Posts
Hey there folks!!
I gotta say, it's pretty odd writing this from the warmth of my own house! Yes, i'm now back in the UK and (almost) entirely jetlag free! Is it 'odd' in a good way or bad way to be back home?? A bit of both to be honest... as i'm sure you could guess! I like being home to see my friends and family again, but i really do miss everything about the US (except for Salt Lake City... naturally) - from its people to its sights... just... wow.
So why am i writing this when i'm back home? Simply because every good story (and this is an AMAZING story, as i'm sure you'll agree!) deserves a good ending - which this will be! I'm writing this purely to recap over what i've done and discuss in a Big Brother-esque way "what i've learned". Consequently it was refreshing to spend a summer free of BB - who won it by the way?? More importantly... does anyone even care anymore? Thought not. This will be my catharsis for dealing with my return to reality.
So... what were the highlights of my trip? As i mentioned in an earlier post - it depends upon what i'm looking for! Geographically, for hedonism it's New Orleans and Las Vegas - just because it's all out chaos and oodles of fun! However, if you're talking about raw beauty you're not going to beat Alaska and Yellowstone - ever. Sure, the Amazon can give you a load of trees, but do you get glaciers and geysers? No, and you never will (nor will you have trees if we keep logging them by the way!)
The people i've met along the way (Sarah, Louise, Sarah, Alex, Brooke, Olof, David, Allan, Mike, Brianne, Vanessa, Amy, Cassie and countless others whose names elude me at the minute!) - they're all awesome, and i'll be doing my best to keep in touch with y'all regardless of whether you're living in Georgia or Sunderland! I'm sure i'll run into you again at some point in the future!
A question i've been asked now that i've got back is whether i learnt anything whilst being over in the US for the better part of 2 months, and the answer is yes. I didn't need to venture into the Himalayas to meditate for a week to learn stuff, or trek into an isolated jungle. I learnt a lot about the US and their society - particularly how much they ADORE their country and how much we should love ours too. You don't appreciate so many things over here - the NHS being one huge institution. Everyone bemoans it at the first opportunity - but imagine it not being there, as in the US - paying £80 to go and SEE your GP. Not cool is it? You do that for free (yes i know about NI contributions, but it's not £80 a pop!), whilst US folks have to pay! Next time you go into A&E (as i did in the US!) remember that ok?
Here's the pressing question - did i learn anything about myself over there? Well... yes actually. That i can't stand Greyhounds - ha! I jest, although they were particularly brutal at times! On a serious note I've always thought that i'm quite happy in my own company, being a single child 'n' all. But this trip has taught me that i really am a social vampire - i need people to feed off! Hell, i need some outlet for the seemingly limitless stream of words that pour out of my mouth! It seems i'm never happier than when chatting to someone! This is perhaps why Hollywood was so cool for me: having all those folks in the hostel to chat to and have a laugh with. To flip that around, Texas was possibly the loneliest time ever, as my motels were in the middle of nowhere with few guests to talk to. That, coupled with my mystery illness, made for a pretty crappy time, which thankfully wasn't to last!
I've also had it re-affirmed that i'm not a shy kid anymore (i'm sure quite a few of my post-school mates are laughing at that, as they know that to be true - i'm the extroverted one saying outrageous comments), which i was at school - i'll talk to anyone, regardless of how mentally unbalanced you are / look! Unless you're talking about salting the ground of Europe or throwing scriptures at me... you're going over my head then! Oh, and if you snore - never, EVER, sleep near me ok?? I can't be held accountable for my actions!
A quick numerical recap:
Number of Miles travelled within the USA: 13,875
Number of States visited: 27
Number of Countries visited: 2
Number of Greyhound buses taken: 15
Number of Snorers encountered: 6
Number of Nights with no sleep: 6 (+ Greyhounds)
Number of Hurricanes encountered: 2
Number of Days without wearing shorts: 0
Number of Toes severed: 1
Number of Hands of Poker won: 0
Number of Animal Species eaten: 14
Number of Times hassled by pimps in Mexico: 8
Number of Attractive Girls Encountered: ∞ (infinite)
Number of Amazing things i've seen: limitless
I really do urge everyone NOT to overlook the US as a place to travel, it really is an amazing country that i've defiinitely fallen for. Whether it's New York or New Orleans - it's an awesome place that really does merit a visit or 15!
I guess that's it then. Being back home really is a bittersweet experience... but if nothing else, this journey has given me a taste for exploring and travelling! So where to next? Well, i'm pretty sure that for my next expedition that i want to travel to Iceland and Greenland - a bit of coldness never hurt anyone... except for those that die of hypothermia... and everything that went extinct in the Ice Age...
So that really is it folks... until that next blog, that may be a couple of years off yet! No more reading for you 'til then! Unless you want to read a book - but what's the point? They'll make a film of it eventually, so wait until then...
... who knows... you might see this as a film one day... definitely... maybe... definitely maybe...
Take care folks, and i'll literally talk to you in person soon!
Aaron! x
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Off Broadway...
Bet you didn't think / hope you'd hear from me so soon again did you?! Well, your luck's come in it'd seem, as i thought i'd drop you a QUICK little note in my last few hours in the USA!
Naturally, i'm still in NYC, and fly home to lame ol' England in a little over 10 hours, which quite frankly, sucks. But i won't dwell on the future - i'll fill you in on the past 24 hours! What have i done?? WALKED. A little over 15 miles is a good guess! Had a good sprint around the last few sights that i really wanted to see, namely Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building. The latter of which was sooo awesome to look at (it's in the Spiderman movies folks - the big tower that looks reeeal fancy, you know which i mean? Looks gold at the top? ).
Also managed to do some shopping - went to all the places that NYC is famous for, like Bloomingdales. Have to say, that place is SO pretentious it makes Selfridges look like Poundland. I found a shirt that was on sale at $250 - that's IN the sale! I dread to think what it was before! All the clothes seemed really staid and dull too - i guess the richer you get, the more your taste falls to the level of a blind leper. Saying all that - i can't wait to have enough money to waste it on elaborate shirts and accessories. That day'll come folks... it will!
I also treked upto Strawberry Fields and the Dakota Building, where John Lennon was famously shot. The actual SF site is a pretty nice mosaic laid out in the pavement - complete with homeless dude who's taken it upon himself to clean the memorial of all leaves that fall of the tree. I don't know whether he expected to be paid for this duty, but he was VERY protective of that pavement, bless him!
Apres ca, i went for dinner in 'The View' restaurant, which is basically a restaurant about 50 stories up that revolves, giving you amazing views of the NY skyline at night. However, upon sitting down, i quickly felt ill, namely because i didn't have a clue what was spinning and which way we were going. It also turns out that your seat spins away from you when you go to get food - so i ended up getting lost many a time, whilst feeling sick... 50 stories in the air. An experience nevertheless!
Finally, i headed out on a night-time bus tour around NYC, which took us over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn so that we could see all of NY across the Hudson River - and i've got to say, the view was breath-taking. What was particularly poignant was the two columns of light going insanely high into the night sky to represent where the twin towers stood. It really brings it home to you to see those columns of light, and it's also a beautiful sight that i'll store deep in my mind for a long, long time - as i will many of the things i've seen this trip!
After the trip, i left my mum to go back to the hotel whilst i wandered New York at night exactly as i'd begun my trip - on my own. I walked around reflecting upon the whole journey and just absorbed the atmosphere... as well as noticing all the hotties that scurry around the NY streets at night (no post would be complete without a mention of ladies would it? Hell no!). It's such a beautiful city, and the fact that i've only scratched the surface means that i've got to come back in the not too distant future to see a little bit more.
So... i guess that's it, the North American trip is almost at its end. It's been emotional, but i won't gush about it right now - that'll come in the final post i make when i'm home (due to the fact that i have about a minute left on this PC!)
So until my next, and final post...
