxury paddle ship SS Ticonderoga.
And I thought I was a terrible horder.
On the Sunday I got back to nature and went to Shelburne Farms.
Created a century ago again under the patronage of the Webb family, and designed in part by Frederick Law Olmsted, whom I believe also designed Central Park in New York.
Here I talked to the animals, walked around the grounds, and visited their famous dairy amongst other things.
Having now spent three months in a country where the environment is not always a number one priority it was nice to see the ecological outlook adopted by the farm.
JFK Airport, New York
Monday 27th August
I left Burlington early Monday morning, and was somewhat optimistic that once at JFK with time to spare before my flight home I would be able to check in my bags and then head over to Manhattan for one final hurrah.
Unfortunately this was not to prove the case, and I spent my eighty fifth and final day in North America camped at various terminal buildings.
Whilst I maybe did not get that last opportunity to visit Central Park, visit Ellis Island, or consume more cwoffee and bwagels, this did at least afford me with the window of opportunity to read the Diego Maradona biography my sister had given me some ten years previously, and which up until then I still hadn’t had time to begin on my travels.
Orpington, Kent, UK
Friday 31st August
So here I am now back at my parents’ house, adjusting to a life no longer on the road.
In a couple of weeks I will be moving to London and starting my MA in Broadcast Journalism, but I will never forget those fantastic three months I spent travelling around North America.
I hope you enjoyed my blog.
See you on Facebook…
Friday 31 August 2007
Friday 24 August 2007
Thursday 23 August 2007
Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts,
Saturday 18th- Thursday 23rd August
I obviously enjoyed my duration in Philadelphia so much that I almost contrived to oversleep the Saturday morning and miss the early morningtrain I had booked to take me North to Boston.
Boston was one of the cities I felt was particularly noticable from my original Trek America itinerary, and so with my last two weeks alone in the US I was determined that I would visit it.
However despit my perhaps naive conceptions of the city being a small quaint extensionof 17th century England, I am sad to say that the city has been somewhat of a disappointment.
A fact made particularly apparent after how much I had enjoyed Philadelphia.
Ironically Philadelphia bearing agreater resemblence to this ideal than Boston itself.
By the way I am not on some commission from the Philadelphia Tourist Board.
I arrived late Saturday afternoon, and feeling somewhat exhausted by not only the previous few days' exploits, but that of the previouseleven weeks'.
After briefly exploring Boston's delightful nearby Common, I actually went to bed around 7.30pm that night.
On the Sunday I endeavoured to obtain a greater feel for the city by undertaking the 3 mile historical Freedom Trail.
This feat I must have achieved in arecord time of just over 7 hours!
Although this was in due in part tothe occassional deviation both accidental and deliberate from thepainted red path on the pavement laying out the route.
Well no wonder I wasn't accepted at Harvard.
Quincy Market and the incredibly vibrant Little Italy being two particular highlights that had led me astray.
The next day I went to actually enter and re-visit some of the sites on the Freedom Trail I had not done the previous day.
In addition to this I went to find the Boston Tea Party Museum, which was closed, and took an alternative route around the city via the Black History Tour, where again unfortunately access to the historical sites was limited.
I then spent the remainder of the afternoon taking a pleasant walk by the Charles River planning my route for my next day's excursion.
On the Tuedsay I crossed the Charles River and headed north to the city of Cambridge home of America's most prestigious educational instituition, Harvard University.
I can now write on my next CV with all honsety taht I have indeed been to Harvard. However having explored the grounds there was only one thing left for me to do, and that was to watch The Simpsons Movie at a nearby cinema.
I don't know what everyone else thought, but I quite enjoyed it.
Wednesday was to be my favourite day in Massachusetts, and had been soemthing I had been looking forward to in my mind for a long time, even prior to my arrival in Boston, and that was my journey to Province Town and the peninsula of Cape Cod.
Having taken an 8am ferry from Boston Harbour in order to spend a full day there, I still found that was far from enough time.
In the nine hours I was there at Cape Cod I did however manage to explore some of picturesque streets, ascend the Mayflower Pilgrims Monument and take a trail of several miles by the sand dunes and along the northern beaches overlooking the Atlantic, before having something to eat before taking the last ferry of the day back to Boston.
