Day33 Bilo still

Arrived safe and sound at Brisy airport. Sms'd the kids. Quick note from the Qantas lounge while waiting for Rocky 8:05 flight.
All good.
4:00pm arrived home all good after a lovely time at Jess', a Sunday roast and pressies as well. Like Christmas, and a great welcome back safe and sound. It feels like after months. We did about 40,000km all up, 33,000km in plane flights all up, 1500 in a rental and the rest via bus and train.
10Gb of photos, 2700 pics. lol. I've put over 10,000 pics through the Canon now. Cant wait to see them on the big screen.
Really good to be back home.
Over and out.

Day32 Bilo

Restless night again.
Got the Internet connection working finally, thanks linksys, and a mansion on the hill, only 11Mb but free.
Still feel like crap.
The plan today is to head home on a late evening flight. Have to keep occupied somehow. Maybe go and explore on public transit.
We breaky downstairs at the hotel restaurant.
Chris goes uptown for some shopping while I stay in the room and arrange late checkout for 1:00pm. Chris decides to go for a walk to the farmers market, without me, much to her annoyance. Comes back 2 hours later, sunburnt and didn't find the place. Not happy Jan.
We have another knap and laze around till 12:30pm when we head down to the Boulevard with the intention of going to the beach. Its about 100 deg (40c) so we decide to catch a movie instead. It turns out ok, Ghostown, set in Manhattan. lol It was good so we go to another one to kill time, Deathrace, pathetic but entertaining.

We're out about 5 so we wander around but not far and end up going into Hooters for a bite. What can I say? Fried food.

We wander back to the hotel, up the hill, and laze around in the reception till the transport comes, Super Shuttle. Its about 40 min to pick someone else up and get to the airport. We go to the wrong baggage check area, get shunted to 'just down there', check in our bags, take them to radiation check, then go to the Qantas lounge to rest up. Not bad, Chris has a shower while I read Jess' comments on the blog, and add an udate.

Day31 LA (Mon 29th)

Wake about 3:30am, text Jecca for a bit, 8:30pm in Qld, find an unsecured wireless access point probably from the many mansions on the hill behind us and begin raving on the blog.
Cold seems worse and I ache in my upper fema area like a flu ache. Ear plugs are starting to give me a head ache... now I can hear the keyboard and traffic outside. Lack of energy and aches are the worst of it. See how we go today. Man up. :)

Well didn't leave the hotel room but once in the evening to have something to eat. sux
Asleep by 9.

Day30 Los Angeles (Sun 28th)

Wake before 6 and take out the ear plugs (Chris still has a cold) and now I realise so do I. Breaky provided and we're picked up by the Super Shuttle about 7:15am to go to JFK Airport New York. The bus has all seats full and we have to drop others off at Laguardia airport first. The trip takes about 45-50 minutes and we self checked in (this time next to each other) within another 10 minutes. All up about 3 hours before the flight, one of the problems with using this mode of transport but we would only be asleep or something boring like that anyhow.

Each bag weighs in at 45lbs (20.45kg) each. Spot on. We walk to the gate then back to the Admirals Club. No free wireless for Qantas Club members but free PCs so I update the blog and charge the laptop battery. The clouds hang low in the sky and there's no sign of blue. The tarmac is wet and a cop car drives down the taxi way. The exchange rate hovers around 83 cents not that we need to exchange much more anyhow, seems we've spent enough/fortune.