Speak soon,
Aaron! x
Naturally, i'm still in NYC, and fly home to lame ol' England in a little over 10 hours, which quite frankly, sucks. But i won't dwell on the future - i'll fill you in on the past 24 hours! What have i done?? WALKED. A little over 15 miles is a good guess! Had a good sprint around the last few sights that i really wanted to see, namely Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building. The latter of which was sooo awesome to look at (it's in the Spiderman movies folks - the big tower that looks reeeal fancy, you know which i mean? Looks gold at the top? ).
Also managed to do some shopping - went to all the places that NYC is famous for, like Bloomingdales. Have to say, that place is SO pretentious it makes Selfridges look like Poundland. I found a shirt that was on sale at $250 - that's IN the sale! I dread to think what it was before! All the clothes seemed really staid and dull too - i guess the richer you get, the more your taste falls to the level of a blind leper. Saying all that - i can't wait to have enough money to waste it on elaborate shirts and accessories. That day'll come folks... it will!
I also treked upto Strawberry Fields and the Dakota Building, where John Lennon was famously shot. The actual SF site is a pretty nice mosaic laid out in the pavement - complete with homeless dude who's taken it upon himself to clean the memorial of all leaves that fall of the tree. I don't know whether he expected to be paid for this duty, but he was VERY protective of that pavement, bless him!
Apres ca, i went for dinner in 'The View' restaurant, which is basically a restaurant about 50 stories up that revolves, giving you amazing views of the NY skyline at night. However, upon sitting down, i quickly felt ill, namely because i didn't have a clue what was spinning and which way we were going. It also turns out that your seat spins away from you when you go to get food - so i ended up getting lost many a time, whilst feeling sick... 50 stories in the air. An experience nevertheless!
Finally, i headed out on a night-time bus tour around NYC, which took us over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn so that we could see all of NY across the Hudson River - and i've got to say, the view was breath-taking. What was particularly poignant was the two columns of light going insanely high into the night sky to represent where the twin towers stood. It really brings it home to you to see those columns of light, and it's also a beautiful sight that i'll store deep in my mind for a long, long time - as i will many of the things i've seen this trip!
After the trip, i left my mum to go back to the hotel whilst i wandered New York at night exactly as i'd begun my trip - on my own. I walked around reflecting upon the whole journey and just absorbed the atmosphere... as well as noticing all the hotties that scurry around the NY streets at night (no post would be complete without a mention of ladies would it? Hell no!). It's such a beautiful city, and the fact that i've only scratched the surface means that i've got to come back in the not too distant future to see a little bit more.
So... i guess that's it, the North American trip is almost at its end. It's been emotional, but i won't gush about it right now - that'll come in the final post i make when i'm home (due to the fact that i have about a minute left on this PC!)
So until my next, and final post...
Speak soon,
Aaron! x
Monday, 8 September 2008
An Englishman In New York... Again...
Ello there folks!! It's been a while hasn't it?? I apologise for that, though i have two very good reasons... 1) New York is just TOO ace, and i've got way too much to cram in before i fly back home and... 2) Finding an internet kiosk here is a lot like finding a virgin aged over 14 in Coventry, aka, nigh-on impossible!
Nevertheless, New York is, suffice to say, awesome. Loads of hustle and bustle and i've done quite a bit, so be prepared for an enormo-blog post here - just warning you so that you can get a cuppa or some munch for the journey ahead. Ready? Ok, let's go.
Well, i left you in Chicago with me dreading the impending journey to NYC on the Greyhound (standard practice to have the fear over it!). That night i wasn't going to do much until three girls asked me to watch a movie with them (2 Brits and an Auzzie)... and you know me... how can i refuse a movie?? The fact that it was girls asking me is entirely inconsequential! Ha, as if! Anyway, ended up watching When Harry Met Sally, which i always thought was a chick-flick, but i gotta say - it's pretty damn laddy and had me laughing away - boys, check it out.
Skip a day, and i'm on that damn Greyhound again after walking all day in TORRENTIAL rain. That was NOT fun and soaked me to the bone - every layer was drenched. A lot like the NOLA rain, but a little lighter - still damn soaking! This time i decided against the non-waterproof kagool i had with me, and just braved it... again, in shorts. My legs are looking pretty bronze now - weathered too!
The Greyhound itself... was actually normal!! I gotta say, that's actually quite a shame considering that it was my last one. I could have at least had ONE nutcase on the bus shouting obscenities or rocking back and forth whilst foaming at the mouth... but no. Everyone was normal... so i slept... a lot, and crossed 4 states in the process (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania if you care). Long trip, but worth it to arrive here in NYC!
So what have i been upto whilst here?? Well, i first of all met my mother out here, which was nice - good to see a friendly face, and someone who i can begin prattling to about my journeys! Hannerz got a 1/2 filled in journey story (as i was only half way), but now more can be elaborated upon... except the stricted X-Rated stuff... that's probably best saved for mates, and not your folks right?? Haha.
Spent Friday just wandering around NYC and Central Park, and stopping off to see a Broadway production in the evening - it's gotta be done! Again, Aaron 'The Blag' Everitt was on form - tickets were sold out except for crappy standing $21 room. So i made a point about my mum's jetlag and the guy perked up again and 'looked' for seats... he found them - 2 $50 seats in the orchestral area. Result right? Yes, and even more so when you consider that these seats are actually priced at $120 EACH. Yes, i will save you money! Seems you're not the only blagger in town Jay!! Haha. No free sangria though... you win there! ;-). Anyway, Chicago was pretty cool - i finally began to understand the plot (i'm not a musical buff), and the girls in it were stunning - ab's so defined you could grate cheese on them. Yum! So when my attention waned i could at least stare at them. I'm never off the ball folks ;-) haha.
Next day... i encountered hurricane number 2 of my journeys. First i had Edouard in NOLA, which was wet. NOW I had to encounter Hurricane Hanna as it hit New York. What is it with me attracting natural disasters?? Luckily i've had no tornados or tsunamis, but hurricanes are bad enough! I don't think you get our news over at home, but it's definitely hurricane season over here - one's currently destroying Cuba (called Irvine), which isn't cool! Anyway, before it started to drench me, we managed to navigate our way over to the Empire State Building - which i only associate with King Kong, and got upto the 86th floor to have a look... at cloud. Yes, it was like having cataracts! Still pretty cool though...
... and leads me onto Aaron's random rant of the post! People who take photos of photos. Ok, why on Earth do you go on holiday to visit these places only to take a photo of the photo of that place? Example: in my hotel's lobby there's a wall size photo of Time Square and i've seen people standing in front of it having THEIR photo taken. Oh, did i forget to mention that Time Square is ONE BLOCK away - literally a 2 minute walk?! Why accept a crap substitute when you can have the real thing?! It's like having sex with 'Molly the Blow Up Love Friend' when you've got a gorgeous girlfriend inviting you into bed - you're only cheating yourself (and probably gonna get some chafage off that doll!). Urgh, bloody tourists!
Anyway! Then we dove into Macy's, which is an awesomely big shop full of bargains. Didn't buy much, as it's too big, but it was cool... and then it started to rain... and rain... and rain... About 3 inches fell in an hour at one point! Again, i wore shorts... as well as this huge poncho that we got from our bus tour company. So i looked a bit like a member of the Ku Klux Klan who clearly has no sense of how to dress with his shorts and flip-flops on. Well, either a KKK member, or Captain Condom. I'll leave it to the critics to decide! Unfortunately the rain kinda washed out the day, as we couldn't go uptown or downtown, as it just wasn't fun anymore! But nevertheless... i had stuff planned for the night time!!