Today has been my final full day in Massachusetts as I will be flying to Burlington in Vermont tomorrow for essentially the final destination proper of my trip across America.
Again I chose to venture out of the city and went by train to the city of Salem. Despite its prominence as a port in the early years after independence, Salem is now eternally famed for the notorious witch trials of 1692.
As you can imagine every aspect of the city is dominated by these events, and serves as the main tourist attraction.
There I visited a couple of witch museums, and walked a couple of miles to visit the recreated 17th century settlement, which being Massachusetts, was of course indefinitely closed....
Saturday 18th- Thursday 23rd August
I obviously enjoyed my duration in Philadelphia so much that I almost contrived to oversleep the Saturday morning and miss the early morningtrain I had booked to take me North to Boston.
Boston was one of the cities I felt was particularly noticable from my original Trek America itinerary, and so with my last two weeks alone in the US I was determined that I would visit it.
However despit my perhaps naive conceptions of the city being a small quaint extensionof 17th century England, I am sad to say that the city has been somewhat of a disappointment.
A fact made particularly apparent after how much I had enjoyed Philadelphia.
Ironically Philadelphia bearing agreater resemblence to this ideal than Boston itself.
By the way I am not on some commission from the Philadelphia Tourist Board.
I arrived late Saturday afternoon, and feeling somewhat exhausted by not only the previous few days' exploits, but that of the previouseleven weeks'.
After briefly exploring Boston's delightful nearby Common, I actually went to bed around 7.30pm that night.
On the Sunday I endeavoured to obtain a greater feel for the city by undertaking the 3 mile historical Freedom Trail.
This feat I must have achieved in arecord time of just over 7 hours!
Although this was in due in part tothe occassional deviation both accidental and deliberate from thepainted red path on the pavement laying out the route.
Well no wonder I wasn't accepted at Harvard.
Quincy Market and the incredibly vibrant Little Italy being two particular highlights that had led me astray.
The next day I went to actually enter and re-visit some of the sites on the Freedom Trail I had not done the previous day.
In addition to this I went to find the Boston Tea Party Museum, which was closed, and took an alternative route around the city via the Black History Tour, where again unfortunately access to the historical sites was limited.
I then spent the remainder of the afternoon taking a pleasant walk by the Charles River planning my route for my next day's excursion.
On the Tuedsay I crossed the Charles River and headed north to the city of Cambridge home of America's most prestigious educational instituition, Harvard University.
I can now write on my next CV with all honsety taht I have indeed been to Harvard. However having explored the grounds there was only one thing left for me to do, and that was to watch The Simpsons Movie at a nearby cinema.
I don't know what everyone else thought, but I quite enjoyed it.
Wednesday was to be my favourite day in Massachusetts, and had been soemthing I had been looking forward to in my mind for a long time, even prior to my arrival in Boston, and that was my journey to Province Town and the peninsula of Cape Cod.
Having taken an 8am ferry from Boston Harbour in order to spend a full day there, I still found that was far from enough time.
In the nine hours I was there at Cape Cod I did however manage to explore some of picturesque streets, ascend the Mayflower Pilgrims Monument and take a trail of several miles by the sand dunes and along the northern beaches overlooking the Atlantic, before having something to eat before taking the last ferry of the day back to Boston.
Today has been my final full day in Massachusetts as I will be flying to Burlington in Vermont tomorrow for essentially the final destination proper of my trip across America.
Again I chose to venture out of the city and went by train to the city of Salem. Despite its prominence as a port in the early years after independence, Salem is now eternally famed for the notorious witch trials of 1692.
As you can imagine every aspect of the city is dominated by these events, and serves as the main tourist attraction.
There I visited a couple of witch museums, and walked a couple of miles to visit the recreated 17th century settlement, which being Massachusetts, was of course indefinitely closed....
Philadelphia Freedom
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Thursday 16th- Saturday 18th August
Having done the iconic, or should that be ironic considering my stature, 'Rocky' pose on the steps of the Philadelphia the following day I went somewhere a bit more historical, although perhaps no less fictional.
That was the home of Betsy Ross, the lady whom legend has it sewed the first American flag.
