In the Loop

My visit to Chicago was way too brief, I was treated this time around though. I stayed in a friend’s beautiful apartment rather than hostelling it. This also meant I got to see Chicago from a local’s point of view and was introduced to the very cool, very unique “Richard’s Bar”, possibly the closest I’ve come to a pub since I’ve been here.

I also revisited the museum of contemporary art and the bean, this time in the rain - which was actually quite cool as it meant I could shoot it in a different way.

After doing the cultural thing I of course had to do the shopping thing. I found an amazing chocolate shop where I browsed for a while before buying - and sampled some free choccies ;)

I do love Chicago’s train system. It’s like having the london underground weaving its way just over street level (except that the trains are shiny silver). Very cool. 

I am writing this on the train from Chicago to Philadelphia. It is a long haul and we are running two hours late, with no explanations being given as to why. The staff on this train are uncharacteristically rude and uncommunicative. I also had the worst snorer I have ever encountered in the seat behind me last night. Roll on Philly!

Montreal mini break

Montreal has felt like a holiday in a holiday - partly due to the fact that niagara was so horrific, but also cos I've been here for a full five days, so its actually felt like rest rather than the exhausting experience that backpacking can be. The city felt like a breath of fresh air after leaving the apparent ghost town near US falls. Of course I'd completely forgotten that I may have to dig out some of my secondary school french education while I was here - thankfully most people speak English too.

Despite the fact that I have been here for a few days - I don't seem to have fitted in much sight seeing. The hostel here has a very party atmosphere so most of the time is spent socialising and going on pub crawls. Its the HI hostel - I highly recommend it ;)

The climb up the mountain on the first day was really worth it - beautiful view of the city, and walking back down through the park (designed by the guy who did central park nyc apparently) by the lake in the sunshine was perfect. 

I was told that the old town was a must - full of pretty buildings etc - unfortunately I left my trip there til the last day - and the stifling heat has made it difficult to actually be outside.

Next stop - Chicago - looking forward to meeting my host ;)

Niagara Falls

I've been trying to decide if the twelve hour train journey was worth it. Niagara is a very strange place and not one that I will ever return to out of choice. The falls are impressive, and the small green area surrounding them is pretty, but Niagara itself feels almost like a ghost town.

 The streets are lined with the prettiest little houses - mostly condemned due to them being empty since the demise of the local car industry. There is little to here for entertainment other than a few very local bars. The walk from my hostel to the falls was only 15 minutes - but hard work as it was along a very wide busy freeway.

Effort has been put into making visitors time at the falls more than just looking at tons of water falling. The falls are lit up at night and they have a short firework display twice a week. There are boat rides and walks through the falling water. But these activities aint cheap. There is also a very tiny and unimpressive aquarium, including three, very sadly, blind sealions.

There are some very bizarre restriction policies at the hostel I stayed in as well - with deposits required for just about everything.

My advice to anyone wanting to visit the falls - drive there - stay for a few hours - get out!

MOMA

Cannot believe I missed MOMA last time I visited New York. Six floors of breathtaking art work. Probably the most impressive collection I've seen. And so many of my favourite pieces - most notably Giacometti, but also "Starry Night", Chagall, Kandinski, Rothko - as well as some impressive new exhibits. I wandered round for hours - something I havent done for years in a gallery. I usually get restless after an hour at best!

I loved the Guggenhiem as well, but for the building not the exhibitions - although some of the design models were very cool.

Well with the culture stuff out of the way I went to my favourite dehli place on Ludlow then caught some rather bland singer songwriter in "the Living Room" - the wine was good though ;)

Right - ten hour train journey ahead of me - I hope niagara is worth it :(

Goldilocks in New York

Talk about hard to please - I've been in NY for less then a week and changed my hostel three times - the first one was too far north, the second one was too expensive - the third one sadly isnt just right- but the location is perfect and its dirt cheap - it does resemble one of the prison cell blocks in alcatraz - pretty grim!

But other than that New York continues to entrance me more each day - sadly ill be leaving tomorrow, but thats ok - ill be back in a couple of weeks time before flying home. 

I've spent today trying to do some of the obligatory touristy stuff. The empire state building experience begins in a pretty horrible way. hundreds of people being herded like cattle through roped zig-zags, but OH MY LORD it is so worth it. The views make the city even more beautiful. Breathtaking!!!

And if I thought LA train station was classy - it ain't got nothing on Grand Central!!!! Could've stayed there for hours soaking up the atmos.

On a slightly less classy note - I do appear to have been eaten alive in the night - but I guess it cant all be a bed of roses ;)

The best laid plans...

Now I understand why america appears to be obsessed with aircon. The city heat in summer is so stifling it does make breathing a serious issue! The evenings are perfect though - full of summer buzz! 

    I had great plans to land in NYC then head to Atlanta the next day to catch an Elbow gig. Sadly this ain't gonna happen. All the trains south are booked for days. So Elbow will have to wait for my company til September - their loss ;) It has meant that I've spent a glorious few days rediscovering New York. The best way to find cool places in nyc is to know a new yorker - luckily I do. My second night here I was treated to a night of knocking back the most delicious champagne in the beautiful atmosphere of the champagne bar in greenwich village (warning - just cos its pink and bubbly doesn't mean the hangover is gonna be any less evil - ouch)  http://www.bubblelounge.com/new-york/ I also discovered the best places to hang out are the bars that don't actually look like bars from the outside - again you really have to know someone in the know ;) http://www.macaonyc.com/     

So - plan B - head north...    

BFN London

Trying to make the most of the "being a teacher's best perk" - long summer holidays - I'm off to explore some of the bits of America that I missed last time - as well as spending a bit more time in new york, 4 days really wasn't enough. My route is sketchy at the moment, but that's good. I was being way too ambitious trying to get from east coast to west coast last time and ended up missing so much. I'm hoping to start in New York, head to Georgia for an elbow gig. Carry on down to Florida. Then gradually make my way north - taking in Charleston, Philly, Maine, Niagara Falls and maybe Montreal and Chicago. Then finishing back in NYC for some fun. Of course all of this is subject to change ;)