Time to board, walk round to gate 3, straight on the flight. Waiting for older Jewish man to put hid gear away and free the aisle and a bloke excuses himself to Chris and pushes past her and the old guy. New Yorkers fair dinkum! We swap aisles, walk down a bit and swap back to ours. A young girl is in our seats and we work out that she should be in another, no drama, all good. A woman behind, Chris explains later, complains long and hard into the flight after requesting to see the head hostess, we don't know what about. New Yorkers fair dinkum!
The bloke in front and the woman he's with sit down, he's swearing and she pushes her bag under the seat on top of my feet. Later on a hosty tells him he has to sit down after the Captain had said we were heading for turbulence, he says, 'Oh really' (sarcasm), and continues to stand, she says again she can't sit down until he does, he says, 'I'm trying to do 6 things at once', still standing. Finally sits but doesn't put on his belt. Hosty mimics for him to do so, he finally does. She goes. New Yorkers fair dinkum! Getting off the flight they all hurry past to get to the carrousel only to have to wait, right next to the carrousel so no one else can get to it, there with all the passengers they just pushed past.

Its been our experience both times now that, it seems, NY has a large percentage of people/service workers who appear to be arrogant, to say the best of them. But there are a lot of others that try to be nice in the middle of the biggest/loudest/fastest/busiest/most amazing city I've been in. A real mix of good and bad that needs to be experienced to believe it. I think I was too tired to fully enjoy it but today I wouldn't like to go back there. Will be interesting how some time will give that view perspective.

We get out of the rabbit warren they call LAX only to realise the rabbit warren extends further in roads intertwined around the airport, domestic, international, transport, couriers, buses, shuttles, military, rentals you name it, but the shuttle driver knows it all well. The weather was supposed to be a tad ordinary in LA but its fine and cool. LA reminds Chris and I of Mt Isa. lol Its dry and dusty but instead of the mine there are black oil pumps on dry hill sides and the place looks like it could do with some rain to wash the cars. We drop off some others before its our turn to tip the maniac shuttle driver, who like others will swerve and go flat out, luggage flying, to pass a car, only to sit at the (many) next lights beside the same car. lol City living gets to you, no matter which one it is. The feeling of, 'nice to visit but wouldn't like to live there', mixed with feeling left out of the main stream/rat race, so much to see, do and experience.

The rooms nice with a king size, Chris won't be squashed tonight and my feet wont hang over the end. We gather our wits and rest a while, then head off downtown in shorts and thongs for the first time since leaving home.
We find we're only two blocks from Hollywood Boulevard and all the tourist hubbub of the city on a Sunday arvo. Very interesting. We explore, shop and grab a bite to eat in Hooters. lol A Harley Davidson shop with the most clothing I've ever seen for bike riders, very tempting, shame its all for HD.
We find we're both stuffed with little energy and walk back up the hill. Its only about 5:30pm and we're getting ready for bed. The colds are knocking us about. Asleep about 9:30 for me, Chris way earlier.

Day29 New York (Sat 27th) Last Day of Tour

Wake at 4:30am due to the chainsaw in the bed next to me.
Shower, pack and blog. Bags out at 6:30 on the bus at 7:30am.
Lay (tour guide) is late on the bus because her watch stopped working. haha Murphy strikes again. Its been wrong the whole trip I told her. ;)

We don't have that far to go today and have a couple of stops to make. The first is Philadelphia, the birth place of America, where their independence from Britain was first declared and the constitution drawn up. We walk around a bit and go and see the liberty bell. A great tour of their first court of law and Independence Hall as the guide was very enthusiastic.

Back on the bus, "Come on Globus" and off to New York. An uneventfully drive through the mid town traffic, to the sounds of the other passengers, Ous and Ahs, we arrive at the Sheraton. The room is nice and we straight away head off via the subway to China Town. The drizzle comes and goes as per the weather forecasts and the subway is hot and steamy. We take a few wrong trips but get it sorted out pretty quick after a little frustration. The subway is packed as many head downtown for the Saturday night. China town is great as usual and I pick up a NY tshirt for $2. Its all I can fit in the suitcase. Chris picks up some perfume and jewelry which of course she pays too much for but hey that's what its all about. ;)

We wander eventually into Little Italy and have Italian in a roadside restaurant. Not bad, a good meal for $40 total, drinks and tip included. We make our way back to the subway in the mist of the night and the streets are all still busy with many shops still open at 9ish. Again we make a few errors but eventually emerge in Time Square among the crowds. We buy tickets to a comedy club night, impromptu audience participation and eventually find our way there after going the wrong way several times. I remember passing the same street stall lady 3 times. Funny now; not very at the time as we're tired and damp. It turns out to be ok but there are a class of grade 6 and 7 kids there that play havic with the comedy but add spice to the 8:30pm show.