In the afternoon I then went slighty further afield and took the bus outside of the city to the nearby Germantown district.
However the area was not quite the picturesque community I had envisioned through my Philadelphia guidebook, and the never ending journey along the far from salubrious Germantown Avenue resembled little to my map.
Eventually I decided to stop for a late lunch in a kitsch American roadside diner for yet another Philly Cheesesteak, and where I am pleased to say the people there, as was often the case in this particular city, were ever welcoming.
On the Friday I spent most of yet another enjoyable day in Philly at the Benjamin Franklin Institute.
A museum not disimilar to our own Science Museum with its interactive displays.
I even boldly took a bicycle ride on a tightrope across the main hall on the Skybike, despite my inability to normally ride one on solid ground!
After another a day spent wandering around the city that evening I briefly visited the Gloria Del Rei Swedish church and then went onto the Italian district for what would be the fourth and final Philly Cheesesteak of my stay.
I really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia, and with the exception of Manhattan, I might even now place it as my favourite US city.
Great praise indeed for a place that I had not given a great deal of consideration towards prior to my arrival.
Thursday 16th- Saturday 18th August
Having done the iconic, or should that be ironic considering my stature, 'Rocky' pose on the steps of the Philadelphia the following day I went somewhere a bit more historical, although perhaps no less fictional.
That was the home of Betsy Ross, the lady whom legend has it sewed the first American flag.
In the afternoon I then went slighty further afield and took the bus outside of the city to the nearby Germantown district.
However the area was not quite the picturesque community I had envisioned through my Philadelphia guidebook, and the never ending journey along the far from salubrious Germantown Avenue resembled little to my map.
Eventually I decided to stop for a late lunch in a kitsch American roadside diner for yet another Philly Cheesesteak, and where I am pleased to say the people there, as was often the case in this particular city, were ever welcoming.
On the Friday I spent most of yet another enjoyable day in Philly at the Benjamin Franklin Institute.
A museum not disimilar to our own Science Museum with its interactive displays.
I even boldly took a bicycle ride on a tightrope across the main hall on the Skybike, despite my inability to normally ride one on solid ground!
After another a day spent wandering around the city that evening I briefly visited the Gloria Del Rei Swedish church and then went onto the Italian district for what would be the fourth and final Philly Cheesesteak of my stay.
I really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia, and with the exception of Manhattan, I might even now place it as my favourite US city.
Great praise indeed for a place that I had not given a great deal of consideration towards prior to my arrival.
Wednesday 15 August 2007
The Wonders of Modern Technology
Only in America could it be nigh on impossible to find a payphone that allows you to call the UK, and a PC that doesn't crash on you when you're writing your blog.
On that latter note, after the afforementioned incident when I lost all of about an hour's labour, I have decided instead to write just a brief synopsis of the events of the past week or so.
Apologies for being slightly prosaic about it all, but I'm nearing the end of the trip and I don't know if anyone's reading this anymore anyway.
Mineappolis, Minnesota,
Sunday 5th- Tuesday 7th August
Stayed in our trek leader's brother's back yard.
Had a barbecue, went bowling, walked by the lakes, and went to the number one tourist attraction in the US... (Fanfare) 'The Mall of America'.
Over 500 stores and not one Levis Shop!
Chicago, Illinois,
Tuesday 7th- Thursday 9th August
Ate some of a Chicago Deep Pan Pizza- I must have put on some considerable weight by the end of this trip;
Went up the Sears Tower, didn't go up the John Hancock Centre as instead of resembling The Windy City it's renowned for, Chicago was humid and overcast for most of the time we were there;
Saw the White Sox play baseball; exciting 3-3 affair but had to leave before the end as I didn't want to miss my train.
Although they won 6-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the end.
Sandusky, Ohio,
Thursday 9th- Friday 10th August
It rained which enforced my decision not to go on the World's Tallest rollercoasters. Spent the evening in a Bates' Motel-esque Motel watching the 'Wonder Years'.
I'd forgotten how much I used to like that show as a child.
Niagra Falls, New York State, US, Canada, US...
Friday 10th- Saturday 11th August
Saw the falls; went on the Maid of the Mist boat ride right up to the falls and surprisingly didn't get that wet.
