28th January - LA

Arrived about a half hour earlier than scheduled, so 4ish. It was damned early! And cold! And not particularly nice! I had rough directions to get to the hostel, but first had to get to the point at which I'd been told to go to get there from. So I waited across the road from the Greyhound Station with a heap of homeless people fast asleep around me, for the bus to take me downtown I suppose. Very disoriented. The guard from the station seemed a bit concerned for me being there so stood and watched til the bus arrived. So downtown I headed, on a fairly busy bus. I was watching for where to get off and soon enough was at the end of the line! The driver told me that I should've got off at an earlier stop, duhh, but when he told me where it was, it didn't agree with the instructions I had. He was lovely though and gave me an all day bus ticket to use to get back to where I needed to be and on from there. Very nice of him. Big saving for the day in such an expansive city. Eventually I was in Venice. The sun was slowly rising. It was lovely. Palm trees all around, that twilight zone, active people, busy tired commuters. Again, in Venice, I didnt' get off the bus at the point I'd been told to get off at. The big post office. Definitely hadn't gone past a big post office! So I walked around the entire suburb getting my orientation with the crap directions, until I was at the roundabout that had a small big post office and over from that to the left slightly, the hostel! What a relief!! Went in, asked nicely if they had a room for me. Indeed they did. Checked in and went to room, deposited bags then returned to the kitchen to make some breakfast. Had a shower then headed off to Hollywood! Found the bus to take me up there, very easy indeed. Just took a (typically LA I'm told) long long time to get to where I needed to be. Lucky it was an entertaining journey. Some lady having a full on conversation with multiple personalities and barbie dolls. Had most of the bus not really too sure where to look!! Eventually was down the bottom of the hill in West Hollywood. Walked up, to Melrose Avenue. Wandered around, had some lunch, window shopped. Up through suburbia, lush and lovely, and parks, until I was at Hollywood Boulevard. Tacky, but it was something I wanted/had to do - Kodak Theatre, look through to the sign, the stars on the ground. So I did. Not extensively though. Did some shopping, some great bargains to be had! Gifts for the parents, gifts for myself...


(must go now, will finish later)

27th January 2009 - Phoenix and Scottsdale

Today was kind of a bizarre day.

Breakfast was interrupted, not in a rude way though, by the arrival of Brooke. How she fitted into the picture, I wasn't sure. However, she took us over to her mother's property, in one of the gated estates, the BEST gated estate I'm told, of Paradise Valley. (Clarification here, this area is obsessed with money. Every house has a celebrity, politician or just plain rich socialite attached - and well known to locals. They also oppose anything that brings scum into view!) So we went to see the goats. Then we met Mum. A busy socialite. She was frantic trying to sort her bookwork out. Also her printer wasn't working. Had a crack at fixing the printer - she needed new ink. Then advised her to give up on Quickbooks, as it is crap, and give MYOB a go. Then realised that MYOB is Australian. Not much help to her, but at least made her feel better about the Quickbooks difficulties she was having!

From there, we went to another gated estate to see Jennifer's house. Again, not sure how she fits into the picture! Lovely house, in lovely area. She wasn't home and access had to the estate had been (forgotten) to be given to the gatekeeper. So, "say something Australian" to me... "Chuck another shrimp on the barbie, maaaaate" and we had access! By this point, it was second nature to say that horrid sentence! The things we must do. Collected lemons and oranges from the tree, some were too high up, so up I scaled. The things I do on holidays. I don't climb trees. I gave that up when I was 5 and realised that being a rough and tumble tomboy was best left to the sister!! A drive through this estate, check out a few more flash and grossly overdone houses. Far too much money. Pulled into Dan Quayle's driveway. For those who that means nothing to, he was George Bush Senior's Vice President, and famous for a few things. One, he corrected a kid on the spelling of potato in a spelling bee. Two, and this is possibly his largest gaffe, is his criticism of Murphy Brown - yes, Candice Bergen's CHARACTER - for having a baby without a father. Not necessarily bad, but to many, it was!! Bad for him to criticise I mean!

So after that, we called in to see another house, not a gorgeous house, but a lovely view. Looked at a few more. It was at this point that the importance of the aforementioned Brooke became apparent. Her father had owned all the land that is now Paradise Valley, and had run a school on it. The school shut down, the land was sold off. The credit for vision for Paradise Valley is apparently all his.

We spent some more time in Scottsdale, wandered some shops in the Old Town. Also went to a ridiculously lavish shopping mall in Paradise Valley. The names of each escapes me and my notes don't include them. Absolutely ridiculous. I could never even dream of being rich enough to purchase anything in either area!

Also ate lunch in a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet house. Complete with msg. Yick!! lol. Cheap and nasty, contrasted with the rest!

Day drew to a close soon enough and we had some dinner. I can't remember now what we had. Oh yes I do, chicken and vegetables. Then it was time for me to pack my bags and head to the Greyhound station for my overnight bus to Los Angeles.

Time spent in Phoenix was wonderful. My hosts, Gloria and Gordon, faultless. The things I saw were not necessarily what every tourist would see, but they were an experience, one I'm ever so grateful for.

Overnight bus to LA, due to arrive 4am.

26th January 2009 - Old Tucson Studios

Early start today, again! Lucky I'm adaptable!

Headed off with the morning school and work traffic to the outskirts of the city. Past the Indian Reservation with the new big whizz bang casino. On the highway to Tucson. Lovely, leisurely drive. Countryside, desert and cactus, but good. Beyond the highway of course.

Through Tucson, exit 3million and 29 or something, and then we were up and down hills through the Saguaro National Park. These amazing cacti had been observed everywhere, but the massive amounts in the national park - simply astonishing! http://www.nps.gov/sagu/ We emerged out the other side of the national park, after a few photo stops for me, to be nearly at Old Tucson Studios. These studios are used for filming many western movies, and were used for many western movies well known to all the old farts out there! http://www.oldtucson.com/ It's a bit of a theme park. Was a cool day. Saw some good skits, and as it was Australia Day, we enjoyed a few beers. It was lovely and warm, so they were needed. Thoroughly enjoyable - albeit exhausting! So much to see and do. As you go in, they give you a timetable of the shows, shootouts, etc etc. So we had a schedule to get through! Some laughs though! That's for sure!

Trip back to Tucson, it's about 2 hours each way, was broken with a driver swap and in time to see a nice enough sunset. Lovely. Return to Paradise Valley was marked with dinner at a new little Italian restaurant, with yummy pizzas. It was early, but it was late thanks to the early start and full day.

Gloria and I parked ourselves in front of our computers for facebook and skype lessons, before realising how the night had got away from us and retreating to bed!!

25th January 2009 - Alice Cooper'stown! Yeehah!

25th January 2009

21st May 2009 - Note...
So, I'm finally finishing my blog. I've been requested to finish by a few who have been reading my new regular blog, but want to know how this one finished!! They said even though it's ages on, they would love to know how the trip up the west coast went, so here I am! Nearly 4 months later, drawing on my notes, scribbles, photos and memories! I apologise for not finishing earlier. I was too busy enjoying the trip! Even my written journal was neglected!


So 25th January was spent in Phoenix, staying in Paradise Valley. Beautiful part of the area! Absolutely stunning It was an early start to the day, as the wonderful hosts I was staying with attend church on Sunday mornings. Up and out to breakfast, and sunshine, my oh my, sunshine! I went in with Gloria, who helps with Sunday School before the service. At this point, I should add, I was still unaware of what religion exactly they were. On the way, she pointed out lots of significant points and places she loves. Soon we were at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. The church I'm later to discover is John McCain's church. Small point of interest for you there. Sunday School and the service was interesting. Very different to the style, format and content of mass I'm used to. Following the morning at the Church, it was on to Alice Cooper's bar, Cooperstown!

Cooperstown was the reason for going to Phoenix. The only reason! Kind of. Stretching the story a bit. I saw a piece on one of our travel shows a few years ago about Phoenix, and it featured both his bar and his golf club. I thought then, I want to go to Phoenix one day, it looks stunning. The show did show it well. So to his bar for lunch we went. It was an experience, in two ways. So exciting to be there. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, just like a Hog's Breath Cafe in Australia. It was where I'd wanted to go, it was what I'd wanted to do, so I was happy!

Gordon and I then went for a drive around Phoenix city and over to Scottsdale for a look around, before returning to Paradise Valley for a bit of a rest and recover from the early start. Scottsdale very much the rather artsy little city they say it is. Very different vibe to the glitz and shine of Phoenix. It was off to a concert that evening, so a rest was needed. So concert. Just to add to interesting experiences. Willy Nelson. WTF! So we went to Dodge Theatre and were glad for our good seats, and back we sat to enjoy. Before some total bogan fans rocked up and sat in front. Absolute bogans. Anyway, concert was rather boring! So not for me! But the most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Though tell me, what's with young girls seriously, sickeningly so, in total lust for the old man? Eww! Found this review, it tells me it was a good show.... http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/01/luke_holwerdawillie_nelson_on.php ... lol!

That was the day, and the night. The concert was loooooooooooong. The next day was set to be a big day, so home, cup of tea with Gloria and that was that!

To the sun I go!!!