You remember the night previously i went to a Broadway show?? All very nice and chirpy. Saturday night i went out to a gig in NYC - from Chicago to a band called Carcass. Quite a contrast of styles here! I think the names of the support bands should indicate how non-'nice and chirpy' this gig was: Aborted, Suffocation, Necrophagist and er.... 1349 (decidedly less sinister sounding!). The gig was in Times Square in the Nokia Theater, and it was amazing. Such good fun to get out to a show whilst i was away, and what better location?! Though i gotta say that gigs here are timed VERY oddly - the headline band didn't take the stage til midnight and finish til 2am!! That's unheard of back home, but is apparently routine out here! It was funny though to walk outside after having my ears molested that people were still roaming around in droves! NYC really is the city that never sleeps!! Well, i do - i went to sleep straight after. Need my beauty sleep - you can't keep my perfect face and stature on no sleep! Haha!
This brings us to yesterday - the all out touring day - the aim to cover as much ground as possible. And was it achieved?? You damn right! (Sorry, listening to the song 'Shaft' by Isaac Hayes at the minute - so there may be a lot of this in the upcoming paragraph!). Got uptown to see Harlem... which was kinda normal looking, though i still don't want to hang around there after darkness falls. I'll pass, cheers. Saw all of Central Park, had the worse lunch in the world at some Chinese place and then went downtown, stopping off at Wall Street - which was really nice and SO quiet!, Ground Zero - which was saddening, but good to look at, just to put the whole event into context - you really can't imagine how BIG those things must've been!, and the big blue lady in the bay, yes - the Statue of Liberty. Went out on a boat to see her, though all i could think of looking at the statue was Ghostbusters I (the prequel to the scariest movie EVER). I swear she was taller in that film! Still a sight to see though, despite the typically patriotic music getting pumped into my ears whilst i gazed upon her visage! The US definitely love their country! That i cannot doubt!
That kinda sums up yesterday really, which then brings us onto today. What have i done?? Well, i don't know yet, as i'm not psychic (although sometimes i like you to believe i am!). It's 10am in the morning at the mo, so i've got a lot of time to do a lot of things! Bit more exploring and shopping methinks! No hi-jinks with the ladies, considering my mum's in town... but trust me folks... i've got enough stories to tell y'all - don't you worry ;-)
This may well be the last post you get from the US! Sob! I'm actually gutted to be leaving, as this trip has been sensational - but i'll gush more about that in my final posting. So, the next time i speak to you i'll probably be back in Nuneaton! There'll still be updates though folks, so stay tuned!
Speak soon, and i love y'all,
Aaron! x
Nevertheless, New York is, suffice to say, awesome. Loads of hustle and bustle and i've done quite a bit, so be prepared for an enormo-blog post here - just warning you so that you can get a cuppa or some munch for the journey ahead. Ready? Ok, let's go.
Well, i left you in Chicago with me dreading the impending journey to NYC on the Greyhound (standard practice to have the fear over it!). That night i wasn't going to do much until three girls asked me to watch a movie with them (2 Brits and an Auzzie)... and you know me... how can i refuse a movie?? The fact that it was girls asking me is entirely inconsequential! Ha, as if! Anyway, ended up watching When Harry Met Sally, which i always thought was a chick-flick, but i gotta say - it's pretty damn laddy and had me laughing away - boys, check it out.
Skip a day, and i'm on that damn Greyhound again after walking all day in TORRENTIAL rain. That was NOT fun and soaked me to the bone - every layer was drenched. A lot like the NOLA rain, but a little lighter - still damn soaking! This time i decided against the non-waterproof kagool i had with me, and just braved it... again, in shorts. My legs are looking pretty bronze now - weathered too!
The Greyhound itself... was actually normal!! I gotta say, that's actually quite a shame considering that it was my last one. I could have at least had ONE nutcase on the bus shouting obscenities or rocking back and forth whilst foaming at the mouth... but no. Everyone was normal... so i slept... a lot, and crossed 4 states in the process (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania if you care). Long trip, but worth it to arrive here in NYC!
So what have i been upto whilst here?? Well, i first of all met my mother out here, which was nice - good to see a friendly face, and someone who i can begin prattling to about my journeys! Hannerz got a 1/2 filled in journey story (as i was only half way), but now more can be elaborated upon... except the stricted X-Rated stuff... that's probably best saved for mates, and not your folks right?? Haha.
Spent Friday just wandering around NYC and Central Park, and stopping off to see a Broadway production in the evening - it's gotta be done! Again, Aaron 'The Blag' Everitt was on form - tickets were sold out except for crappy standing $21 room. So i made a point about my mum's jetlag and the guy perked up again and 'looked' for seats... he found them - 2 $50 seats in the orchestral area. Result right? Yes, and even more so when you consider that these seats are actually priced at $120 EACH. Yes, i will save you money! Seems you're not the only blagger in town Jay!! Haha. No free sangria though... you win there! ;-). Anyway, Chicago was pretty cool - i finally began to understand the plot (i'm not a musical buff), and the girls in it were stunning - ab's so defined you could grate cheese on them. Yum! So when my attention waned i could at least stare at them. I'm never off the ball folks ;-) haha.
Next day... i encountered hurricane number 2 of my journeys. First i had Edouard in NOLA, which was wet. NOW I had to encounter Hurricane Hanna as it hit New York. What is it with me attracting natural disasters?? Luckily i've had no tornados or tsunamis, but hurricanes are bad enough! I don't think you get our news over at home, but it's definitely hurricane season over here - one's currently destroying Cuba (called Irvine), which isn't cool! Anyway, before it started to drench me, we managed to navigate our way over to the Empire State Building - which i only associate with King Kong, and got upto the 86th floor to have a look... at cloud. Yes, it was like having cataracts! Still pretty cool though...
... and leads me onto Aaron's random rant of the post! People who take photos of photos. Ok, why on Earth do you go on holiday to visit these places only to take a photo of the photo of that place? Example: in my hotel's lobby there's a wall size photo of Time Square and i've seen people standing in front of it having THEIR photo taken. Oh, did i forget to mention that Time Square is ONE BLOCK away - literally a 2 minute walk?! Why accept a crap substitute when you can have the real thing?! It's like having sex with 'Molly the Blow Up Love Friend' when you've got a gorgeous girlfriend inviting you into bed - you're only cheating yourself (and probably gonna get some chafage off that doll!). Urgh, bloody tourists!
Anyway! Then we dove into Macy's, which is an awesomely big shop full of bargains. Didn't buy much, as it's too big, but it was cool... and then it started to rain... and rain... and rain... About 3 inches fell in an hour at one point! Again, i wore shorts... as well as this huge poncho that we got from our bus tour company. So i looked a bit like a member of the Ku Klux Klan who clearly has no sense of how to dress with his shorts and flip-flops on. Well, either a KKK member, or Captain Condom. I'll leave it to the critics to decide! Unfortunately the rain kinda washed out the day, as we couldn't go uptown or downtown, as it just wasn't fun anymore! But nevertheless... i had stuff planned for the night time!!
You remember the night previously i went to a Broadway show?? All very nice and chirpy. Saturday night i went out to a gig in NYC - from Chicago to a band called Carcass. Quite a contrast of styles here! I think the names of the support bands should indicate how non-'nice and chirpy' this gig was: Aborted, Suffocation, Necrophagist and er.... 1349 (decidedly less sinister sounding!). The gig was in Times Square in the Nokia Theater, and it was amazing. Such good fun to get out to a show whilst i was away, and what better location?! Though i gotta say that gigs here are timed VERY oddly - the headline band didn't take the stage til midnight and finish til 2am!! That's unheard of back home, but is apparently routine out here! It was funny though to walk outside after having my ears molested that people were still roaming around in droves! NYC really is the city that never sleeps!! Well, i do - i went to sleep straight after. Need my beauty sleep - you can't keep my perfect face and stature on no sleep! Haha!