Crossed the bridge over to Canada, and with time ever an issue, pretty much left Canda straight away.
US Customs and Immigrations Conversation:
"So sir when were you last in the US?"
"About 15 minutes ago..."
New Jersey and New York,
Saturday 11th- Monday 14th August
Meant to go on one last excursion with the group before we headed back to our drop off point in New Jersey, the Finger Lakes in New York State.
Our trek leader accidentally passed them en route and so thus ended the Trek America part of my trip.
Made it into Little Italy for something to eat that night, despite feeling physically and mentally exhausted after the previous nine weeks.
On the Sunday I went on a Sopranos Tour of New Jersey, even meeting the actor who played Vito.
Incidentally I still haven't seen the last episode of the Sopranos, nor the Simpsons Movie or Transformers, so no spoilers please!
Stopped by Grand Central Station to take some photographs before heading back to my hostel.
Did one final shopping spree on the Monday.
This one justified by the fact that my jeans had now rather embarrassingly split at the crotch.
Did take in a bit of high culture though, by spending the afternoon at the Guggenheim Museum.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Tuesday 14th- Wednesday 15th August
Am currently in Philly until Saturday.
The weather is lovely and the city has far exceeded my expectations of it.
Am staying near the quaint Old City, with its reconstructed Georgian architecture.
Have been to Penn's Landing, Constitution Hall, The Liberty Bell, The African American Museum, and Reading Terminal Market, to name but a few places since I arrived yesterday afternoon.
In the public library at the moment en route to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Well I wasn't going to leave here without at least one immitation 'Rocky' photo.
On that latter note, after the afforementioned incident when I lost all of about an hour's labour, I have decided instead to write just a brief synopsis of the events of the past week or so.
Apologies for being slightly prosaic about it all, but I'm nearing the end of the trip and I don't know if anyone's reading this anymore anyway.
Mineappolis, Minnesota,
Sunday 5th- Tuesday 7th August
Stayed in our trek leader's brother's back yard.
Had a barbecue, went bowling, walked by the lakes, and went to the number one tourist attraction in the US... (Fanfare) 'The Mall of America'.
Over 500 stores and not one Levis Shop!
Chicago, Illinois,
Tuesday 7th- Thursday 9th August
Ate some of a Chicago Deep Pan Pizza- I must have put on some considerable weight by the end of this trip;
Went up the Sears Tower, didn't go up the John Hancock Centre as instead of resembling The Windy City it's renowned for, Chicago was humid and overcast for most of the time we were there;
Saw the White Sox play baseball; exciting 3-3 affair but had to leave before the end as I didn't want to miss my train.
Although they won 6-4 against the Cleveland Indians in the end.
Sandusky, Ohio,
Thursday 9th- Friday 10th August
It rained which enforced my decision not to go on the World's Tallest rollercoasters. Spent the evening in a Bates' Motel-esque Motel watching the 'Wonder Years'.
I'd forgotten how much I used to like that show as a child.
Niagra Falls, New York State, US, Canada, US...
Friday 10th- Saturday 11th August
Saw the falls; went on the Maid of the Mist boat ride right up to the falls and surprisingly didn't get that wet.
Crossed the bridge over to Canada, and with time ever an issue, pretty much left Canda straight away.
US Customs and Immigrations Conversation:
"So sir when were you last in the US?"
"About 15 minutes ago..."
New Jersey and New York,
Saturday 11th- Monday 14th August
Meant to go on one last excursion with the group before we headed back to our drop off point in New Jersey, the Finger Lakes in New York State.
Our trek leader accidentally passed them en route and so thus ended the Trek America part of my trip.
Made it into Little Italy for something to eat that night, despite feeling physically and mentally exhausted after the previous nine weeks.
On the Sunday I went on a Sopranos Tour of New Jersey, even meeting the actor who played Vito.
Incidentally I still haven't seen the last episode of the Sopranos, nor the Simpsons Movie or Transformers, so no spoilers please!
Stopped by Grand Central Station to take some photographs before heading back to my hostel.
Did one final shopping spree on the Monday.
This one justified by the fact that my jeans had now rather embarrassingly split at the crotch.