After its done we walk back to our room, stuffed and worn out. Shower and bed by 12.

Day28 Washington (Friday) 26th Sep

Wake 5:15ish. Tour starts this morning at 8:30am. Overcast but not raining yet.
All jump on the bus on time as usual and our Washington guide greets and she narrates, describing what it is we drive past. We go to the Arlington National Cemetery first and I'm thinking is this the most interesting thing Washington has to offer, hmm, it wouldn't be my first choice, but anyhow, on with the tour. We see the Kennedy brothers grave sites and it starts to rain and we all get a little wet but its not too bad because most of us have rain gear of some sort.
We hear 21 gun salutes in the distance on 3 occasions indicating there military funerals that are in progress in the active part of the cemetery, Iraq. Hope the oils worth it and the fight against terrorism can be won with a gun. Since 1980 there has been a 24 hour protect against war out in front of the White House as pictured in my snaps.
We goto the war memorials first Korean, didn't learn their lesson there, then Vietnam, still fighting, over 50,000 kia, and they don't have one for Afghanistan, Kuwait, or Iraq but they will or maybe they'll run out of places to have them. They are a great tribute to the fallen youth, male, female, black and white.
The Amish don't fight in wars and so far it seems don't have to and I bet they praise God for that.
Off to the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool where the first thing that comes to mind is Forrest running after Jenny I'm embarrassed to say. Chris does her Mary Tyler Moor impression and we all head off to the Vietnam remembrance wall. A beautiful tribute.
The White House was next, where the 24 hour peace protest is and then the Capitol where they are in session, the Senate and House of Reps (cuz the flags are up) no doubt thrashing out the US$700B bailout, take from the tax payer and give to the corporations, not that that bothers me, nahh.
Dropped off at the National Gallery of Art we walk through the entertaining Sculpture Garden with the visual illusion of the house and the thinking rabbit as in my pics. Then the National Museum of Natural History which was popular with the kids and not so much mums and dads.
Past the FBI to the Post Office and up the lifts to see the view and the bells.
A brisk walk back to the hotel as Chris isn't feeling too well, a lay about and some tv. Then get ready for the farewell dinner with the other Globus tour people. All good, and a early night, ready for our last day with the tour tomorrow, ending in NY, after Philadelphia Liberty Bell.

Day27 Washington (Thu)

-:Good sleep. Bags out at 7 and breaky at 7. Drove around Lancaster, visited an Amish house and farm and then we went to a little town called Intercourse, then we drove off to Washington. A nice drive, fairly short, about an hour and a half through the traffic. Smallest populated state but most densely populated. Lots of dark people and politicians and police.
Roads blocked, police cars all over intersections and traffic cops too at traffic lights. Its raining now.

Drop us off at the National Art gallery, the Smithsonian, we go across the road to the Space and Flight museum, very good. Watch the 3D Sun on the iMax, very good. All about how we watch the sun and predict solar storms that might interfer with satellites and they actually mention in Dec 2006 when they lost heaps of sats and GPS signal for about 10 minutes. I remember saying to John how I only had one satellite on my GPS, I blamed the military at the time. lol I didn't realise it was a world wide event.

We cross back to the art museum, very impressive building, amazing works of art, spend only about 10 minutes looking but you need 2 days.

Picked up, back to the Hilton (very Hilton) hotel. Bags get delivered to room as usual except Chris' was left in front of the lift on our floor all on its own, upended. lol Must have fallen off the trolley?