24.1.2009

 

Lovely sleep in again this morning. Nice to sleep comfortably and well. Roast lamb and pavlova for breakfast! Packed bags and it was soon enough time to head off to the airport. Harrisburg airport tiny, but big enough. Selected for "random" security screening again. It's so rude! Short flight to Washington DC - i.e. less than half an hour!, Few hour wait at the airport before the 5 hour onward flight to Phoenix. Hostess thoughtful and nice - told us that it's cold down the jetway and suggested we wear our coat or jacket downwards. Trip across the continent actually quite nice. A 5 hour flight is long enough to get settled and enjoy the flight but short enough to not be sick of it. What was most amazing was that there were no patches of ark at any point across the continent. Always so much light in sight. And I don't mean light from the sky, but light from the cities and towns. So built up, so much everywhere. Nothing at all like flying from Perth to Melbourne. Flight left at 5.30pm so for a few hours, as we were flying west, had sunset. Beautiful sunset indeed. (Was blessed to not be on a full flight, so a window seat with nobody in the aisle seat.) Amazed by the sight of Phoenix from the sky, so expansive. Was collected and brought back to the lovely home in which I've been accepted for a few days.

Australia Day came early in Pennsylvania!

23.1.09

 

Wonderful sleep last night, and sleep in this morning. Turkey bacon and omlette for breakfast, Michael home from school at 10.30. Made a pavlova and popped that in the oven, and when it was turned off and cooling, Geneva and I went to the supermarket so that I could source stuff for lamingtons and roast lamb. Highly successful trip. They had legs of lamb, but they were massive, and the butcher overheard me trying to understand why there was nothing smaller, so he offered to cut a piece off. So nice of him. Everything I needed to dress the pav, make the lamingtons and roast the lamb, it was all there. I was stoked! A fantastic early Australia Day!!

 

Returned home, made everything and then relaxed further in front of Seinfeld. Was waiting for another lady and her little girl to come for afternoon tea, but they called a bit later and had spent the day running around after their car which had been hit by another, so it wasn't to be. Did a load of washing as well. All excitement! Seriously, peaceful - relaxing - calm - warm. PERFECT few days rest!!!

 

Cooked the roast and my oh my, the best I've cooked lamb roast in quite a while. Absolutely delicious dinner. I just LOVE lamb roast, that's for sure!!! A few bowlfuls of dessert - yummo! Full as a goog in no time, and well worth the feeling. The best all round meal in a long long time!!!

Carlisle, PA

22.1.09

 

Bright and early, up and at 'em! I'm beginning to find getting up before day time to not be so difficult. Everything went according to time schedule and I was at the Greyhound station in very good time. Discovered why the queues are typically so far out the door - at the start of the day they have no staff working - so the few customers become money, too quickly. Love the service of some "customer service agents" - snapping and snarling at customers struggling to comprehend basic concepts.

 

Boarded bus and was off for my drive through the countryside. 3.25 hours later was pulling in to the Harrisburg bus station, collecting my bags and meeting Geneva. A few false starts heading off from the bus station and we were on the road to Carlisle. Short drive and we were there.

 

A restful and relaxing day was to come - not much movement or activity! Lovely. A turkey breast had been cooked for lunch/dinner (delicious!), Michael came home from school early afernoon, we watched Seinfeld. That was about it for excitement! Very relaxing and just what my poor, tired legs needed - a recliner chair and a tv!!! hehe.

Post Inauguration Sightseeing

21.1.09

 

What a terrible day to sightsee. So many school groups had obviously come to DC for the Inauguration and had stayed late to also sightsee. So many people everywhere, so much for travelling in winter and avoiding crowds!!! Was a pleasant day weatherwise, not TOO bitter, and the sun shone.

 

Started over at Arlington to complete the little JFK circle I'd started. Boston/MA area as his home, Texas where he'd toured and Dallas where he'd died, then Washington where he'd grown to fame and been buried. I find it sad that he was buried in Arlington, and then she when she died in 94. Along with two of their infant children - but not John John when he died. The baby they'd lost in 56 was buried there, so had obviously been exhumed and put in, as well as the baby from August 63. I don't know, it seems weird and sad to me.

 

From there I walked over to The Mall. Started at the Lincoln Memorial - ha, queue far too long for me to bother with that! Then the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Well, I don't get that. Plus it has been "tackified". Don't let me get started. FDR Memorial - long queues again, of course, not bothering with that. WW2 Memorial - I simply don't like it. Helped a little old lady jump up on a pillar to take a photo - her friends wouldn't help her - she was fit and healthy, it was harmless, grumpy bums they were. Reflecting Pool frozen over and covered in that much rubbish from the filthy pigs attending yesterday. Toilets and scaffolding still covering the place from the events of the past few days. Gee I sound like such fun don't I? I was having a nice day, I really was. It was sunny, cold but sunny. I had my lunch and had my thermos, I was right.

 

Went to the American History Museum, saw the first American flag, that was cool. The Natural History Museum - that was very cool - only went in there to see the dinosaurs and was rewarded with a t-rex and a triceratops, also an allosaurus and a diplodocus and a stegosaurus. Awesome! I was a big kid!! The Air and Space Museum for freeze dried icecream.

 

Up to The Capitol from there. Reflecting Pond up there covered in rubbish also. Building still set up from yesterday, so a few photos. Around to the Supreme Court. Down to The White House. Couldn't see much of that - still had the Reviewing Stand and scaffolding from the parade yesterday. Saw enough of it to be truly underwhelmed. Nowhere near as big as I'd felt it was from all the pictures and film.

 

By now though, legs and feet starting to hurt, and it was getting cold, so stopped for some dinner, then back to the hostel. Turns out I'd walked about 8 miles today. Packed and watched some tv, then skidaddled once 3 hours of Lost started. A few others were hiding out from Lost upstairs, so a bit of chat, then bed. Early morning tomorrow, again!

 

DC all in all - I'm glad I came back for it, it was once in a lifetime, but even looking beyond the rubbish and the people and the scaffolding and toilets, I'm not sure that I'll race to return. I'd not discount it for research or another cool event, but I don't know that I'd include it on a future itinerary. Something about it just didn't grab me. Not cross with myself for coming though, it was awesome, truly awesome! A holiday of some totally amazing stuff, that's for sure!!!

A crowd of over 2 million people

20.1.2009

 

Nice and early morning this morning. A group of us were going together, but with the few bathrooms available, some of us knew to get up even earlier so that we did get a shower - and a hot shower. So time we were up?? 4.15am! Ouch! Headed off into the night air at 5.30am, down towards the train station, just to check how busy it might be. It was pretty packed, but there was room for us, so in we hopped. That was just the start of the "packed".

 

Took hours to get into The Mall, so many people, and such poor crowd control and help from the officials and volunteers. Eventually we were in, sort of. Couldn't see the roof of the Capitol even, but wow, we were in a crowd of over 2 million people and so much closer than so many others could only dream to be.. Such an extraordinary experience. I really can't describe it. Photos do their best. The happiness of the people, amazing. I was just so lucky to take a photo that I did - the hug of a couple at the point the oath was completed. Sheer elation. It was a long day, not too cold, but tiring and ever so exciting. Rewarding.

 

Returned to the hostel and boy did we all crash and burn on the couch in front of the tv to watch the parade and talk about our amazing experience. Those that had stayed in just laughed at us!! Sascha the hostel owner bought us all pizza for dinner, what a champ! Not a late night for anyone, again. Absolutely knackered!

Recovery!

19.1.09

 

Recovery! 13 hours after falling asleep I woke. A day in the airport surely can and does take it out of you! Needed desperately to wash clothes, as that was going to happen in Richmond originally, so couldn't go far as everything was icky from being in a dirty washing bag. Eventually all was clean and dry. Met a heap of others living in the hostel and all were enjoying a quiet and restful day in anticipation for tomorrow, and advised that I didn't worry about doing anything, just relax. Took myself for a walk around the neighbourhood though as it was fresh air I really needed. Cooked dinner, ham steak and salad, plans were plotted for the big mission tomorrow and everyone prepared for an early night and early morning. Recovery. Oh to feel so human!

Gate A19

17.1.09 and 18.1.09

 

Gate A19. No paragraphs in this story because it was a non stop drama with no obvious breaks. It was horrid!!

 