Did take in a bit of high culture though, by spending the afternoon at the Guggenheim Museum.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Tuesday 14th- Wednesday 15th August
Am currently in Philly until Saturday.
The weather is lovely and the city has far exceeded my expectations of it.
Am staying near the quaint Old City, with its reconstructed Georgian architecture.
Have been to Penn's Landing, Constitution Hall, The Liberty Bell, The African American Museum, and Reading Terminal Market, to name but a few places since I arrived yesterday afternoon.
In the public library at the moment en route to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Well I wasn't going to leave here without at least one immitation 'Rocky' photo.
Sunday 12 August 2007
Stone Me
Black Hills and Badlands, South Dakota,
Saturday 4th August- Sunday 5th August
I have to confess that the Crazy Horse Monument was something that had not truly entered my conciousness prior to our visit there.
Everybody knows about the famous granite monument to commemorate four US presidents, Mount Rushmore, but the native American equivalent to symobolise their societies' ideals does not always draw similar recognition.
Built in response to the completion of the Mount Rushmore in 1941 and begun in 1948, an eternal quest for funding, hindered also by the fact that they have deliberately sought only private finance, has meant that at present only the face of Crazy Horse is clearly distinguishable in the rock.
It is unlikely that the project will be completed in our lifetime, but once finished this three dimensional statue of the Native Indian warrior will dominate a complex consisting of various native cultural and educational institutions.
It was with some sense of bathos that we then headed to the significantky more famous Mount Rushmore, which although still an incredibly remarkable feat, somehow now managed to pale into significance when compared to our previous excursion.
Where incidentally all the four presidents heads of Mount Rushmore could fit into the one single head of the Crazy Horse Monument.
In the afternoon we took a brief excursion to the small town of Wall, home to a unique department store famous across the world, Wall Drug.
With the promise of free ice water, and the novelty manequins and items of Americana that decorate the premises, the reputation of Wall Drug has spread to such an extent that it has become a renowned toursit site in its own right.
Following a couple of hours in Wall we then headed through the Badlands National Park to our accomodation for the evening.
The Badlands are a strange canyon-esque environment where the ancient seabed that was once there has risen through geological activity and has subsequently eroded to form this wonderous landscape of sand mountains, littered by fossils of its former inhabitants.
With such a remarkable setting and after having spent the previous night in a damp tent, I can't say how much of a relief it was to spend that evening in our log cabin located by the park.
Saturday 4th August- Sunday 5th August
I have to confess that the Crazy Horse Monument was something that had not truly entered my conciousness prior to our visit there.
Everybody knows about the famous granite monument to commemorate four US presidents, Mount Rushmore, but the native American equivalent to symobolise their societies' ideals does not always draw similar recognition.
Built in response to the completion of the Mount Rushmore in 1941 and begun in 1948, an eternal quest for funding, hindered also by the fact that they have deliberately sought only private finance, has meant that at present only the face of Crazy Horse is clearly distinguishable in the rock.
It is unlikely that the project will be completed in our lifetime, but once finished this three dimensional statue of the Native Indian warrior will dominate a complex consisting of various native cultural and educational institutions.
It was with some sense of bathos that we then headed to the significantky more famous Mount Rushmore, which although still an incredibly remarkable feat, somehow now managed to pale into significance when compared to our previous excursion.
Where incidentally all the four presidents heads of Mount Rushmore could fit into the one single head of the Crazy Horse Monument.
In the afternoon we took a brief excursion to the small town of Wall, home to a unique department store famous across the world, Wall Drug.
With the promise of free ice water, and the novelty manequins and items of Americana that decorate the premises, the reputation of Wall Drug has spread to such an extent that it has become a renowned toursit site in its own right.
Following a couple of hours in Wall we then headed through the Badlands National Park to our accomodation for the evening.
The Badlands are a strange canyon-esque environment where the ancient seabed that was once there has risen through geological activity and has subsequently eroded to form this wonderous landscape of sand mountains, littered by fossils of its former inhabitants.
With such a remarkable setting and after having spent the previous night in a damp tent, I can't say how much of a relief it was to spend that evening in our log cabin located by the park.
Thursday 9 August 2007
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