Go for a walk later, exchange rate going ok, about 82-84 cents, 83.11 today (26th Sep) in Aus. Have a bite at Burger King and back to the Hilton for a drink, quite a contrast. lol Back to the room and watch some tv, not real fussed about walking around the streets.
Have wireless in the room thanks, not to the hotel, $15 for 24 hours, but a generous soul who hasn't secured their network.

Day26 Lancaster PA (Wed)

Its a long day on the bus today, 650km (the gps reinitialised itself, dohh) and we wind up at Lancaster which has a high number of Amish people in the area. We stopped several times along the way at travel stop, (truck stops) Weymans eatery/supermarket, and that's about it.

We walked down to an Mennonites store, they are similar to Amish but a little more liberal (not much) but primarily believe they can be convinced, here and now, on earth, of their salvation. The Amish can use modern day... stuff, as long as it isn't threatening their strong sense of community and isn't just for convenience sake. For example, they can use a telephone but can't/won't have one in their house, but it can be down the road a tad, not too close. Apparently they pay tax but don't/wont take a pension or government handouts.
Chris sees a 'stressed' bit of furniture she really liked for $200. Prob get in Aus but not as good quality, but hey its stressed so who cares. ;)

We have a drink at the tavern at the hotel and catch the bus to a restaurant that tends to serve 'traditional' Amish food. The dishes includes: apple sauce, cole slaw, pickled vegies, as a starter, then as main, mashed potato (Chris' favourite), beans, corn (very sweet), fried chicken, chicken stuffing, and other dishes I've missed. For dessert, there was warm apple pie, the best I've ever had (sorry Ma) and shoo fly pie (made with molasses, cinnamon). I really enjoyed the home made meal rather than the restaurant style cooking, Chris wasn't fussed.

Home for an early night.

Day25 Niagara Falls

We get away about 7:30am and head out west, south west on the highway 401, a four lane, sometimes 9 lane freeway towards Niagara Falls. Initially the traffic is heavy and its slow going but after half an hour it thins out more and we get along on 110km/hr most of the time. Away from Toronto and after Hamilton? we start to go through citrus crops and winery country as we skirt the western border of Lake Ontario. We stop at Niagra on the Lake, a lovely, well manicured small tourist town on the edge of the lake where we all go for a walk around the place, including Fort George, from a distance, and sample some of the local produce, fruit and fudge, nice combination.
A quick drive to the flower clock (see pics). The cable car over the eddy pool. Then onto Niagara itself. First glimpse is amazing, the size, spray, and constant roar as the water, apparently doing over 100km/hr, shoots out over the cliffs and into the river below. Very nice and a major tourist destination. I think it would have been better 200 years ago when there weren’t hotels lining the hills about the falls but I admit its luxurious laying in bed watching them from the 10th floor. lol Looks like they get about 4GW worth of hydro generation from them as well, so they would have been pretty impressive when all the water was going down the falls not just what they throttle.
They are lit up at night so we go and have a look but the pics look more like a volcano than falls, well when they’re red, blue a little different. Early start tomorrow.

Day24 Toronto (Mon)

I wake about 4:30am and do some diary as can be seen by the extra detail in my story above. I manage to get back to sleep and about 9 we all jump on the bus and go for a tour around the city to look at a few sites on a beautiful cloud free day. A bunch of others have a harbour tour, Chris goes back to the hotel to do a few things, washing included and I stay with the bus but go for a walk around the water front. I notice that a ferry is going out soon and only takes 45 minutes for $12, across to the island, around the creeks, up the Toronto harbour a bit, then back. Took some pics, the wind was cold/crisp but the sun was nice and warm on your back. Had a hot dog that was self serve on the water front and it was yummy.

We sit around for a bit then head downstairs to the ground floor for Chris to have some lunch and I do the blog stuff while waiting. We head back to the room and sleep for two hours. Hardly a granny knap, at least Chris has an excuse with the cold.

We head off at 6ish to the revolving restaurant in the CN Tower, a long way up. Checked out the lights, sights and have a good night.