This brings us to yesterday - the all out touring day - the aim to cover as much ground as possible. And was it achieved?? You damn right! (Sorry, listening to the song 'Shaft' by Isaac Hayes at the minute - so there may be a lot of this in the upcoming paragraph!). Got uptown to see Harlem... which was kinda normal looking, though i still don't want to hang around there after darkness falls. I'll pass, cheers. Saw all of Central Park, had the worse lunch in the world at some Chinese place and then went downtown, stopping off at Wall Street - which was really nice and SO quiet!, Ground Zero - which was saddening, but good to look at, just to put the whole event into context - you really can't imagine how BIG those things must've been!, and the big blue lady in the bay, yes - the Statue of Liberty. Went out on a boat to see her, though all i could think of looking at the statue was Ghostbusters I (the prequel to the scariest movie EVER). I swear she was taller in that film! Still a sight to see though, despite the typically patriotic music getting pumped into my ears whilst i gazed upon her visage! The US definitely love their country! That i cannot doubt!
That kinda sums up yesterday really, which then brings us onto today. What have i done?? Well, i don't know yet, as i'm not psychic (although sometimes i like you to believe i am!). It's 10am in the morning at the mo, so i've got a lot of time to do a lot of things! Bit more exploring and shopping methinks! No hi-jinks with the ladies, considering my mum's in town... but trust me folks... i've got enough stories to tell y'all - don't you worry ;-)
This may well be the last post you get from the US! Sob! I'm actually gutted to be leaving, as this trip has been sensational - but i'll gush more about that in my final posting. So, the next time i speak to you i'll probably be back in Nuneaton! There'll still be updates though folks, so stay tuned!
Speak soon, and i love y'all,
Aaron! x
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
... Like A Big Pizza Pie...
Welcome to Chicago folks!! Well, not literally welcome... as you're most probably in the UK, or elsewhere in the US if you're Mr. Knott or one of the many ace peeps i've met over in this big ol' country! That is, unless you're stalking me, and you're actually in Chicago sitting opposite me in this internet room. You are pretty hot though, so i'll forgive you ;-)
I tell you what - i'm SO glad to be out of Salt Lake City. I can now actually tell you about the hostel where i was... unlike in the last post due to ''wandering eyes''. Basically it was packed full of random weirdo's. I'm basically talking about compressing the Greyhound into a hostel! There were people LIVING in the hostel for one - that's something i've not seen before... and these folks weren't your average, nice traveller; they were vagrants or the mentally unhinged! You think i'm joking don't you?? How about an example... at 11pm, when i was trying to get my head down after the day's travelling, my room 'mate' walks upto my bunk, stark naked and starts talking to me about religion and Europe. Now, i'm a personable chap and will ofcourse talk to someone... but this guy was loopy. He started saying how Europe was totally poor, and that everything over there was salted. He figured that this salt is ''a curse thrown down upon Europe by Satan''. He then started talking DEEPLY about the Bible and quoting verses at me. He also reckoned that Jesus had been killed by Satan, and that he won't be coming back any time soon. I tried my hardest to close my eyes and sleep... i eventually did.
The next thing i heard out of him at 3am was ''Al Capone was a really cool guy, i'd like to be him''. Nice - dying of syphillis sounds AWESOME...
Anyway, i flew out of SLC and landed in Chicago yesterday. Sound flight, and met some nice folks at the airport - so the inhabitants of SLC aren't as nutty as those hostel folks, so no disrespect to anyone who may be from there! This hostel (in Chicago) is MUCH better - full of normal people, who are all around my age - bonus!
Ok, so what's Chicago famous for?? Skyscrapers (it has the tallest in the US), wind (it's the Windy City), that theatrical production of the same name, Al Capone... and pizza! So what's the first thing i do when i get here?? Why, i hunt down the pizzeria that invented the 'deep-pan pizza' - yes, Chicagotown Pizzas have based their ideas on the city that started it all... too bad they've missed the mark ENTIRELY though! The pizzeria is called ''Uno'' - and the dude invented the dish back at the turn of the 20th Century - so i had to sample one didn't i?? The whole experience is basically the dietary equivalent of sex... ''how?'' i can hear you ask... well let me explain!
First of all you have a 45 minute wait while the pizza cooks (this is authentic remember), which is a time where they ply you with appetizers... think of these as the foreplay - piquing your interest and warming you up for what's to come. You're anticipation builds and builds as time moves on, til you can stand it no more, and you NEED the 'main course'...
... that time comes soon enough, and you're lost in a world of ecstacy. The ''pizza'' looks so enticing lying there for you to tuck into, and when you do, it's so satisfying and everything you'd been hoping for. It also seems to last an age too (i don't mean to brag ;-) ha!). When you're done you feel an overwhelming sense of elation and also a curious amount of tiredness - all you want to do is sleep. Does the comparison end there? Oh no no; you see despite having just finished, you strangely find yourself thirsting for more, and you can't wait to go again should the ''food'' go down (or go up if you're thinking about the OTHER thing).
I did indeed did feel this urge to go again, and i did today - though i was unfaithful and popped over to ''Due'' (the younger sister restaurant of Uno) for some action. This act of treachery is again very similar to the relationship / loving comparison... you see, despite me enjoying my lunch, i got horrible abdominal spasms afterwards - a ''disease'' if you will. Cheaters never prosper folks... cheaters never prosper!!
So... after all that, what else have i filled my day with?? Skyscrapers! First thing i headed over to the John Hancock centre and went upto the 94th floor (this is the 2nd tallest building in the US - after the Sears Tower with 105 floors, which is next to my hostel). The views up there were amazing - you can see into FOUR states from up there! That's how tall it is! Unfortunately it was a little foggy, but it was sensational. I then wandered round taking snaps and trying to find a callbox to ring the UK... but it seems that Chicago phoneboxes don't let you dial internationally - apparently the world outside of the US doesn't exist, so that idea fell flat. Instead i visited all the art exhibits around the city - some are just plain WEIRD - one is two 50 foot tall towers that stream water from their bricks... with two faces on them that just blink and smile at one another until they both pucker up and water sprays out of their mouths. This is hard to convey in writing, but i've taken photos - so you'll see what i mean!! There was loads of other modern art out here too, including a Picasso statue entitled ''Untitled'' - which i sat and tried to interpret, but i couldn't - that's one for you Aimee haha!
It's been a pretty damn cool day - literally too, as the weather hasn't broached 19oC today - a nice bit of respite! My blister's back too - yay - so that's annoying, but 'luckily' i have a 17 hour Greyhound to catch tomorrow, so i can rest it then. That Greyhound will take me to my final destination on this trip, which was consequently my first destination - New York City!! I can actually explore it properly now! So that basically means everything but walking 50 blocks to the Greyhound depot along Broadway and back! Hence, there's lots still to do! I'll also be joined out here by a familiar face - my mum! It'll be good to begin the process that you're all going to have to bear witness unto - me chewing your ear off about my journeys!! She gets to be the 'lucky' first person (nevermind!)
That's another blog over with then! We're drawing close to the end now - there's only 2 or possibly 3 more to go and it's over! We'll have to actually talk in person - what a scary thought right?! Who, in this day and age, actually talks face to face anymore?? I'll leave you to ponder that one...
See you soon!
Aaron! x
PS: A little bit of a quiz here... all but one of these blog titles is a song title, or song lyric (in essence, though it may be twisted slightly) - which one's the odd one out?? Also... can you name each artist and song that the titles were inspired by? Oh the excitement!
I tell you what - i'm SO glad to be out of Salt Lake City. I can now actually tell you about the hostel where i was... unlike in the last post due to ''wandering eyes''. Basically it was packed full of random weirdo's. I'm basically talking about compressing the Greyhound into a hostel! There were people LIVING in the hostel for one - that's something i've not seen before... and these folks weren't your average, nice traveller; they were vagrants or the mentally unhinged! You think i'm joking don't you?? How about an example... at 11pm, when i was trying to get my head down after the day's travelling, my room 'mate' walks upto my bunk, stark naked and starts talking to me about religion and Europe. Now, i'm a personable chap and will ofcourse talk to someone... but this guy was loopy. He started saying how Europe was totally poor, and that everything over there was salted. He figured that this salt is ''a curse thrown down upon Europe by Satan''. He then started talking DEEPLY about the Bible and quoting verses at me. He also reckoned that Jesus had been killed by Satan, and that he won't be coming back any time soon. I tried my hardest to close my eyes and sleep... i eventually did.