Yick! Up at 4.15am to get taxi at 5.00am. Arrived at bus station at 5.10am, bought ticket for airport shuttle and waited for the 5.30am departure, inside in comfort luckily. Arrived to airport at 5.55am and then hell on earth began!!! Delivered to terminal C, and directed to the inter terminal train to get me across to terminal A. Well, waited and waited, then told after 10 minutes that the train that comes every 3 minutes wouldn't be coming this morning. Broken down. Must walk, were all walking as fast as we could, but I was struggling. My leg was caning, I had my stocking on and that tends to cause a few cramps when walking too far too fast with my backpack on. Not normally a problem. Made it to the terminal, joined the queue, kept checking the watch, along with a lot of other people. Made it to within a few of the front, saw a few other people checking in and their screens saying "too close to flight time to check in by yourself, see a customer service agent" so they called one over, she informed them their flight was full. My stomach turned - that was my flight I knew it. Sure enough, my turn, screen just said "no seats available". BASTARD! Put on standby, but told by the customer service agent that it wasn't likely I'd escape today because "it's messy today". I had hope though. The others around me getting the same story were all complaining about the queues, the train break down etc, and were told by the bitches of agents, "you should've been here 2 hours before the flight"... ummm, heard of domestic?! So everyone else did the whingeing for me and I knew there was no point. It was officially our fault, too bad there was nothing any of us could've done. Went to the gate, arrived at the damned gate in time for boarding of OUR flight, and to see STANDBY's getting called up for those seats. What the?! Well, what's happened you see is people have checked in online at home, and then not shown up for whatever reason. The airline sees that it is full so puts us on standby which puts us below those waiting from yesterday or earlier in the day. The airline boards the plane, those that are checked in don't show up. They have space so they go to the standby list. Anyway, 9am flight rolls around. No standby's called up for it at all. A few depart. A few say they'll wait til the 10.15am flight. 10.15 comes and goes and the next flight is 3.30pm. Most make alternative plans, except for a few of us with not much choice, or some with a bit of time to be able to wait. Some make backup plans in case 3.30pm fails. All depart the gate area anyway, 5 hours to kill, they can go home and kill it. A lady waits with her 16 year old son, it was lucky she had a sense something would go wrong and had stuck around instead of just dropping him off and going home. So he sleeps and she and I talked. Lovely Irma. At midday we go for lunch. Nice lunch. I had a gin and tonic, needed something to help me sleep, as I knew I'd be needing sleep. 3.30pm flight comes and everyone returns to the gate and a lucky few get on it but that's it, no more room. Terrific. One girl has been waiting since the 3.30pm flight yesterday and is trying to get to see her boyfriend who is in the marines and due to return to wherever it is he is from. Poor girl. We all reassess the standby list and get told where we are on it, roughly though. The girl asks why she's not at the front. Turns out she wasn't on the bloody list. Poor thing. She takes off in tears. Irma and Salim decide to put him on the 6pm flight he has as a backup with another airline, so I wander over to that terminal with them. It's not like I have anything else to do or anywhere else to go. We get there, she panics he's not going to get home on Monday because he'll have missed his first segment with US Airways... They go to check that out, I sit at the gate making sure the plane doesn't go without him! They return, then time to board his flight comes and goes, nobody boards. He starts to worry, it isn't going to happen. Then an announcement - the hostess was lost in the airport! heheheehehehe. She turns up, everyone cheers, they board the plane. He has the biggest smile, I have the biggest sense of needing to cry! Noooooooooo, I'm set to sleep in the airport. So grateful I have emergency knickers and toothbrush/paste in my bag. Not happy that my makeup was packed, contrary to my usual action. Anyway, buy a pillow and rug, farewell Irma who gives me some wet ones, then settle in to watch a movie and sleep. Bugger all sleep - 4hours broken. Eww. Up at 4, try to reset my body to normal. Have some breakfast with another guy who'd been sleeping in the airport as well and was waiting for the same flight. Anyway, 7am and everyone else arrived. Flight came, a few were called up. Name after name, then MY NAME! BERMINGHAM, BERMINGHAM?? I lept up, threw my computer at one of the guys and said please reply to that mum email to say I'm flying, as I'd been emailing her and she had just decided to become concerned that I may not escape. Grabbed my boarding pass, ran to the plane, NO SEATS! They'd miscounted. I was sent back. My heart shattered. The 7am was our best chance of escape they'd said. Anyway, the lady was so apologetic about it that she put me to number one for sure and confirmed me on a flight out of Charlotte once I got there, ad put me on standby for an earlier one. She was confident I'd escape at least by 10.15, but definitely by the end of the day. Anyway, 9am came, and went. Plane went without any standbys on it. Heartbreaking stuff. Not having standby at home, it's hard to fathom. It is ok to begin with but when you stink like that and have had no sleep, and no end in sight. It's hard. Anyway, after that, she checked 10.15 and confirmed me on it. OMG, I had a boarding pass! I had a seat on a plane!!!!!!! I was leaving Houston! WOW WOW WOW!!!! My plans for Richmond were not going to happen, I'd resigned myself to this by now, but I was going to make it to DC. Was going to miss the concert, but I'd be there for Tuesday. 10.15 boarding and in the queue I hopped. The others insisted on not waiting and were rewarded with boarding passes. We were stoked! All hopped on that plane and we were out of there! Got to Charlotte and all reunited for a final farewell! Our journeys were coming to an end!!! Arrived Richmond soon enough, taxi straight to the train station. Things were working! Yay! Had dozed on both 2 hour flights, and also dozed on the train. Pulled into Union Station in DC in good time and what a beautiful sight for such sore eyes. The Washington Monument and Capitol Building lit up and visible. Nutted out the transport system, made it to hostel, had tour, shower, oh my god, clean! It's possible to be clean and into bed!! Oh wow!!!! It ended!!! 30 hours in Gate A19 - I'll never again repeat if I can help it - I certainly won't be flying US Airways again.

January 16th

16.1.09

 

Was waiting for Kim to call this morning, she was going to think of something to do that was typically Houston, so while waiting, was gasbagging downstairs. She called, not well and couldn't come. Oh no! I didn't want to think of anything to do! Decided to take the easy option and take my book to the rose garden down the road at the big park and read in the sun and enjoy the last day of warmth before returning to the north-east cold! So that was my highly eventful day!!!! More of the same come evening time, but an earlyish turn in because I needed to be up so damned early for my 7am flight and couldn't be tired at the other end. That was it!

 

Museum District

15.1.09

 

Waited AGES to get into the shower this morning, then was collected by the KT lady, Kim, and the two young kids she was babysitting. Off we ventured to the Natural Science Museum to see the butterfly display. Not exactly something I'd have done if I was by myself, but it was a really nice morning out. To do something "normal" not so much touristy, very nice. Gorgeous young kids as well.

 

After the museum she had to get them lunch and home for their naps, so we went through "Burger King" and I had the first whopper in the USA. Well, pretty bloody shameful. Take a good whopper and destroy it. I couldn't finish it. It was horrid. Can't wait to get home and have a real one! After I was home I checked out the map and itinerary of free museums as Thursday is free entry for a heap of museums. which in Houston are all situated within a few blocks of each other. 

 

Started with the Medical/Health Museum. Hmm. Interesting. Rather like Scitech, but probably ot as good. Still killed a bit of time. Wandered up to the Weather Museum from there as it was due to close to free entry at 4.00. It was TINY! It had a fair bit in there, and as the only customer the man was so nice, turning the videos on for me as I asked and getting me brochurs and further information about stuff. When I departed, "Can I ask please, are you AUSTRALIAN?" he quizzed, nervously! He was so excited to meet one!

 

Following that, I went to the Holocaust Museum. Something about the write up and it's exterior drew me in against my better judgement - that it would be tacky. Well, wasn't I pleasantly surprised. They'd done a really good job. It wasn't a small effort, it was very educational and insightful, and respectful. Done so amazingly well. Had a library attached to it with old books for sale for 50cents! Bargain! Ok, yes, I bought a few!! They also had two "extra" displays - one on Dr Suess as political commetary during the war, a lot of cartoons from PM Magazine. A good display. Another one of artwork, also very good. A good sample of the museums around.

 

A few drinks (INSIDE) thanks to my bottle of kahlua and the decanting of that into coke bottles, and lots of discussion with the guys about anything and everything. Lots of laughs at the weird people who were 'permanent' residents and constantly on our case to "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, people are upstairs sleeping".... "ummmm, it's 9.30pm, certainly not quiet time!"

Houston, We have a problem!

14.1.09

 

This was the most amazing and wonderful days! Had been told how to get to and from the space centre using public transport, but had forgotten pretty promptly how long to allow to get TO the bus stop I needed, so I erred on the side of caution and rose fairly early. Took off, waited at the bus stop for about 30 minutes, then was the first person on the coach that never quite numbered about 6 passengers! Sat at the front so that I could watch the weird freeways. Something very odd about the off ramps and the way the network works. Makes sense that it's developed the way it has, but it didn't give a nice vibe about the city. After an hour on the bus was at the space centre and checked that the stop we were at is where I'd find the return bus at 5.30. Last bus at 3.00 she said. WHAT!?? Tough, I'd paid for my tour and would work out how to get to the bus stop which was nearby but not quite walking distance where I could get a 6.00pm bus later. So in I went, so excited!

 

Once inside and in possession of my special VIP tag and ticket, I checked out the displays and set ups until it was time to join the tour. A really nice group - only 9 of us, and everyone very friendly but not overbearing. Started talking to one couple, then another. We went straight to the cafeteria for lunch. Were given a ticket and told we had no upper value limit, but could only pay once, so had to get everything we wanted, including dessert, and if we wanted could bring a drink back on the bus, as long as it had a lid. Well, as Mum later said to me - "I can well imagine a backpacker Bermingham in a cafeterria that's FREE!" I went mad! The food all looked pretty decent, and hell, I can eat big, and explain it as being a starving backpacker who has to eat when she can! As I walked back out, another couple invited me to sit with them, then their eyes just bulged when they saw how loaded up I was! I explained why (ok ok, it was just an excuse, I've not been starving at any point!) They were in shock because they were SHARING dessert! hehe. I ate it all, of course, and enjoyed every morsel! We returned to the bus and were joined by the guy who had been late to arrive. Well, word had passed around that the colt from old regret, no no, word had passed around that I was a starving Aussie backpacker travelling the world for 3 months... all in the time I'd gone to the toilet! So the new arrival thought that sounded fascinating because he was young and couldn't conceive of doing such a thing! I couldn't believe how fast word had got around! So we were all off for a good start as we laughed and laughed - mostly them at my accent, and me at them because I can't HEAR my accent. Why we weren't laughing at the Scots I really don't know!

