HAT, SCARF AND GLOVES...YOU'RE HAVIN' A LAUGH!

So, with the first week over, what have I got to tell you all...

I'll start with the weather shall I (as I am English and that's all we ever talk about!) It's been sun, sun, sun all week, 80 degree heat and a sun burnt neck. I have a feeling things might change soon though as the harsh Canadian winter sets in. So...

My trip started with a flight over to New York, and to my surprise a 45 minute grilling from US immigration officials about what I was doing, what I had been doing, my flight tickets, how much money I had. And with my answers not sufficient, I was sent into another room where further checks were made before I finally got a stamp in my passport and was allowed on my merry way. So with that palaver over I boarded the subway over to Manhatton to stay with my friend Dave. It was just the one night in New York which consisted of a stroll over Brooklyn bridge and a couple of drinks before I caught the bus up to Boston where I would spend the next two nights.

What a city Boston is...I think I preferred it to New York, maybe something to do with the 400 Irish pubs it has and general chilled out atmosphere. It's very easy going and the locals are very friendly. With no one about in the hostel when I arrived I took it upon myself to sample Boston's delights and headed into the centre where I boarded a duck tour (one of the land and water amphibious things) which took us around the local sights and gave me a good insight into the city. With still no one about in my dorm when I got back, I headed into the city where I was to meet some local Bostonians and end up spending the evening with them. So waking up early the next morning, fresh as a daisy, I set foot on a 2.5 mile walk around Boston's Freedom Trail, taking in the cities historical side, which concluded in a hike up the 294 steps of the Freedom Monument...it doesn't sound like a lot but believe me, it is!. All very interesting but after all that walking I was in need of a beer and when I got back to the hostel I met a bunch of people from around the world and we all deceded to head out into Cambridge (just on the out-skirts of the city centre) where we all got very drunk and generally had a good time. The next morning, feeling a little worse for wear I went on a tour of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, where I was informed in true American style of how great this team were in a sport I had no idea about. With a few hours to kill before I left I boarded the bus down to Harvard University, which in its own right was fairly interesting, but give me Manchester any day of the week!

So, with Boston seen I got a 15 hour bus overnight to Niagara Falls. I can safely say that these falls were the most spectacular thing I have seen on my trip so far (allbeit only 6 days in), and I took a full 2 days to take them in and their surrounding area, a truely breathtaking example of mother nature. There are actually two sets of falls, the lAmerican Falls which come from the US side of the river and the more famous Horseshoe Falls, belonging to Canada. On day one I set sail on the 'Maid of the Mist' boat trip to get up close and personal with the falls and on day two I walked 10km along the Niagara River, through the woods, right down to its edge...however, there was no way I was going to walk back, so I got the bus!

Today I arrived in Toronto after a short 2 hour bus ride, where I think I'll spend the next 2 or 3 nights. So, until next time, take care of yourselves.