The next thing i heard out of him at 3am was ''Al Capone was a really cool guy, i'd like to be him''. Nice - dying of syphillis sounds AWESOME...
Anyway, i flew out of SLC and landed in Chicago yesterday. Sound flight, and met some nice folks at the airport - so the inhabitants of SLC aren't as nutty as those hostel folks, so no disrespect to anyone who may be from there! This hostel (in Chicago) is MUCH better - full of normal people, who are all around my age - bonus!
Ok, so what's Chicago famous for?? Skyscrapers (it has the tallest in the US), wind (it's the Windy City), that theatrical production of the same name, Al Capone... and pizza! So what's the first thing i do when i get here?? Why, i hunt down the pizzeria that invented the 'deep-pan pizza' - yes, Chicagotown Pizzas have based their ideas on the city that started it all... too bad they've missed the mark ENTIRELY though! The pizzeria is called ''Uno'' - and the dude invented the dish back at the turn of the 20th Century - so i had to sample one didn't i?? The whole experience is basically the dietary equivalent of sex... ''how?'' i can hear you ask... well let me explain!
First of all you have a 45 minute wait while the pizza cooks (this is authentic remember), which is a time where they ply you with appetizers... think of these as the foreplay - piquing your interest and warming you up for what's to come. You're anticipation builds and builds as time moves on, til you can stand it no more, and you NEED the 'main course'...
... that time comes soon enough, and you're lost in a world of ecstacy. The ''pizza'' looks so enticing lying there for you to tuck into, and when you do, it's so satisfying and everything you'd been hoping for. It also seems to last an age too (i don't mean to brag ;-) ha!). When you're done you feel an overwhelming sense of elation and also a curious amount of tiredness - all you want to do is sleep. Does the comparison end there? Oh no no; you see despite having just finished, you strangely find yourself thirsting for more, and you can't wait to go again should the ''food'' go down (or go up if you're thinking about the OTHER thing).
I did indeed did feel this urge to go again, and i did today - though i was unfaithful and popped over to ''Due'' (the younger sister restaurant of Uno) for some action. This act of treachery is again very similar to the relationship / loving comparison... you see, despite me enjoying my lunch, i got horrible abdominal spasms afterwards - a ''disease'' if you will. Cheaters never prosper folks... cheaters never prosper!!
So... after all that, what else have i filled my day with?? Skyscrapers! First thing i headed over to the John Hancock centre and went upto the 94th floor (this is the 2nd tallest building in the US - after the Sears Tower with 105 floors, which is next to my hostel). The views up there were amazing - you can see into FOUR states from up there! That's how tall it is! Unfortunately it was a little foggy, but it was sensational. I then wandered round taking snaps and trying to find a callbox to ring the UK... but it seems that Chicago phoneboxes don't let you dial internationally - apparently the world outside of the US doesn't exist, so that idea fell flat. Instead i visited all the art exhibits around the city - some are just plain WEIRD - one is two 50 foot tall towers that stream water from their bricks... with two faces on them that just blink and smile at one another until they both pucker up and water sprays out of their mouths. This is hard to convey in writing, but i've taken photos - so you'll see what i mean!! There was loads of other modern art out here too, including a Picasso statue entitled ''Untitled'' - which i sat and tried to interpret, but i couldn't - that's one for you Aimee haha!
It's been a pretty damn cool day - literally too, as the weather hasn't broached 19oC today - a nice bit of respite! My blister's back too - yay - so that's annoying, but 'luckily' i have a 17 hour Greyhound to catch tomorrow, so i can rest it then. That Greyhound will take me to my final destination on this trip, which was consequently my first destination - New York City!! I can actually explore it properly now! So that basically means everything but walking 50 blocks to the Greyhound depot along Broadway and back! Hence, there's lots still to do! I'll also be joined out here by a familiar face - my mum! It'll be good to begin the process that you're all going to have to bear witness unto - me chewing your ear off about my journeys!! She gets to be the 'lucky' first person (nevermind!)
That's another blog over with then! We're drawing close to the end now - there's only 2 or possibly 3 more to go and it's over! We'll have to actually talk in person - what a scary thought right?! Who, in this day and age, actually talks face to face anymore?? I'll leave you to ponder that one...
See you soon!
Aaron! x
PS: A little bit of a quiz here... all but one of these blog titles is a song title, or song lyric (in essence, though it may be twisted slightly) - which one's the odd one out?? Also... can you name each artist and song that the titles were inspired by? Oh the excitement!
Monday, 1 September 2008
When the (Latter-Day) Saints Go Marching In...
It's time for another thrilling installment of... Aaron Dominates the USA!! I hope you're finding it thrilling anyway... and if not... well, i don't know what i can do. The smut and innuendo quotas are already pretty full (though i'll jam in some more - gotta really stuff that gap full haven't i?? Ha!), along with the subtle jokes and attempted humour! Also found out that i'm getting new readers (which is AWESOME), although you're a bit late... but i'll forgive you, probably. If you're new to my fantastic views on the US, then scroll ALL the way down and start at the beginning. I promise it's worth it! Though you best set aside a little while! Anyway, let's get this party on the road and catch up on what's been goin' down since i last posted!
I'm currently holed up in Salt Lake City in Utah, awaiting my flight tomorrow to Chicago (Illinois) - a good few thousand miles East of here. Why am i taking the plane i can hear you asking... well... the Greyhound would only take a quick 37 hours, so i think i'll pass and fly there in 3. Seriously, if you haven't taken a long distance ride on the US Greyhound you have NO idea how hellacious that'd be! But before i start telling you about the present or even the future, let's go ''Back To The Past'' (not quite as catchy a film title, but it'll do.)
I left you up in Yellowstone after my day of wildlife spotting with the most mentally unbalanced guide in the world. I remembered a rhyme she kept singing all day - ''Heather Holly is my name, touring touring is my game'' - that wears VERY thin even after the first time you hear it. I couldn't even fake it with her (a laugh i mean)... goddam that was a tough journey! Anyway, the next day i headed out with a DIFFERENT guide, called Brad, who was actually awesome and a total legend. He was a bit of a biology geek though all rugged too. I dare say you girls would swoon at him, as he's got that whole 'smart but really physical' thing goin on. I just thought he was cool.
So, this tour was focused on the world famous geysers that are all around Yellowstone in what's known as the 'Lower Loop' - the one y'all will know is Old Faithful, i'm sure, but i know of quite a few others from a course i took at Uni back in year 3 (i don't think any of you other bio folks took it did you??), so it was pretty sweet to see all these textbook images close up! Also saw a hell of a lot of wildlife - some of which i didn't see the day previously - namely BLACK BEARS, elk and bald eagles (i know that i slate birds (of the feathered kind) loads, but a bald eagle's a bit special as it's so rare - got some AMAZING pics of one!).
Anyway, the thermal stuff. I gotta say this, but Old Faithful was a bit of an anti-climax: another case of the yanks thinking something is WAY more spectacular than it actually is. It's basically just a hole in the ground that sprays water 100 foot in the air. It's literally JUST a hole. When you compare this to the other geysers in the park (look up Castle Geyser) it looks so weak! At least the other geysers look a bit spectacular!
Also saw a load of hot springs, which are the things i really wanted to see as the colours in them are so awe-inspiring. One in particular, humourously called Morning Glory Spring (if you don't know why that's funny then you're probably too old ;-) ), was breath-taking, with the pool changing in colour from a rich royal blue, through green, yellow, orange and red - all in a pool about 20m across! I won't go too geeky, as there's definitely potential for me to do so, but the colours are triggered by millions of bacteria that are able to survive at temperatures WAY above what'd kill us (try 100 degree C and above!).