 

First stop was the neutral boyancy lab. A pool umm, about double the length and width of an olympic sized pool, but 12 metres deep. Pretty damned deep! Anyway, it was chock full of equipment and a few astronauts and a heap of divers. The astronauts in there were those that are due to go up on Feb 12th.  They were too deep to see through the windows, but at one point we could, the rest of the time there was a tv with their radios playing through the sound. Awesome. Their suits weighed 300 pounds - can you believe that? They stay under for about 6 hours at a time, a few days a week, prior to going up.

 

After the neutral boyancy lab it was back onto the Johnson Space Centre property. The Johnson Space Centre employs (directly and mostly indirectly) 17000 people. Fully self contained satellite city, except they did lose their power, although they have their own supply/system, when Ike hit. So into the first mission control centre of the day - this one was doing a simulation of docking the shuttle to the space station. We were there to see it "dock". One of the INCA's came in and answered some questions for us - Instrument Control something something. He was great.

 

After that centre into another - the one for the space station. It was an hour before the astronauts were due for sleep, so there wasn't much activity, but it was the most beautiful part of the day, and almost homesick inducing. One of the screens showed us what the space station was looking at. Well, it was seeing a sunrise. 6 a day I think they said they see. It was situated over the Northern Territory/North of WA. I saw the sunrise over Australia. How incredibly beautiful. We'd have moved on earlier, but they were all so excited to see me see the sunrise over home. It's a sight I'll definitely not ever forget.

 

The third mission control centre was good to see, but not as exciting as seeing the sunrise. It was the 1965 control centre that was decomissioned in the early 2000s. As the 1965 control centre it was the one to have seen Apollo 11 and 13, along with a heap of others, but those most notably. The entire room is a museum, containing the mirror brought back from Apollo 13, which was presented to the guys in there with a beautiful thankyou message (for without them, we wouldn't be alive) and a request it was hung above the water fountain so that they could see their reflection often. Once those guys retired it was moved up. The flag that Neil Armstrong put on the moon is also on the wall in there. It's not just a museum but a national heritage site. Was able to sit in the Flight Director's position/not the real seat I'm sure, but it works for me!!

 

From there it was to the Astronaut's Training Lab, where the shuttle mockups etc are. There were a few astronauts training, floating around doing stuff. Saw the prototype of the moon buggy they're building for the return to the moon, and also the spider they're building to be able to do repairs to the space station to limit the need for too many space walks. The shuttle mockups are a replication of the real size, and was shocked to discover they're not actually THAT big! Rocket Park which contains the last Saturn V that was built - and then not sent to space, although planned, and then that was the end of the tour. A bit more of a look around inside the centre until closing time, then one of the lovely couples was happy to take me to the bus.

 

Bus back to the city took so much longer than the grumpy driver said it would. Was happy to get back to the hostel, then sat outside in the cold with some of the guys who were drinking in secrecy because the hostel wouldn't allow it thanks to a few alco's who have taken up residence there... Eventually a lady I was meeting up with from the KT group I belong to arrived and we headed to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Nice dinner, back, more talk for a few hours. A bit of arguing, as one guy was in Houston to give a presentation on public transport but also started talking about solar power and another guy had a bit of argument about THAT, made for a lot of laughs. Great bunch of guys. NASA though, absolutely friggin awesome. Worth every cent and worth the trip to Houston. So damned amazing.

San Antonio to Houston

13.1.09

 

Had further indulged and ordered room service breakfast, absolute rip off, but to eat breakfast in bed, and BEFORE I'm dressed and teeth brushed - what a treat!!!!! Nearly missed it though, as was deep asleep when the noise interrupted my sleep. That's ok. Needed to be up to head towards check out anyway! Checked out on the dot at 11, then returned to the post office to be rid of the post box. I thought morning time there would be a queue, but not so. Straight through again. Weighed 10 pounds 2 ounces, so that's a decent load off!

 

A few beautiful theatres in San Antonio the visitor centre had suggested checking out, no photos allowed inside, but nice to look. Came across the Old St Mary's Catholic Church. Was built after Texas became the independent Republic and there was an influx of Irish and German and other immigrants. A separate church to those operating for the missions etc was built. Went inside and again, just gorgeous. Was in time for Mass, so stayed. Luckily there was no singing, just an enthusiastic and committed priest who had a lot to say. After it was over, he made a beeline for me, with a heap of women in toe, wanting to know who I was. They were all so excited to hear that I:was an Australian but seemed rather disappointed that I was just a visitor. They were lovely and wanted to know all about my trip, what I thought of San Antonio, and to wish me all the best for the rest of my trip. They sent me on my way with a hug and the order that I was to return to San Antonio again sometime.

 

Walked down towards San Fernando Cathedral and the main plaza, the official centre. The remains of The Alamo heroes are interred in the Cathedral. The City Hall, then the Spanish Governor's Palace. That was an out of place architectural structure. So different to everything else around, but fairly well preserved, with a lot of pieces from the time or similar reconstructions. Very small for a palace though. Market Square had been recommended by Lonely Planet, but I realised it was a shopping complex, so asked around, and was told that it's the biggest Mexican Market Place outside of Mexico, so definitely check it out. It was nice, not amazing, but I think that had a lot to do with it being the off season. Stopped to make a purchase in a shop and talking to the lady there, she suggested that seeing as I love San Antonio and willl come back, that April is the best time - it's fiesta time, and she said the time they stop being individuals and embrace as a city. Glad it falls in April, fingers crossed it coincides with school holidays at some point.

 

Walked back via La Villita and the Riverwalk again. La Villita contains a theatre (name I've forgotten but it's on my photos) - an open air theatre, and it's featured in Miss Congeniality. I'm going to have to rewatch it because I can't picture it. Collected my bags and on to the Greyhound station. Bailed up by a toothless person from the deep south, who was everything the stereotype is, and then some. He asked about kangaroos and crocodiles, so he definitely was talking about Australia not Austria (as Dad just suggested he may have been) when he asked me where Australia is - "is it near Russia??" What does one say to that!! ?? LOL!!!!

 

Now sitting on the bus in the pitch black with nothing to see, nearing Houston, slowly slowly. Off to the Space Centre tomorrow. Am doing the 5 hour tour, having lunch in the Astronaut's cafeteria. Oooh! So excited!!!!!

Remember the Alamo

12.1.09

 

Had booked the 10.30 bus to San Antonio so not an early start but definitely no sleep in for me this morning. Trip to San Antonio only an hour and a half so before I knew it I was looking at street signs trying to work out where I was on the map. Discovered the station was pretty well in downtown, so jumped on a bus for the three stops to be just one block away from my treat hotel. Had booked a 4 star place last night, figuring for only one night I deserved a comfortable bed without a plastic sheet on it (in Dallas the plastic sheets on the bed were the plastic covers mattresses come in from the shop when they're new) and a bath tub to soak 7 weeks of dirt off, and the ability to sleep without ear plugs or an eye mask. Wow! It was beautiful! Bell boys to open the doors, bag brought to the room, a room that was a suite, not a room - a lounge room and a bathroom and a separate bedroom. Gorgeous decor, and a well located hotel indeed, right on the riverwalk.

 

I took off to find a post office to get a box to put all my stuff in, and visit The Alamo. The Alamo was a good tour, and freaky - to be standing in the room in which the canons obliterated the men, and to go into the room in which the women and children were huddling while the men were torn apart by canons. Beautiful buildings as well, the church which is now the shrine, and the long barrack, are all that really survive of the original mission. Built out of limestone, and just lovely. A significant battle in all of Mexico, USA and of course Texas' history, yet interesting that it was less than 200 men that died. Only 200 had to die there, and some more at Goliad, for General Sam Houston to eventually "Remember The Alamo" and in return obliterate the Mexicans.

 

Checked out a bit more of the downtown area and a few patches of the riverwalk, before returning to unnload stuff, then had some dinner and enjoyed my first and last luxury until I get to Mary's in Geelong! lol. So 4 weeks to go, and 7 weeks since. Packed my post box, and was so proud of myself, managed to squeeze in my "shocking" red jacket that is rather large and bulky, and that I thought I would not fit in! Such a relief to be able to send that onwards and not lug any further. Nice as it is, I don't need the choice of jackets while on holidays!!!!

 

Which also reminds me - the post office was beautiful, old, and weird. Had to go through security before gaining entry - I suspect that there were court offices in there, or perhaps not, perhaps they're just cautious, and there was no queues!! Straight to the counter. The man also let me take the postal box and not pay for it - it's a fixed price one but I still thought there'd be a cost for the box and then I'd just have to pay the difference for the postage. The security guards pointed out parts of the office of interest for me to take photos of. Very friendly and weird post office experience!!!!

Austin

11.1.09

 

Shock horror, I slept in this morning! No rush to be evacuated from the dorm, and a dorm full of other people sleeping in as well. Headed into town to go to the LBJ Museum and the Capitol building, also have a drink along 6th Street and yeah. The LBJ Museum was quite good, a few floors with some interesting stuff, interesting perspectives. Lots of the perspective being Lady Bird's perspective. The UT grounds, although undergoing redevelopment were fairly nice and calming, somewhat reminiscent of Murdoch.  The Capitol building was large! I think it said it was 15ft higher than the Capitol in DC. Now I'm questioning that as I type this from my notes, so don't quote me on it, I'll have to check for sure. It was still large. Became alarmed when I walked into one room to find trials for someone to sing the national anthem at some event, oh my, that loud pitched squeal, painful upon painful!!! Quite liked downtown Austin area, very different to Dallas, but it was definitely possible to feel the vibe about the place that they like to say they have. Their town motto is "Keep Austin Weird"...

