Well, its been a while since I wrote on here but since yesterday was Half Way Around America day I thought it was time to blog again.

We are currently in Chicago waiting to go to the Greyhound station, this time to Rapid City and from there we will go to Mount Rushmore, which we are very excited to see! Then we will be going to Seattle and will be staying there a whole week which is a long time considering all the places we have visted in the last month and a little bit and that it was only a month ago when we were making our way to New York!

Where have we been in the first half of our adventures? Well, Toronto, Niagara, New York, Buffalo, Washington, Kissimmee, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Memphis, Denver and now Chicago. With long, mostly overnight journeys between them all, no wonder we will be ready for a weeks rest when we get to seattle on the 15th October! We are getting used to the buses though and will never complain about a journey in England again as it will seem like a dodle compared to some of the journeys we have had, the last being 25/26 hours!

My favourite city has to be Chicago, even though we have only been here for just over a day. I love the city, its got the sky scrappers and history like New York but just seems a little smaller and with a little walk from downtown "the loop" you can be at the river and look out to sea. I also like the amount of colleges that are actually in downtown! We also liked the pigeon gangs which were here! They looked very well fed, especially the ones outside dunkin donuts who looked like they were so fat and couldnt move after just one too many sugary treats! We think they must be the bosses of the pigeon world as they got the best patch.

The worst place I think we visted was Memphis, purely because we did not get off to a good start. The greyhound had moved from where it said on the website. So instead of walked 500ft to the "hostel" we had to catch a bus and walk about 6 blocks! Also catching the bus was a nightmare as the person who gave advice about the buses decided not to work that day and all timetables were in his office behind a glass screen which we just couldnt get to so we had to ask all drivers where we were going! When we got to the place we were staying it turned out not to be a hostel but an motel pretending to be better then it was, calling itself and Inn! So we had to pay a higher tax rate then we normally do for a place without a kitchen, little space and the squeekiest beds you have ever heard! But we went out and made the most of it and went to TGI Fridays and I had a cocktail with cotton candy in!

Miami was lovely. It was nice to just relax on the beach, although we did get a little burnt, stupidly believing as we had a little bit of a tan and was used to the sun by now we would not burn like we used to.　Ｂｕｔ　ｎｏ，　ｏｕｒ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｓｋｉｎｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｂｕｒｎｔ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｎｏｒｍａｌｌｙ　ｗｏｕｌｄ。　Ｉｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｉｓ　ｎｏｗ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ，　ｔｈｅｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｄｕｅ　ｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｃｏｍｐｕｔｅｒ　ｄｅｃｉｄｉｎｇ　ｉｔ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｅｉｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｏｒ　ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ！　Ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｓｔ　ｏｐｔｉｏｎ。　Ｉ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｄｅｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｇｏ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｂｅａｃｈ　ｈｏｌｉｄａｙ。

Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　Ｗａｓｈｉｎｇｔｏｎ　ｆｏｒ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔｓ。　Ｅｖｅｒｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｗｅ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｗａｓ　ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｌｌ，　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｊｕｓｔ　ａ　ｂｉｇ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｒｏａｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｇｒａｓｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ。　Ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｅ　ｃａｐｉｔｏｌ　ａｔ　ｏｎｅ　ｅｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ａｂｅ　Ｌｉｎｃｏｌｎ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｅｎｄ。　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｗａｌｋ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｉｔ　ａｌｌ，　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　Ｑｕｉｃｋ　ｓｔｏｐ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｓｍｉｔｈｓｏｎｉａｎ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ　ｏｆ　ｎａｔｕｒａｌ　ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ａｉｒ　ａｎｄ　ｓｐａｃｅ　ｉｎｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ｗｈｉｔｅｈｏｕｓｅ！　Ｉ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｄｅｆｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｇａｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｓｐｅｎｄ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ａｔ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔａｋｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｄｏｗｎｔｏｗｎ　Ｗａｓｈｉｎｇｔｏｎ！

Ｎｅｗ　Ｙｏｒｋ，　ｗｅｌｌ　ｗｈａｔ　ｃａｎ　Ｉ　ｓａｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｈａｖｎ'ｔ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ？　Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｓ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ａｓ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｓａｙ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　ｍｙ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｈｅｒｅ。　Ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｂｗａｙ　ｍａｄｅ　ｉｔ　ｓｏ　ｅａｓｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｈｏｗ　ｉｔ　ｒａｎ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ。　Ａｌｓｏ　ａ　ｔｉｐ　ｆｏｒ　ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ａｒｅ　ｔｈｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ｔｏ　ｌｏｏｋ　ａｔ　ｗｅｂｓｉｔｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｄａｙｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍｓ　ｅｔｃ　ａｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｓａｖｅ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｏｎｅｙ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗａｙ。　Ａｌｓｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍｅｔ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｓｕｇｇｅｓｔｅｄ　ｄｏｎａｔｉｏｎ，　ｙｏｕ　ｄｏ　ｎｏｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｐａｙ　ｔｈｅ　＄２０　ｏｄｄ　ｄｏｌｌａｒｓ　ｉｔ　ｓｕｇｇｅｓｔｓ　ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｄｏ　ｎｏｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ｔｏ。　Ｉ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｓａｙ　ｔｈｅ　ＭＯＭＡ　ｉｓ　ａｌｓｏ　ｗｏｒｔｈ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ａｓ　Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　Ｖａｎ　Ｇｏｕｇｈ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｈａｄ　ｍｙ　ｆａｖｏｕｒｉｔｅ　ｐａｉｎｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｒｅ；　ｂｙ　Ｄａｌｉ。