I thought i'd lay down my credentials again - just dropping in that i'm a Bio Masters Graduate - again, it went down a storm! Brad knew all about that stuff too, so we chatted away about the thermals and wildlife. Yes, it was geeky, but it was also cool to talk to someone on the level about all that.
Basically, there's no way that my words can capture what i saw in Yellowstone, on either day, as it was all way too visually stimulating to be able to write down here. Lucky for you i've taken LOADS of photos in the park, as well as about 700+ overall, so there's plenty to stare at when i'm back (as well as my unruly hair which is getting too long to mess-up-spike as usual!) - i am shaving though, so i don't look totally like a hobo, nor do i smell like one... i don't think.
I spent last night up at the bear refuge, in the rain, at temperatures below 8oC - in shorts again, just standing there watching the grizzlies and you know what? I felt pretty emotional. Not because of how amazing it was to be so close to these animals, but because i was truly sad to be leaving Yellowstone, much like i was sad to leave Alaska and New Orleans. It was pretty cool to just stand there and see this huge 700lb+ grizzly sitting like a teddy bear (on its arse) just staring at me as i looked back at it - i connected with the beast! I stayed until my vision was at failing level and went home a bit despondent to pack my bags. Sad times.
Oh, forgot to mention how a girl that worked at the place i booked my first tour (with the eccentric tour guide) came and found me out! She walked over a mile 'to bring me a CD of pictures' - yea, right! We all know why she came don't we?? She wanted to come see the Az-meister for some good times! Honestly, anything i said, she found hilarious - pretty much there for the taking! I mean, i AM pretty damn funny (and REALLY modest ;-) ) but she was hanging off my every word - a perfect opportunity to improve Anglo-US relations yes? Unfortunately for her, i was typing up that last blog at the time, and me being SO dedicated to you guys means that my attention was focused elsewhere. I hope y'all appreciate the sacrifices i make for you!
Anyway, i left Yellowstone this morning and travelled for 8 hours to reach where i am now - Salt Lake City, home of the mormons (or the Church of Latter-Day Saints as i think they prefer to be known!). I'm not really into exploring here, as it's literally only a stop of convenience so that i'm ready for my flight tomorrow. It's a lot like a 10 to 2 girl you'd meet back home. You only get with her either because a) there are no other options, b) you're just too damn frisky to go home alone, or c) you need a place to sleep for the night (ahhh, Ayia Napa... memories right Dave? Haha). Plus, there's nothing here that i really want to see... hell, i don't even think there's anything here besides the temple! Speaking of which, that thing is impressive. Most US churches look like a bungalow you'd see in Nuneaton with a cross bolted on the front. This church / temple though looked like ours - huge gothic spires, so it looked pretty European! Impressive for the yanks! However, since getting into Salt Lake i've noticed myself saying 'oh Jesus Christ', 'goddam' and loads of other blasphemies (as well as lots of fruity language). I'm not overtly religious (in the fact that i don't follow a certain religion) but i was still pretty conscious of the fact... and it made me laugh a bit when i realised. Luckily i didn't shout it all out loud or no doubt they'd chase me out of town with pitch-forks (naturally they're all backwards here haha).
I'll talk more about the hostel i'm in when i update you from Chicago, as prying eyes may read what i write, which isn't cool.
So, what lies ahead? Well, i'm off on a flight at midday tomorrow bound for Midway Airport in Chicago, which should be amazing. I've not seen a big city in a while now, so it'll be pretty cool to be in one again. I don't think it'll quite compare to the natural stuff i've seen, but it'll still be pretty ace all the same. Lots of things to see and do! And luckily no Greyhound involved. Only one of those bad boys left - 17 hours between Chicago and New York, then i'm DONE with them. Hurrah!!
Anyway, i'll leave you for now. Hopefully i'll have loads of things to update you on next time. I'm sure i will. If not, then i'll make it all up ;-)
Speak soon,
Aaron! x
I'm currently holed up in Salt Lake City in Utah, awaiting my flight tomorrow to Chicago (Illinois) - a good few thousand miles East of here. Why am i taking the plane i can hear you asking... well... the Greyhound would only take a quick 37 hours, so i think i'll pass and fly there in 3. Seriously, if you haven't taken a long distance ride on the US Greyhound you have NO idea how hellacious that'd be! But before i start telling you about the present or even the future, let's go ''Back To The Past'' (not quite as catchy a film title, but it'll do.)
I left you up in Yellowstone after my day of wildlife spotting with the most mentally unbalanced guide in the world. I remembered a rhyme she kept singing all day - ''Heather Holly is my name, touring touring is my game'' - that wears VERY thin even after the first time you hear it. I couldn't even fake it with her (a laugh i mean)... goddam that was a tough journey! Anyway, the next day i headed out with a DIFFERENT guide, called Brad, who was actually awesome and a total legend. He was a bit of a biology geek though all rugged too. I dare say you girls would swoon at him, as he's got that whole 'smart but really physical' thing goin on. I just thought he was cool.
So, this tour was focused on the world famous geysers that are all around Yellowstone in what's known as the 'Lower Loop' - the one y'all will know is Old Faithful, i'm sure, but i know of quite a few others from a course i took at Uni back in year 3 (i don't think any of you other bio folks took it did you??), so it was pretty sweet to see all these textbook images close up! Also saw a hell of a lot of wildlife - some of which i didn't see the day previously - namely BLACK BEARS, elk and bald eagles (i know that i slate birds (of the feathered kind) loads, but a bald eagle's a bit special as it's so rare - got some AMAZING pics of one!).
Anyway, the thermal stuff. I gotta say this, but Old Faithful was a bit of an anti-climax: another case of the yanks thinking something is WAY more spectacular than it actually is. It's basically just a hole in the ground that sprays water 100 foot in the air. It's literally JUST a hole. When you compare this to the other geysers in the park (look up Castle Geyser) it looks so weak! At least the other geysers look a bit spectacular!
Also saw a load of hot springs, which are the things i really wanted to see as the colours in them are so awe-inspiring. One in particular, humourously called Morning Glory Spring (if you don't know why that's funny then you're probably too old ;-) ), was breath-taking, with the pool changing in colour from a rich royal blue, through green, yellow, orange and red - all in a pool about 20m across! I won't go too geeky, as there's definitely potential for me to do so, but the colours are triggered by millions of bacteria that are able to survive at temperatures WAY above what'd kill us (try 100 degree C and above!).
I thought i'd lay down my credentials again - just dropping in that i'm a Bio Masters Graduate - again, it went down a storm! Brad knew all about that stuff too, so we chatted away about the thermals and wildlife. Yes, it was geeky, but it was also cool to talk to someone on the level about all that.
Basically, there's no way that my words can capture what i saw in Yellowstone, on either day, as it was all way too visually stimulating to be able to write down here. Lucky for you i've taken LOADS of photos in the park, as well as about 700+ overall, so there's plenty to stare at when i'm back (as well as my unruly hair which is getting too long to mess-up-spike as usual!) - i am shaving though, so i don't look totally like a hobo, nor do i smell like one... i don't think.
I spent last night up at the bear refuge, in the rain, at temperatures below 8oC - in shorts again, just standing there watching the grizzlies and you know what? I felt pretty emotional. Not because of how amazing it was to be so close to these animals, but because i was truly sad to be leaving Yellowstone, much like i was sad to leave Alaska and New Orleans. It was pretty cool to just stand there and see this huge 700lb+ grizzly sitting like a teddy bear (on its arse) just staring at me as i looked back at it - i connected with the beast! I stayed until my vision was at failing level and went home a bit despondent to pack my bags. Sad times.