 

Returned to the hostel and what do you know, there was Nadia and Cecile from Dallas! Ok, I knew they were coming down today, but it sounds good to sound surprised! hehe. A few guys from England were up for a good board game, so we all had a lot of laughs through a few different games. All the games were missing parts so required a lot of improvisation of rules. Given my sleep in and very delayed start, it was a busy afternoon and evening. It doesn't sound like much, but I need to give you a reprieve from reading the novels I seem to be typing. I should run a word count on some of these entries I think!!

Austin, Texas

10.1.09

 

Rise and shine after just 4 hours sleep, and out into the COLD - oh my, it was so cold!!! I'd become used to this slightly warmer weather so quickly!!!! Bus, another bus, walk, greyhound station. On the bus for the 4 hour trip to Austin. It's at this point that I commence typing this entry. I've dozed for a bit, and watched a lot of the highway pass by out the window.

 

Now entering Austin's outskirts, and it just looks like a city in Australia - no tall buildings in sight yet, just big shopping and commercial centres, car yards etc. Houses and apartment blocks, hotels. Much bigger cars down here than in Dallas, or more of them, I guess is the better way to clarify that. It's funny looking into cars and seeing, it's just the same over the world. Dad drives, mum dozing in passenger seat, or dealing with the kids in the back. Take away packaging, coke bottles etc litteriing the console area. Young girls in snazzy young cars only holding the steering wheel by the bottom, with just one hand. Young guys switching lanes without indicating. Old people driving slowly and seriously.

 

Anyway, arrived Austin, out to the bus and dared ask someone at the bus stop how much the fare would be and would I be able to use a note to pay for it. Well, he talked my ear off the entire bloody trip. No peace, just his running commentary about god only knows what - I had to tune out so i could enjoy looking out the window and matching everythig up to my map.

 

Hostel a cut lunch and water bag away from the main road that the stop was at, so I was surely glad to get my bag off. Hostel quite nice and a glorious view out over the Colorado River which was dammed to be the Town Lake which more recently is known as the Lady Bird Lake - after Lady "Bird" Johnson, LBJ's wife who was responsible for all the parkland along the river bank becoming useable.

 

Enjoyed a nice afternoon resting my weary head looking out the window at the cold - watching some guys from somewhere launch a homemade raft then nick off with the hostel's bbq and take themselves downstream to camp for the night. They weren't from the hostel, but obviously local and knew they could - however we were all watching in shock, that they just blatantly and openly came along and took the bbq! Someone called the hostel worker to see what he was going to do and he said, "Oh well, i presume they'll bring it back." pmsl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cowboy Day in Fort Worth

9.1.09

 

Whoot!! Cowboy day today!!! We'd been told by Ivan the hostel owner that we could go to a rodeo at 8.00pm in Fort Worth, so we'd left the day to be our cowboy day. We arrived in Fort Worth and were shocked to find the city centre just like a smaller Dallas really. Clean, neat, perfect, and nothing to indicate where in the world we were, well, except for the men in hats and walking like they'd just ridden their horse into town instead of driving in!

 

We pretty much aimed straight for the Stockyards because we were sure these would be fun! They sure were!! It was like a step back in time. It was completely obvious that it was a tourist construct, but we were ok with that because it was what we'd come to see. We'd have been highly disappointed if it hadn't been so! Bought our tickets to the rodeo, met a longhorn and it's owner. It was 16 years old - the cow that is! Walked through the horse stables and met a horse called Katrina... Yes, she was rescued from New Orleans after Katrina hit. Walked up to what looked like a homestead or something, sat and surveyed the area from there before walking back down to watch the cattle drive at 4pm. Yep, the day had passed quickly. Cattle drive laughable! A few cows just marching down the street, you could almost see them wondering why the hell they have to do this walk twice a day!! lol. Spent a few hours enjoying a few drinks and appetisers OUTSIDE at a restaurant, before a MASSIVE dinner and then we gorged and had dessert! After a few hours there watching people come and go, and laughing at so much - some cowboy wen't past in red shorts lol, we went to the rodeo.

 

The girls were under 21 so they were rapt when I returned from the drink stand with a can of beer for them each, how easy to please some! hehe. The rodeo was interesting to say the least. It started with the bull riding and ended with the bull riding. It was actually rather horrific, not the bulls, they were pretty good at getting their revenge, but at the poor little baby cows when they were getting trapped by the rope around their necks. Before that, I forgot, they had some display of flags and songs, all very patriotic, but seriously out of place given the lack of high level of sport that this was! Certainly didn't bring a lump to my throat or tear to my eye, or inspire anything within me but laughter. The guys from Bunbury appeared after the carry on and I asked what they thought about it, they said they were like me, struggling to hold the laughter in. Sorry American friends reading this, but sometimes such displays are so out of place! It smacked of the carry on on the Friday night in Hanoi outside Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. The other events during the rodeo that were very entertaining were the kids getting pulled out to chase lambs and old sheep and baby cows, all in different age groups. Typical bloody parents though - sending their little kids out for the age range above them, because they were sure they could win  a prize - they were proved wrong! To then send them out later with their appropriate age range, such competitive parents! Some kids were smart, sussing the scene out before participating, standing back from the crowd and waiting for the sheep to be cornered! There was I guess barrel-racing?? I'm not sure what it's called, but cowgirls racing the clock and taking their horses around barrels? Harmless and not gut turning. The baby cows however was very gut turning. The bulls though, I just about wet myself when one of the bulls ran straight for the joker man and tried to gore him! Hilarious!!!

 

We caught the last train back to Irving - Friday night, Fort Worth is promoted in the area as a place to go, and the last train leaves at 10.30, where's the point to that?! Got talking to a couple on the train, she'd never been on the train before, ever ever in her life. Any train! So he'd taken her out to Fort Worth for the night. She was in shock, as she'd decided we must all be travellingfor a short while, and when she discovered that it was 3 months for me, 4 months for the girls from Holland, 3 months for one Bunbury guy and 1 year for the other - she couldn't believe it. We had to explain hostels to her as well, and him. Such different views of travel. Actually , no wonder Mr Japan reckons we're lazy!! We are!! Pardon us! Anyway, they were on the train and we passed West Irviing, then got to South Irving - well, he realised he should've got off at West Irving. oops! Fortunately he could go all the way in to Dallas, wait 10 minutes then get the last traiin back - but the poor woman! First train experience and her last! Out too late she reckoned, and now lost on a  train with a moment of panic that they'd have to get a taxi home or wait til 5am as I suggested to her! That went down pretty terribly!

 

Returned to hostel and as we did, the Czech contingent who'd arrived last night returned and monopolised the one working bathroom of the three that had been in service that morning. Good that they did monopolise it as they all absolutely stunk - we don't think they'd showered in a very long time, but it made for a very late night to bed for me who needed to shower and get organised for my early get up in the morning. Eventually made it to bed. Yay.

 

Oh, quite funny, asked one of the guys from Bunbury about his job more specifically and he sort of skirted around, you know, maybe you've heard of, type of thing. I was like yep, yep, I know someone who worked there yadda yadda... Turns out he'd worked under this person a few years back!!

 

Also, weather wise, today was the most perfect day. Warm, and the ability to eat outside in just pants and a top with a jacket a bit later - such a treat. It felt like a spring day, absolutely superb.

Lazy Australians!

8.1.09

 

Today was a most casual day! A lovely sleep in, and a day of nothingness! Some new guys had checked in and they were from Bunbury and one studies at Murdoch, so we talked for ages. Eventually I took myself for a walk around Irving. Discovered the beautiful local park and waterway. Neat and tidy it was, and so nice in the sun. Bought a book from the supermarket and read that in the sun for a while. Was bailed up by a few locals around the place who wanted to talk, not at all a problem, I sure do love to talk back!!

 

Bought some food to make dinner and some chocolate for dessert. It was Thursday night and Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice were on. I'd found a bottle of kahlua yesterday when we were on our excursion through downtown Dallas, so that was also on the menu for tv time! Nadia and Cecile were Grey's fans also, and hadn't seen it this season, so once I gave them a run down on the plot so far, we were set to monopolise the tv!

 

Once it had finished, started talking to "Mr Japan" - a new roommate who was very weird. He's from Japan and studying architecture in Montana, and had come to Dallas to see the architecture in Fort Worth. Now we're not architecture experts, but really can't comprehend that Montana could be the best architecture school in the world - which he not just suggested, but actually said!!!! He also informed me that Australian people are lazy like the Europeans because we don't live to work. That went down REALLY well, as I'm sure you can imagine!! I tried to explain that that's a broad generalisation, but he didn't get it. Apparently the Japanese and Americans value money making far more than we possibly could. I had to bite my tongue a lot in conversation with him.

Dallas, Texas

7.1.09

 

Nadia and Cecile, two young girls from Holland, and myself spent the day in downtown Dallas.

 

First stop was the 6th Floor Museum and the pertinent sites down below. The museum we spent HOURS in. It was absolutely fantastic. It had been done so well, tastefully and extensively. The window was blocked from public access but not from public view. It had boxes set up in the way it was found by one of the many to run up there - how the boxes and room was arranged is questionable, as things were moved pretty soon after and never quite put back. We were just all so impressed with how well it had been put together and done, it really was awesome. I'd go as far as to say it was the best museum I've ever been to.

 

After we'd spent our hours in there, we went down to examine the grassy knoll and the X on the road for ourselves. This whole section of Dallas has been pretty well preserved the way it was back in 1963, as it was listed as a site to be preserved. Trees have grown and some roadsigns have been added, but essentially it has the same flavour as it did have. The lamp posts there are even different to the lamp posts in other parts of the city!