Ｂｕｆｆａｌｏ　ｗａｓ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｉｎｇｓ　ａｌｏｎｅ。　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｉｔｓｅｌｆ　ｉｓ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ａ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｈａｌｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ，　ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｒｕｎ　ｄｏｗｎ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｎｏｗ　ａｎｄ　ｄｏｅｓｎｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｏｒ　ｄｏ。

Ｋｉｓｓｉｍｍｅｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｒｅｌａｘ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔ　ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｔｏ　ｏｕｒ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　ｈａｄ　ｔｉｃｋｅｔｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｄｉｓｎｅｙ　ｌａｎｄ　ｅｔｃ　ｆｏｒ　ｌｅｓｓ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｈａｌｆ　ｐｒｉｃｅ！

Ｎｅｗ　Ｏｒｌｅａｎｓ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ａｎｄ　ｓｏａｋ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ａｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ。　Ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｄｏｗｎ　Ｂｏｕｒｂｏｎ　Ｓｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　４。３０ｐｍ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｄｒｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｒｅｅｔｓ，　ｌｏｕｄ　ｍｕｓｉｃ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｐａｒｔｙ　ａｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｅ，　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｓｅｅ　ｗｈｙ　ｉｔ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　ａｎ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｔｏ　ｖｉｓｔｓ　ｗｈｅｎ　ａ　ｆｅｓｔｉｖａｌ　ｗａｓ　ｏｎ。　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｃａｌ　ｃｏｃｋｔａｉｌ　ｏｆ　ａ　Ｈｕｒｒｉｃａｎｅ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｌｏｖｅｌｙ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏｎｔ　ｔｅｌｌ　ｙｏｕ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｅｎｕ　ｗｈａｔ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｙｏｕ　ａｓｋ　ｙｏｕ　ｄｏｎｅ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｄｅｔａｉｌｓ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎｔ　ｔｈｉｎｋ。　Ｔｈｅｎ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｄａｙ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｆｒｅｎｃｈ　Ｑｕａｒｔｅｒ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｉｓ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉｔ　ａｌｌ　ｂｅｇａｎ　ｉｎ　１７１２　（ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ）　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｏｌｄ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇｓ，　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ　ｒａｉｎｅｄ　ｓｏ　ｈａｒｄ　ｗｅ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｓｔａｙｅｄ　ｕｎｄｅｒｃｏｖｅｒ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｍａｄｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ。

Ｗｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｌｏｖｅｄ　Ｈｏｕｓｔｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｚｏｏ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｆｒｅｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｈｉｌｌｅｄ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｐａｒｋ。　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｌｏｖｅｌｙ　ａｎｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｆｕｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔｓ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｗａｓ　ｎｉｃｅ！　Ｓｏｐｈｉｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｄｅｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｓｅｅ　ｈｅｒｓｅｌｆ　ｌｉｖｉｎｇ　ｈｅｒｅ，　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｅｒ　ｓｔｅｔｓｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｔｒｕｃｋ。

Ｓｏ　ｗｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ　ｓｅｅ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｆｒｅｅ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｙｏｕ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅｍ。

Ｗｅ　ｃａｎ'ｔ　ｗａｉｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｏｕｒ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙｓ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｈｉｎ　ａｇａｉｎ　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｃａｎ　ｓｅｅ　ｍａｎｙ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ。　Ｗｅ　ｄｅｆｉｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｈａｖｎｔ　ｔａｋｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｒａｉｇｈｔｅｓｔ　ｒｏｕｔｅ　ｔｏ　ｐｌａｃｅｓ　ｓｉｎｃｅ　ｗｅ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｇｕｅｓｓ　ｔｈａｔ　　ｍｅａｎｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｅｅｎ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒｗｉｓｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ａｓ　ｗｅ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｅ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ　ｗｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｏ　６０－７０％　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｅｓ　ｉｎ　ＵＳＡ！　Ａｎｄ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｓｈｏｒｔ　ｓｐａｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｈａｔｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ。　Ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｉｓｃｏｖｅｒｙｐａｓｓ　ｗｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｄｏｎｅ　ｉｔ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ａｓ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｏｕｒ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｏｖｅｒ　＄３００　ｅａｃｈ。　Ｉｔｓ　ｓａｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｔｏｐｐｅｄ　ｄｏｉｎｇ　ｉｔ　ｎｏｗ，　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｓｔ　ｆｅｗ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｄｏ　ｗｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｏｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｂｕｄｇｅｔ！