Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
American Antics Part 2
Featuring
Road trip time!!!
From New Jersey to Philladelphia!
Philly was a great city, it had a funky edge mixed in with historically amazing sites. You can visit the place where the United States of America was signed into being, and the first street in America, then a vibrant gay and lesbian neighborhood with Andy Warhol galleries, neon lights above the adult "costume" store and similar themed shops.
We walked (or actually skipped and jumped and sang) through the historical journey of the United States and the cobbled streets of Philladelphia, having a grand old time. We being Tara, Lori, Caitlin and I - great buddies from University days.
Despite being semi-vegetarian, I followed the Philladelphia tradition and had a Philly cheesesteak.. yummy but basically a heart attack on a plate, chopped meat and massive amounts of cheese in a bun. This was in an awesome international food market (sadly with no marmite.. I did check). Highlights was a chocolate shaped in the form of a human heart, with all the arteries and veins and whatever you call them fully etched in the chocolate.. mmm Valentine's Day anyone?? Favourite was fudge made by an Amish family in their candy store YUM!
AFter Philly (and a fun sleepover at Caitlin's ...THANKYOU!!!!) we road tripped it to Baltimore.. scene of HAIRSPRAY - "Good morning Baltimorrrrrre" Start singing it now!
Baltimore on first appearance is a industrial city, rather unappealing. Second impressions are great! Beautiful harbour with the town curling around in a semi-circle, and great renovations of former industrial sites into art galleries and other attractive places to visit. The houses are brightly coloured and appealing.
It amazed me to realise that Baltimore is only an hour from Washington DC, yet is a completely different city. We did the commute into DC, at the person invitation of Barack. (Sorry bad joke but it had to be said). We met another friend at the White House (okay oustide of it to be precise) and I posed for the obligatory photo.. pretending to jump over the fence. Which obviously freaked the four American friends I was with, not used to Australian jokes. And ok, I was freaked out to when I turned around from my "jump" and saw all the police cars lined up......they are there constantly, ready for action at any moment. Whilst at the White House, which is white but not as big as I thought, we saw helicopers landing on the roof, defintely the Presedential Family coming home for lunch.
DC is a great open air museum, with monuments and historial sites set along the river. Great walk (thanks Tara for your awesome organising!)... except when its -5 degrees celcius or even lower. Awesome tourists that we were, we braved the Lincoln Momument, and the Washington Mall; which stretches from the Lincoln Monument to Capitol Hill with the reflection pond in between. It was time for Forest Gump references! Then it was time to RETREAT REATREAT into warmth! Closest warmth = Smithsonian Museum. A free museum, my favourite kind. It was also the best museum I have ever been to, and would love to visit again. Highlights were the gowns of many of the First Ladies of America, and pretending to read the Speech at my Presdential inaugration.
After a funky night out groovin away in Baltimore, it was time for train trip.. AMTRAK to Chicago. It was a 17 hour journey, not too long at all!
I had heard lots of negative comments about Amtrak from Americans, and was keen to try it out for myself. Train travel is not popular in the States, as it is in Europe, mostly used by people who cannot afford a plane ticket. I found the trip pleasant enough, the train itself was comfortable but the staff were horrible unfortunately! But anyways... not going to focus on the negative! The trip went past snowy srub land, through which I glimpsed deer and more squirrels Yay!
I arrived into Chicago on a Sunday morning, and it was dead quiet and rather unappealing. Luckily though I had two great tour guides to show me around over a couple of days and I discovered the Chicago charm. The Sears building tested my fears, it is the tallest building in America and has glass boxes - so you can step out onto what feels like nothing - looking straight down onto the city streets far, far below.
Cows! Yep cows in Chicago, and I found them in a diary smack bang in the middle of the city as part of the Lincoln Zoo. I said g'day to my great mates then skipped through the snow, checking out all the other animals. The snow inspired many a snowball aimed at Brittany, my touring mate and a brave attempt to make a snowman minus gloves. He ended up being 20 centre metres tall but was definitely a snowman! Check that experience.
Favourite part of Chicago was the Bean sculpture and ice skating! We did this at night, out in the open skating and dancing at the same time surrounded by the city skyline!! And I didn't even stack it (fall over) once!! Bravo!
The Superbowl was fast approaching (American football grandfinal) and it was time to head into Indiana to cheer on the Indiana Colts. Indianna is the flatest place i have ever seen (and I'm very Australia!!). It has corn, the biggest children's musuem in the world, an almost Champion football team and really lovely, friendly people. (Thanks Lash family for your hospitality!!!!)
Child that I am I thoroughly enjoyed the childrens museum, and just generally chilling out in Indianapolis.
So Superbowl time, where better to watch the game than at a University students party? So Brit and I road tripped it to Notre Dame University. Luckily enough we had connections and stayed on campus in the grad student apartment, just like we were real students.
I got in trouble at the party for talking during the ad breaks - which apparently are THE biggest part of the Superbowl! Sadly the Colts faded away and the Louisiana Saints were the Champions, although fair enough after suffereing through Hurrican Katriona.
The Notre Dame Campus was beautiful, covered in snow. I got to peek inside student dorms and see the Harry Potter like dining room. I even got to meet Fr Hesburgh, past President of the University and an amazing American citizen. He hsa so many awards and honourary degrees, and has lived an extraordinary life, travelling the globe and influencing world issues from the Cambodian peace tribunal to establishing Notre Dame Univeristy Australia! His study is amazing, with medals and photos of him with Barack Obama, Condoleeza Rice, George Bush and many others. I was shaking on the spot though when I was introduced to him, he is a very charismatic person who asked me what my life ambition is, right after my name! Thanks Elizabeth for the opportunity!
All that snow in Indiana could not go to waste, and we dove right into it - literally - by going tubing. Think water slides with a tube, but replace it with layers and layers of clothing and a blanket of snow instead of water. It was so much fun, although I think those around me could have done without my piercing screams as we wooshed downhill. Snow and tubes go very fast together, and I can attest that snow down your pants is very very cold.
With perfect timing it was a friend's birthday party the weekend we were there, so I grooved away to "Party in the USA" at a party in the USA!
And on that high note I will sign off this blog... part three (and last part) of American antins coming soon.
Cheers
Tricia
- comments