 

After we'd done all that we thought we'd venture to the West Village. After a few false starts, and then following the suggestion of locals that we could check out some shops without going to the West Village, we started trying to find these underground plazas and malls we'd been told by many a person Dallas had. Not to be found! Eventually decided the West Village was to be it, so we found the tram that runs straight down there. Lots of people were just sitting, including the driver. Turned out the tram's power had been cut and it could be a few hours until it was back! A lovely couple who lived about halfway to the West Village started walking home and suggested we walk with them, and they'd point us in the right directiion. It wasn't too far they said. They were pretty well right, but man, were we disappointed when we found the West Village. It was nothing like it had been described. I'd already taught the girls the word "yuppie" and once they saw it, they knew it was definitely a yuppie area! Once we'd circled it, we were given directions to a mall, easily accessed by train, with a 9pm closing time, so we made our way there. The girls wanted to do some shopping, shoes and clothes, I should explain that. The mall was huge, but so uncluttered and not at all hectic. We were incredibly surprised by that.

 

After our mall trip was over, we've all now been to an American mall, we made our way home. It was fairly late by the time we made it back, and all was good. Must say, Dallas definitely a clean and bright and flashy city. The richness could be seen everyway you turned. Everything gleamed - both inside and outside. Not at all an ugly city if you appreciate buildings!

6th January 2009 - NYC to Dallas

6.1.09

 

Today was the most boring and uneventful day. Rise and shine, shower, grab bag, breakfast, walk to bus stop. Miss the first one because the stuid $2 a ride buses don't accept notes. Ummm. Get on the next one, bus straight to airport. Get on flight. A few hours later land in Atlanta. Get on next flight, a few hours later land in Dallas. Find shuttle bus to take me to train station. Carparks in Dallas airport are a very long distance apart. Two shuttle buses and to the train station. Buy ticket, wait, wait. Train comes, train drops me at stop. I find hostel. Check in. Meet the others staying there. Go over road to find some food for dinner and something to drink. Advised this is a dry zone. "A what the?" I ask. Yep, bible belt, a dry zone. Nothing to drink but fizzy drink. Decide to go to Dallas city sights tomorrow with the two girls from Holland. We all talk some more, guy from somewhere I can't remember, but living in Brazil, Brian, made peanut butter biscuits. That was the excitement for the night. Hostel too far out from Dallas centre to go far before getting bearings by day, and trains only run every hour until 11pm. Highlight of the day as a whole was the sight of the sun and the KNOWING it was warm. It was dusk when I got off plane, but was definitely setting things up well for warmth the next few days.

5th January 2009

5.1.2009

 

Took myself off this morning to have my nails tidied at one of the many beauty salons within a small radius. Hannah had had a late night last night so she wasn't up and moving, but once she was ready and I was ready, we hopped on the subway straight down to lower Manhattan. Very different to the upper and mid town areas. Not just in people and general feeling, but even in the architecture. So very different. After finding the Titanic Memorial (a very small and rather pathetic lighthouse) we were ready to take on the Brooklyn Bridge. Rugged up well, prepared for cold wind over it - and over we went. It was fantastic! Not anywhere near as cold, long or boring as it could have been. Suprised halfway across to discover that to our right was that funny statue everyone goes to see, that I was not fussed to see or not see. (Statue of Liberty if you're wondering what I'm talking about!) Suitably impressed by the view from the bridge in all directions, not beautiful in the sense of the absolute beauty, but beautiful in that it was a view of something iconic, from something iconic, and to realise that I personally was HERE/THERE - it was just a real wow, omg, it's amazing - moment. I'm sure you know what I'm rambling about there!! After we made it over we looked at the Brooklyn map and thought that Brooklyn Heights would be a suitable destination. The historic area, it was indeed. Instantly we were in Brooklyn I felt a sense of peace and calm that one definitely doesn't feel in Manhattan, and I commented to Hannah that I liked it here. It wasn't too long before she admitted it was growing on her as well - very different to Manhattan, but not bad. We had lunch, which was yuck. Terrible. I had a turkey burger, which wasn't too bad, although the patty was made out of turkey mince, and I'd expected it would be a slice of turkey breast or the like. Hannah had an open turkey sandwich, which turned out to be bread with chunks of (leftover) turkey (from Christmas???) and drenched in gravy. It was disgusting. Not to mention the service when we first walked in this place. We sat down, we'd been told to sit whereever and we were snapped at to move elsewhere. Then we struggled to get service, then we got this terrible food and were not asked at all how it was - funny that! So we were not particularly nice when we tipped. We don't care that you're meant to tip regardless, we tipped, but used our pennies, and paid little attention to what they added to. Not much, that's for sure. Not just were we drastically overcharged for shit food, but we'd received the worst service. Not holding it against Brooklyn though. Just that restaurant. Once we'd seen a bit more of Brooklyn Heights, jumped on the subway back to Manhattan. Once in Times Square, hopped off and up to Letterman to collect our tickets. Were in such a damned long queue to collect them. Were given a number and told to WAIT. Were given a revving up then sent on our way, to return 45 minutes later. While we were collecting our tickets we were asked by the guy if we were prepared to take our hats off inside, of course we said yes, they're beanies to keep our heads warm. The girls in front of us were asked the same question. One flipped. She demanded to know why. She couldn't understand why. We'd decided to kill time we'd go to Grand Central Station as we wanted to see it, but after the revving up and delay, I suggested we just go for the $5 cosmopolitans that were advertised up the road. Far better way to get us in the laughing mood for the show. Had a few, and next to the bar was a little table with "red hat" - the lady who couldn't understand why she had to take her hat off. The hat matched her lipstick, but that really was it. It didn't match anything else, at all! It didn't even make her look good, so we couldn't understand her distress. Once back at Letterman, I took my hat off because the one  was wearing gives me lines below my hairline, so I wanted them to uncrease sooner rather than later, not that I thought we would get caught on camera, but just in case. Red hat still had her hat on. The queue snaked in, we sitted down. She still had her hat on. The theatre filled, the staff seated people. She still had her hat on. Hannah and I were starting to get really frustrated at her obnoxious behaviour, and were contemplating calling someone to have them make her hat off, just to spite her by this point, when someone did ask her to take it off. Yay for him! I've not seen such stupid insistence about the most pathetic thing before!!! The show was ok, the special guest was Keifer Sutherland, which was pretty cool. He had some pretty funny stories to tell. All in all, it was a good experience and a fantastic day. Once back at the hostel, it was time to do some washing and pack for departure. Have to also mention, had an apple pie from McDonalds. Interesting that theirs are different to ours in Australia, yet the apple pie I had in Slovakia last year was the same as ours, not America's! mwahahha. Oh yes, ours are better!

4th January 2009

4.1.2009

 

We've seen a Broadway play (and I've seen a Broadway musical) but time to check out seeing an absolute blockbuster Broadway musical. The Lion King. First stop on the way out for the day was the ticket booth and the theatre. The ticket booth didn't have any tickets for it, and i don't think I'd seen them at other times either, so we walked to the theatre to see what their offerings were. I'm leaving Tuesday so today being Sunday was my last chance to see something, anything, but particularly this. The only option at the theatre was the expensive tickets at the front. Worth itwe decided. Paid our money and off we went to kill some time until 2pm. More shopping - or more of looking shopping than shopping shopping. Had mexican for lunch then I spotted the police booth, so asked there about reporting my coat stolen - not possible there, but given directions to the cop shop I'd need to go to. Still had time to kill - why is it that when you don't want time to fly it does, but when you do, it won't!?!?!? As we were walking down the street we saw the Letterman theatre and the sign advertising tickets available, so we decided to put our names down. Couldn't hurt, and they're free. Had to be interviewed by the production team before we could hand the form in, what a totally weird experience. Returned to the Minksoff Theatre in time for the most amazing show. The Lion King. It was simply tremendous. Anyone that has seen it would understand. To see it on Broadway, brilliant. So big and full of character and life. Special effects, costumes, wow, what a show. Following the show it was time for a very different experience. The police station. Went to the station I'd been told to go to. Was asked by the cop why I hadn't reported it before now. Ummm, I've been on holidays and busy, and been returning to the shop to see if it had been returned. He was not nice. Lady cop was then not exceptionally nice to me - she asked the address of the restaurantI'd been at, I told her, she told me it wasn't the address because I hadn't given her the street number. I told her all I knew was what I'd told her, and that all the cops I'd spoken to before now knew where I'd been and hadn't sent me on my way. Eventually she gave me the form to fill in and once I'd done that, she must've realised I was just a tourist from overseas, because she visibly softened and started being nice and helpful. I was impressed with the speed in which my need to fill in the bloody form was filled and I was on my way much earlier than I thought I would be. Hannah had dinner half ready by the time I returned - beetroot, cabbage, chicken, zucchini, capsicum. A good proper meal we'd both said we'd needed. The South African guys from Friday night wanted to go for a drink after they finished watching the Sunday night movie in the theatre room, it was their last night in NYC, but the movie just went and went and went, and I was starting to get really weary and in need of more antihistamines and drugs to slow this cold that just won't budge, so I was soon dead to the world. Too late for me, this damned illness. Note to self, and anyone reading this. Ensure you're over any cold well before you leave home so that it doesn't return when you hit cold weather!!!!!