Oh, forgot to mention how a girl that worked at the place i booked my first tour (with the eccentric tour guide) came and found me out! She walked over a mile 'to bring me a CD of pictures' - yea, right! We all know why she came don't we?? She wanted to come see the Az-meister for some good times! Honestly, anything i said, she found hilarious - pretty much there for the taking! I mean, i AM pretty damn funny (and REALLY modest ;-) ) but she was hanging off my every word - a perfect opportunity to improve Anglo-US relations yes? Unfortunately for her, i was typing up that last blog at the time, and me being SO dedicated to you guys means that my attention was focused elsewhere. I hope y'all appreciate the sacrifices i make for you!
Anyway, i left Yellowstone this morning and travelled for 8 hours to reach where i am now - Salt Lake City, home of the mormons (or the Church of Latter-Day Saints as i think they prefer to be known!). I'm not really into exploring here, as it's literally only a stop of convenience so that i'm ready for my flight tomorrow. It's a lot like a 10 to 2 girl you'd meet back home. You only get with her either because a) there are no other options, b) you're just too damn frisky to go home alone, or c) you need a place to sleep for the night (ahhh, Ayia Napa... memories right Dave? Haha). Plus, there's nothing here that i really want to see... hell, i don't even think there's anything here besides the temple! Speaking of which, that thing is impressive. Most US churches look like a bungalow you'd see in Nuneaton with a cross bolted on the front. This church / temple though looked like ours - huge gothic spires, so it looked pretty European! Impressive for the yanks! However, since getting into Salt Lake i've noticed myself saying 'oh Jesus Christ', 'goddam' and loads of other blasphemies (as well as lots of fruity language). I'm not overtly religious (in the fact that i don't follow a certain religion) but i was still pretty conscious of the fact... and it made me laugh a bit when i realised. Luckily i didn't shout it all out loud or no doubt they'd chase me out of town with pitch-forks (naturally they're all backwards here haha).
I'll talk more about the hostel i'm in when i update you from Chicago, as prying eyes may read what i write, which isn't cool.
So, what lies ahead? Well, i'm off on a flight at midday tomorrow bound for Midway Airport in Chicago, which should be amazing. I've not seen a big city in a while now, so it'll be pretty cool to be in one again. I don't think it'll quite compare to the natural stuff i've seen, but it'll still be pretty ace all the same. Lots of things to see and do! And luckily no Greyhound involved. Only one of those bad boys left - 17 hours between Chicago and New York, then i'm DONE with them. Hurrah!!
Anyway, i'll leave you for now. Hopefully i'll have loads of things to update you on next time. I'm sure i will. If not, then i'll make it all up ;-)
Speak soon,
Aaron! x
Saturday, 30 August 2008
If You Go Down to the Woods Today...
'ello there folks!! How's everyone doing?? Good?? I hope so, coz i CERTAINLY am!!
I survived the 27 hour journey from San Francisco to Yellowstone!! Wahey!! Though let me tell you - there are stories to tell... yes, stories about the Greyhound! It didn't just consist of me dozing in and out of consciousness, keeping myself to myself and listening to my i-pod. Seriously folks, you have NO idea how to ride a bus til you ride the US Greyhound. Hannerz learnt from my sage advice and witnessed the kind of loopy folks on the bus (remember the guy who showed you photos of his dog and laughed like the black dude from Scary Movie bro?? I'm sure you do!!). So without further a-do, let's fill you in shall we??
After much hobbling around San Fran (remember, i have a severed toe - plus blisters come morning!) i finally made it onto my bus to Salt Lake City, Utah, which connects to Yellowstone, Montana. All was well at first... then onto the bus steps a dude whom I am going to dub ''Mumbly Joe''. He sat up front at first... but ended up sitting behind me (thank god not WITH me). The WHOLE way he would mumble random facts about anything, then break into song (normally Johnny Cash), then just say whatever he saw. I hate to break it to him - but this ISN'T Catchphrase... Roy Walker is not urging you to 'say what you see'!
I actually sat by myself for the WHOLE journey... which was unusual. I sat there looking out the window looking at everyone getting on, as usual, as i keep an eye out for weirdos / hotties (unfortunately only about 1 girl out of every journey i've taken in this trip falls into the latter group). I then caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror... i too have become that single male travelling the Greyhound that I too would like to avoid if i didn't know me! Scary thought! It could be the fact that i now look a bit like the Wild Man of Bourneo, but who knows. Naturally, any gorgeous women would be fighting for the seat next to me, but as they don't exist on the G-hound, they don't flock to me like salmon.
Anyway, i thought Mumbly Joe was the biggest 'thrill' of the ride... but no no no. When we rolled into Reno (which looks crap by the way - a poor man's Vegas including a cheap-o immitation of Circus Circus) there were loads of police waiting for the bus. I thought nothing of this - and asked one where to get some food as i hadn't eaten in 15 hours... and i wandered off. I then wandered back and stood there bus-side watching my luggage (another Greyhound rule - defend that luggage like it's the last woman on Earth). Then a dude in normal clothes kindly asks me to go inside because of 'pumping fuel into the coach' - fair enough i thought...
Five minutes later, the same guy walks into the depot - this time with his NVPD (Nevada Police Department) badge on show - announcing that drugs have been found in bags belonging to two women!! Now all the K9 units made sense!! Magically, the women were nowhere to be seen. Obviously they were more on the ball than i was. Clearly, i'd make a balls of smuggling drugs! At least that's an occupation i can strike off my list (not that it ever WAS one though!).
Let's fast forward a bit, as the rest of the journey is pretty standard. I rocked into Yellowstone at about 5pm and set about getting me some food (it now being a good 10 hours since my crap sandwich in Reno). What do you eat in a National Park famous for bears?? Why, BEAR ofcourse!! Yep, a big slab of Grizzly steak was served up - with a big side portion of gullability. No, ofcourse i didn't eat bear. I would NEVER eat that animal - most things are go go go, but bears and monkeys / apes are very much off the menu. Unless i was stuck on a mountain with a fellow traveller - i'd eat them, no questions. I infact tucked into 16oz of bison. Mmmmm, hit the spot. Getting me ready for today... my wildlife adventure!
The reason i came to Yellowstone is to see nature. I loved what i saw in Alaska and was keen for more! Was i disappointed?? Not at all! Today i can say that i've seen (and taken photos of): grizzly bears, wolves, bison (LOADS), coyotes, moose (male this time, and further away than in Alaska thank god!) and lots of lousy birds which no-one should care about. Me included.
It was so amazing to be within an arm's length of bison walking over the roads (i was in a car - they kill people with their horns regularly - they weigh over a ton!). Also seeing grizzly bears and wolves was AMAZING. I've fallen in love with those bears. No doubt they'd destroy me, but i'd be thinking how cool it was being mauled to death by Yogi Bear. I'd be less chuffed if it was BooBoo, as for me, he ruined the TV series. Much as Scrappy Doo ruined Scooby Doo. Why oh why do Hanna-Barbera (the cartooners) insist on putting those crappy little cousins / brothers / pests in the shows?? Welcome to the first of today's random Aaron outbursts. There may be more... there may not! Read on!
I think my tour guide merits a mention, as she was slightly... odd. This is a woman who laughs at everything, even when she's totally vexed with the people she's talking to! She brought to mind an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer tries to suppress his rage all the time, which culminates in him developing stress bumps on his neck before he eventually EXPLODES with rage. Yes, she is that same kind of person! She never exploded, but boy did these Italians on the tour annoy her. The kids knew NO English whatsoever, so the tour was pointless for them, but their parents weren't much better! Yet again - you pesky Europeans getting into the US!! They didn't snore though, so they're fine in my book!
I don't think it helped her temper when i corrected her on a point she was making. She waded into the territories of microbiology, which i know like the back of my hand thanks to a module i took over a year ago where we actually studied Yellowstone. I piped up, as ever, and made my point clear. I was now in awe of all my passengers. It's interesting to see that what Hayzy said to me back in the UK about scientists being highly prized in the US is evident wherever i go. I say about having done a Biology Masters and doing Biochem Engineering next and they think that's the most amazing 'Major' in the world. You don't get that treatment back home. Biology is the whore of the sciences: she's easy and everyone's had her. Chemistry and Physics are your high-class escorts, if you will. Admittedly those escorts are dull and no fun at all, but you don't catch the 'disease' of having studied a supposedly soft science!