3rd January 2009

3.1.2009

 

Saturday morning in New York City. What does one who lives here do? We really were not sure but decided brunch would probably be an apt activity. Didn't need to start too early thanks to Hannah's having gone to "the party" last night, so it was very late brunch for sure by the time we rocked up to some very "Chelsea" Chelsea restaurant. Laughed at the waitstaff and how different they looked to those at home, dressed in whatever they liked, and in such a "Chelsea" fashion. Delicious breakfast, and a good start to Saturday. Restaurant was called "Elmos". lol. From there we braved the waterfront park - braved it because the closer we edged to water, so much colder the wind became. While walking down, an ambulance had a car crash into it, and the ambulance lost it's front. Was kind of funny. Went past the Chelsea Hotel -  (Dylan Thomas drank there). A man walking past noticed our cameras around our necks and wrists and offered to take our photo under the sign. Hannah hesitated, quite obvious a hesitation, but I said ok. I asked her about it once he'd gone - she thought it was odd a stranger would offer to take a photo and had thought he wanted to steal our cameras. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Oops. I'm so not a suspicious person in that sort of situation. Back from the waterfront park (which was not exceptionally exciting) we walked through the main streets that make up the gallery district. Into a few galleries. Some were quite marvellous. After we'd had our cultural fix in Chelsea, we hotfooted it back to Times Square to check out tickets for "All My Sons" the play John Lithgow, Diane Wiest, Katie Holmes were starring in. I knew I wanted to see it, but Hannah hadn't heard of it. Once she saw it and read a little, she was convinced. We were too early for 'student rush' so we killed a little bit of time until 5pm. Into a few shops, then in typical New York City fashion, time had passed superbly fast, so we were in the Student Rush queue. Made it to the front, got our tickets. $25 each. Absolute bargain. One seat in row B and another in row G. Had 2.5 hours to pass til we'd need to be thinking about sitting down so back to the hostel, made some dinner, got changed, returned. Oh my friggin god, that show was friggin fantastic. Full of drama, it had an ending that I surely didn't see coming. A gunshot was in there, which was not just a gun shot but a total shock. Absolutely amazing show. We did one act each in each seat, to be fair, and the seats were both different perspective but equally good. The row B seat gave us both a total star struck moment or two, which we were surprised to find we both had had, when we discussed it after. That we were only 2 metres from the stage, and these amazing and well known actors were so damned close to us, we were overcome with "wow". We both said we felt like our mums...! lol (sorry Mum, but it's true, you'd have been having kittens at being so close!) Could see the skinniness of Katie Holmes without magazine photoshopping. So bloody skinny. Finished up the evening with some cake from Junior's Bakery next door. They claim to be the best cheesecake makers in NYC, or more to the point, New York Times Magazine says they are - we don't doubt them there. Strawberry Pie Cake we both chose. It was simply divine.

January 2nd 2008

2.1.2009

 

Hannah and I had decided on New Year's Eve that we could do some stuff together for the next few days, rather than separately, which worked well for me. She had a fabulous book and map and I was happy to go along with anything she wanted to do, seeing as I hadn't done too much touristy stuff to date. Morning started at a reasonable hour, and we walked downtown through Central Park and via the Dakota building, which she hadn't seen. The Dakota Building being where John Lennon lived and was killed. Once we made it to Columbus Circle and had a cup of tea and coffee, went in search of my coat. I was heartbroken to have confirmed the non-appearance and unlikely reappearance of my coat. How sad. I insisted that we get a train further downtown as the cold was killing me by this point, and of course, I was coatless!! Caught a train down to the Union Square area and had lunch, then wandered through the markets in the direction of Washington Park and on to Bleeker Street. That was the most of Hannah's must see list for that area, so it was my turn for a must see! I had read about the Old St Patrick's Cathedral and thought that would be nice to see, so we rounded a few corners, and there it appeared. It's yard WAS a graveyard, which was pretty horrid, lucky for us it was locked away behind a gate and high wall. The cathedral itself was quite beautiful, albeit small. No wonder they had to build a new one. Discovered a plaque referring to the "Know Nothing Movement" so we were fascinated as to what that could be - to later look up. Onwards we trudged, ok, we didn't trudge, we were having a nice day and it was fun, so definitely no trudging, but onwards we moved through to Little Italy and Chinatown - Chinatown encroaching on Little Italy as the Italian immigrants are not so new (as a general group) and are moving up to better areas. So funny that you can walk through so many different suburbs in such a short distance - Soho, Noho, Nolita, West Village, etc etc. Our final stop before we had to be back to the hostel for an evening trip to The Met was an outlet store called Daffys. I found a substitute coat in there. It's stuffed with duck down!!! It really is like wearing a doona! Am very grateful it doesn't LOOK as though I'm wearing a doona!!! Once back to the hostel, a few minutes to spare to get organised before heading off to see The Met. Well, that itself was an experience. It's a museum that only suggests an entry fee - of $20, but at any time you can pay what you like. Friday night is 'free' night, in that they definitely don't expect payment. By the time we got there we had grouped up with a few others in the tour, from South Africa. I paid my entry fee first, handed over $1 and the lady asked how many it was for, 1 I answered, before thinking, derrrrrrrrrrr Alycia, you could've said 5! So the next 4 only paid 25 cents each, by handing over $1 also. Tour was good, easy to break off and see what we wanted. Had been told to keep close to the guide so we could see and hear, so I made sure I did when I wanted to. I'm not polite on holidays anymore. The funniest moment though was when I'd separated a bit from the group but then returned to it just to hear the guide asking (should point out here that the group was not the hostel group only, it contained others) what the look on the lady's face suggested about her - everyone was answering with deep answers - whimsical, pensive, aloof etc etc... She was pushing for more and more words to better describe it as I walked over, took one look and said, "she looks like a slut", "Oh finally!" she exclaimed. "This is the second person to give me that answer in all the tours I've conducted. You're spot on! Are you an art student??" I just laughed!!!! It was so easy to see the look in this lady's eyes - the lady in the painting I mean! That was my proud, clever moment! HA !! Whatever!!! Returned to hostel and most of the hostel was off to "the party".... Free and vip entry to the first nightclub in NYC. I was still dying and keen to try some other medication I'd found to get rid of this bloody cold, so I took that and went to bed!

Happy New Year!

1.1.2009

 

Whoops, typed 1.1.2008 - going back a year!!! After hopping in to bed at 7am, woke at 11am. Texted Brad (who also lost his coat last night) no appearance of coats last night before they went home. Fingers crossed when I give the pub a call a bit later it will have surfaced. Sat around feeling very lazy then went in search of some lunch, some stuff for dinner, some proper drugs to dry my sinuses out, hopefully anyway! Found the new year's day movie marathon in the theatre room, so found a spare couch and settled in. Later that afternoon/early evening, Hannah found me, then were joined by Laura and Bec. Had some dinner with them, we'd all bought pasta and sauce stuff, so mixed it together, then it was time to send them off into the big wide yonder. They were on the 9.30 bus to Toronto. Ick. Glad it was them and not I, not something I could be doing tonight after last night!

NYE in NYC

31.12.2008

 

New Year's Eve...

 

Day started pretty bloody early as I had booked on the 8am bus from Boston. Up at 5.30, which wasn't so bad seeing as I'd been waking at 5.30 most mornings anyway, just a quick open the eyes wakeup and return to sleep, but still! Bus left early as all booked were on board. Half an hour early. Remember that - because we hit a slight delay. A snow storm. I think it was about half an hour out of Boston. It was coming down thick and fast. Cars were in all sorts of shape all over the road, a lot of them in twisted and mangled shape! The driver we had was obviously new to driving buses or driving to New York or driving in the snow, because she was pretty nervous and shaky the entire trip. We edged along incredibly slowly and arrived at 1.50 - Our scheduled arrival time was 12.20 - so given that we left half an hour early, two hours longer all up! I couldn't check in to the hostel once I was here, had to wait for check in time because "room isn't ready" - I only wanted to stick my bag in the locker! So I waited around and easily killed time, checked in then it was time to layer up.

Stockings, two pairs of thin socks, one pair of thick socks, long johns, tracky dacks, normal pants. Singlet, thermal, two long sleeved tops, cashmere jacket, fleece jacket, brown windproof jacket, black coat. Two scarves, two beanies, gloves. I was set! Other than my face, I was so toasty warm!

Laura, Bec and the stray from their dorm Hannah, and I headed off then in the direction of Times Square. Once there, made our way down 43rd to a pub Bec had an entry voucher for. We were so glad we went there - we had such an awesome time. Jugs were $5 so we were all beer drinkers for the night. Met so many different people, had so many conversations or attempts at. There was the lovely couple Kevin and Tracey. She was simply hilarious. Turned out she has her own one person comedy show. Yep, could see that! A few Aussies working in Europe for Top Deck Tours - 2 of them tour guides and 2 of them in the office. Wonderful people. Two young guys from New Jersey - Michael "the writer" and Derek the "pinky swear poofter"... Honestly, Derek extended his pinky finger to Bec I think it was to pinky swear something. I thought it was friggin hilarious, but brilliant!!!! Chris from an apartment over the road. Nick the Dick. This moron walked around all night with a guitar case in arms. No idea who he was for real, or where he fitted in the bigger picture, but he was such a massive dick! Got to the point at the end of the night I was almost spinning circles on the spot to avoid him! At 11.30 we decided it was time to make our way somewhat towards Times Square. Ha! Took us 20 minutes to walk just 2 blocks. Not because of the people on the street, but because we'd drunk too much and our group of four had grown to about ten and we kept losing people! Made it to 43rd and 8th. 43rd and 7th is where the ball is dropped. So no see! Saw confetti fall. That was our NYE in Times Square! As Laura said later - I was alone at midnight - we'd all become separated in the crowds when we reached them, so we were all with strangers. And in a crowd of that size, you could well be the only person on the street. Except for the moron behind me who asked how he was meant to see the ball if he couldn't get further through. "Ummmm, try arriving earlier..." Back to the pub for more drinks and more of the same. Spent a few more hours there before deciding it was our time to battle our way home. So, coats on. Except for me. Mine was gone. Along wtih my gloves. WTF. My new coat, the one I bought in Paris, after setting my trip up in such a wy that I could buy it there. How someone can take a coat that isn't their own is really beyond me! Whether by accident or not. Lowlife scum. Anyway, once we were in a position to consider leaving, we headed out into the cold to find a way home. Taxi would be the obvious choice, in NYC, but to our quick realisation, there is one night when it is impossible to get one~!!! Yep! So, we ended up asking a limo driver how much for a ride home, he told us $60. We just laughed. Tried for a taxi a bit more, then gave up and returned to the limo. Hopped in, he was such a funny driver. We realised that the limo was clearly in use. We asked who it belonged to - "some rich bastard" he said. He told us not to touch anything as it would get him fired, then moved us swiftly 60 blocks back to our hostel. As we hopped out, he gave us his card, in case we might need his services in the future?? Turned out the next day that Hannah had grabbed a jacket off the seat thinking it was one of ours and had to ring him to come back to get the jacket which was NOT ours! Poor guy! He was so convinced he was going to get the sack. I wasn't quite ready for bed, so gave Mum and Dad a call to wish them happy new year, then stumbled across some festivities in a hallway. Sat down and joined in. Next thing we knew it was 7am and the hostel staff noticed the bottle of vodka that should not have been noticed and we were issued an ultimatum - tip it out or go to the cold to drink it. To bed I scurried~ Far too cold outside! Outside the rest went, simulated tipping it out, then returned it in to a room they wouldn't be found in! That was NYE iin NYC. A fantastic night, very very memorable! Spent with a great group of people and events that were a once in a lifetime!!!!!

Decisions, decisions

30.12.2008

 

Providence, Rhode Island, or Fenway Park? That was the decision facing me as I went to sleep the night before. Decision made when I woke up at 10.00. Too late to go to Providence. Easy done! A few changes on the subway and I was at Fenway. Well, the bloody stadium was shut! It's renovating, that's normally ok, except for the days between Christmas and New Year! Walked around the perimeter though and was fairly astonished by how small it actually was. I really thought a baseball stadium was much bigger. Like all sport stadiums I guess, it was just plonked in the midddle of a fairly developed area now, shops, industry, schools, apartments, restaurants - all the way around. Kept walking back towards the city, was not too far away, but still a decent distance. Started to walk over the Harvard Bridge, but was almost blown over the side of it by the howling wind, so scurried back to level ground and no wind. Not before taking a quick few photos though. The view from the side of the river towards the city wasn't dissimilar in the feeling it gave me of that in Perth. It was then I was able to properly put my finger on the feeling that Boston is definitely a city similar to an Australian city. Size, pace of the people, etc etc. Kept going towards the city - Newbury Street (the shopping street, ooh nice!!), Copley Square and finally ended up back at the original Cheers. Was time for a feed so in I went. I was determined to eat in a Cheers bar, and determined to leave with a nice feeling about them, even with the knowledge of the intense tourism surrounding it. My patience (lol) and insistence was rewarded. It was fantastic. The atmosphere was great!!!!! All up it was a nice day/afternoon and a great way to end my time in Boston. A city I'll return to - but only in summer time!!!!

Witch Prickers and more...

29.12.2008

 

Salem and Harvard.

 

The hunt for a witch pricker was on. A witch pricker being a device used to prick suspected witches to see if they are one. An instrument of torture. Had no joy finding one to buy, probably for the best that I didn't find one! Day started just hunting for a bus to take me there. The instructions I had dind't work! Stupid website. Was totally speechless as the bus I first took went over the hill in the suburb of Revere. There was the beach. And my my, how lovely. If that's how the whole stretch of coast there is, no wonder the likes of the Kennedy's have the compounds that they do. Pretty impressive coast. Found a bus to take me to Salem, and was tickled pink to be there. Investigated the Salem Witch Museum. It told the story, but that's all it told. It was wow and bang and ooh and ahh, and great for kids, but severly lacking in any substance. A few other places were closed thanks to it being Monday in winter, but I'm sure they couldn't have surpassed the one that was open, seeing as it is "the best". I did however have a wonderful dmorning! A few sites around the place to check out, including the wtiches memorial, a horrible little site that was barren and eerie. It overlooked a cemetary, with little wooden benches sticking out the stone walls representing each witch. It was done to serve a purpose, to demonstrate the injustice etc, so it was ok. Also went down to the Seven Gables House, and yeah, that was for all intents and purposes the sights of Salem! It would be a nice place to spend a few days in the summer time with access to a car to see some of the surrounds as well. Took bus back towards Boston and transferred to the train halfway along to take me to the city centre to return to Harvard Square and the university itself. Now, that was definitely not a WOW moment. I was not for a moment struck by it. It was just a university. I can see that it is lovely, the buildings are lovely, and I can appreciate it's heritage. I can also picture it in summer time, and it would be nice, but I'm clearly not overwhelmed by academia, because it was JUST a university. I didn't wish to go there, or anything like that. I was also rather surprised and saddened to see that access to the library is only for those holding a Harvard ID card. Ok, fine, you don't want tourists in there, but what happens to other students or those wanting to extend their knowledge? Students perhaps can get cross institutional loans, but I don't know, it seems weird that you can't get in there without the ID card. I only hope there is the ability to make other arrangements and that information is easy to obtain for those that want to, otherwise it's seems selfish and poor spirited. Not ever having had to show ID to enter the library at universities in WA, I only assume it's standard that you don't have to. Perhaps I just think too much.

Denny, Denny Crane

28.12.2008

 

Felt heaps better again, so got up and moving and ventured off to see Boston. Started at the Downtown Crossing station, and once I emerged to the BEAUTIFUL weather and daylight - it was so warm (about 15 degrees celcius) compared to temps I'd been experiencing, it was glorious!!! It wasn't a sunny day though, so felt warmer without the opportunity for extra warm with a flash of sunlight. Over into the Boston Common for a look around - the park in the city centre, then through to the other side. Past "The Frog Pond" the lake in the middle, covered in ice skaters, enjoying the warmer day. Headed up Boylston Street, looking for office building number 500. Found it pretty quickly - the numbers surely did jump quickly. It stood out pretty well, surely knew where I was! 500 Boylston Street being the building exterior used for Boston Legal. So there was my "cheesy" tv show number one spotting done. Back towards my other "cheesy" tv show. This was a lot easier - the city knows tourists come looking for this one. I must add I wasn't the only one outside Boylston Street taking photos. There's other fans in the world!!! Was super excited when I glimpsed my first glimpse of that fantastic place where everybody knows your name. Finally the show was in context. I could picture it all, relative to the city and the suburbs and it was so cool! Went inside but this was the place used for the exterior shots only, so the inside was nothing like the show. It was however an all-American bar, which is what the show was modelled on, but has since been renamed Cheers and has a lot of crap inside for the tourist hordes and a menu to match. I kept going though along the Freedom Trail. Cracked up outside the State House - information sign pointing to entrances etc said - Hooker Entrance (this way). There's a photo in my photos, I'll put it in here if I remember. The idea of them having their own entry way to the official building was just too much. None of the other tourists around could see what was so funny though. Weird people! Lots more sites along the Freedom Trail, but really, not at all something I'd bother going to Boston for. Fanueil Hall Marketplace was buzzing on a Sunday afternoon. Wandered through, but felt like I was at Hillary's Boat Harbour or the like, not like I was in a really old market place, which it is. Found the Replica Cheers and was seated straight away. That was where service ended. I sat there for a bit waiting for a menu, but it wasn't forthcoming, so I started making eye contact with waitresses, and they just kept looking away, So eventually I spat it and took off. Ate a pub further down, and that was also an experience. I ordered a  burger, I had the taste for a burger and wasn't NOT having it. It came with pickles, coleslaw and chips. Righty-o, no worries. Til it came out. Of course, chips in this bloody country refer to potato chips from a packet, as in crisps. Hmm. Lesson learned. Continued over to Hanover Street - Little Italy - also conveniently along the Freedom Trail. Paul Revere's house, Paul Revere's mall, the Old North Church, where the lanterns were hung to signal to him. Most impressive in this area, aside from the continued charm from the rest of Boston, was the canoli. I bought it from Mike's Pastry Shop, which I was later told is easily the best pastry shop in Boston. Enjoyed the canoli very much, can see Tony Soprano's and Ray Romano's obsession with them!!!!! As I was heading back to the downtown area I asked about a movie theatre, thought it might be time to see one, as I'm told that's a must-do in the USA. Was directed to go to Cambridge/Harvard Square, so I made my way there. Lovely area, definitely nice. No luck on he theatre though, it was a three hour movie, and I wasn't in the mood for one that long!! So home, dinner, talk with the other hostellers, check out directions for trip to Salem tomorrow, then bed. Went upstairs to discover room empty and thought to try the tv in the room. It worked, so I hopped into bed and watched House til I fell asleep.