Made some pals on the tour though, which was cool - they're both pilots, so that was pretty different! I think i won their respect with my fact rebuttal about biology. Who knew that being a geek = respect in the US!! We sank a couple of beers in the back of the bus on the way back and just chatted the drive back away!
So, what's next?? Well, i'm here for one whole day more, which again, is pretty gutting. Tomorrow i head out on another tour to see all the world famous geysers, where i can put my biology knowledge on show (again!). Then sadly it'll be time for me to leave Yellowstone, which'll suck. I then begin to hurtle my way East towards Chicago (by plane thankfully).
I'll drop y'all a line from Salt Lake City, Utah, where i'll be kipping before my flight on Tuesday and let you know how the geysers were. Probably mind-blowing, like so much of this trip actually. This tour of the states has been amazing, and has actually made me want to come back to so many places - a boy's holiday of debauchery to New Orleans and Las Vegas (lads - we need to do this - Hannerz agrees!) and an adventure trip through Yellowstone and Alaska - backpacking and fishing the days away (never fished before... but it looks fun in the middle of glaciers and huge rivers with wild bears and bison on all sides!). Never dismiss the US as a holiday destination folks - there's much more to this country than Orlando... just avoid the crap areas i've highlighted! Ha!
So that's all for now folks - i'll speak to y'all soon!
Aaron! x
I survived the 27 hour journey from San Francisco to Yellowstone!! Wahey!! Though let me tell you - there are stories to tell... yes, stories about the Greyhound! It didn't just consist of me dozing in and out of consciousness, keeping myself to myself and listening to my i-pod. Seriously folks, you have NO idea how to ride a bus til you ride the US Greyhound. Hannerz learnt from my sage advice and witnessed the kind of loopy folks on the bus (remember the guy who showed you photos of his dog and laughed like the black dude from Scary Movie bro?? I'm sure you do!!). So without further a-do, let's fill you in shall we??
After much hobbling around San Fran (remember, i have a severed toe - plus blisters come morning!) i finally made it onto my bus to Salt Lake City, Utah, which connects to Yellowstone, Montana. All was well at first... then onto the bus steps a dude whom I am going to dub ''Mumbly Joe''. He sat up front at first... but ended up sitting behind me (thank god not WITH me). The WHOLE way he would mumble random facts about anything, then break into song (normally Johnny Cash), then just say whatever he saw. I hate to break it to him - but this ISN'T Catchphrase... Roy Walker is not urging you to 'say what you see'!
I actually sat by myself for the WHOLE journey... which was unusual. I sat there looking out the window looking at everyone getting on, as usual, as i keep an eye out for weirdos / hotties (unfortunately only about 1 girl out of every journey i've taken in this trip falls into the latter group). I then caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror... i too have become that single male travelling the Greyhound that I too would like to avoid if i didn't know me! Scary thought! It could be the fact that i now look a bit like the Wild Man of Bourneo, but who knows. Naturally, any gorgeous women would be fighting for the seat next to me, but as they don't exist on the G-hound, they don't flock to me like salmon.
Anyway, i thought Mumbly Joe was the biggest 'thrill' of the ride... but no no no. When we rolled into Reno (which looks crap by the way - a poor man's Vegas including a cheap-o immitation of Circus Circus) there were loads of police waiting for the bus. I thought nothing of this - and asked one where to get some food as i hadn't eaten in 15 hours... and i wandered off. I then wandered back and stood there bus-side watching my luggage (another Greyhound rule - defend that luggage like it's the last woman on Earth). Then a dude in normal clothes kindly asks me to go inside because of 'pumping fuel into the coach' - fair enough i thought...
Five minutes later, the same guy walks into the depot - this time with his NVPD (Nevada Police Department) badge on show - announcing that drugs have been found in bags belonging to two women!! Now all the K9 units made sense!! Magically, the women were nowhere to be seen. Obviously they were more on the ball than i was. Clearly, i'd make a balls of smuggling drugs! At least that's an occupation i can strike off my list (not that it ever WAS one though!).
Let's fast forward a bit, as the rest of the journey is pretty standard. I rocked into Yellowstone at about 5pm and set about getting me some food (it now being a good 10 hours since my crap sandwich in Reno). What do you eat in a National Park famous for bears?? Why, BEAR ofcourse!! Yep, a big slab of Grizzly steak was served up - with a big side portion of gullability. No, ofcourse i didn't eat bear. I would NEVER eat that animal - most things are go go go, but bears and monkeys / apes are very much off the menu. Unless i was stuck on a mountain with a fellow traveller - i'd eat them, no questions. I infact tucked into 16oz of bison. Mmmmm, hit the spot. Getting me ready for today... my wildlife adventure!
The reason i came to Yellowstone is to see nature. I loved what i saw in Alaska and was keen for more! Was i disappointed?? Not at all! Today i can say that i've seen (and taken photos of): grizzly bears, wolves, bison (LOADS), coyotes, moose (male this time, and further away than in Alaska thank god!) and lots of lousy birds which no-one should care about. Me included.
It was so amazing to be within an arm's length of bison walking over the roads (i was in a car - they kill people with their horns regularly - they weigh over a ton!). Also seeing grizzly bears and wolves was AMAZING. I've fallen in love with those bears. No doubt they'd destroy me, but i'd be thinking how cool it was being mauled to death by Yogi Bear. I'd be less chuffed if it was BooBoo, as for me, he ruined the TV series. Much as Scrappy Doo ruined Scooby Doo. Why oh why do Hanna-Barbera (the cartooners) insist on putting those crappy little cousins / brothers / pests in the shows?? Welcome to the first of today's random Aaron outbursts. There may be more... there may not! Read on!
I think my tour guide merits a mention, as she was slightly... odd. This is a woman who laughs at everything, even when she's totally vexed with the people she's talking to! She brought to mind an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer tries to suppress his rage all the time, which culminates in him developing stress bumps on his neck before he eventually EXPLODES with rage. Yes, she is that same kind of person! She never exploded, but boy did these Italians on the tour annoy her. The kids knew NO English whatsoever, so the tour was pointless for them, but their parents weren't much better! Yet again - you pesky Europeans getting into the US!! They didn't snore though, so they're fine in my book!
I don't think it helped her temper when i corrected her on a point she was making. She waded into the territories of microbiology, which i know like the back of my hand thanks to a module i took over a year ago where we actually studied Yellowstone. I piped up, as ever, and made my point clear. I was now in awe of all my passengers. It's interesting to see that what Hayzy said to me back in the UK about scientists being highly prized in the US is evident wherever i go. I say about having done a Biology Masters and doing Biochem Engineering next and they think that's the most amazing 'Major' in the world. You don't get that treatment back home. Biology is the whore of the sciences: she's easy and everyone's had her. Chemistry and Physics are your high-class escorts, if you will. Admittedly those escorts are dull and no fun at all, but you don't catch the 'disease' of having studied a supposedly soft science!
Made some pals on the tour though, which was cool - they're both pilots, so that was pretty different! I think i won their respect with my fact rebuttal about biology. Who knew that being a geek = respect in the US!! We sank a couple of beers in the back of the bus on the way back and just chatted the drive back away!
So, what's next?? Well, i'm here for one whole day more, which again, is pretty gutting. Tomorrow i head out on another tour to see all the world famous geysers, where i can put my biology knowledge on show (again!). Then sadly it'll be time for me to leave Yellowstone, which'll suck. I then begin to hurtle my way East towards Chicago (by plane thankfully).
I'll drop y'all a line from Salt Lake City, Utah, where i'll be kipping before my flight on Tuesday and let you know how the geysers were. Probably mind-blowing, like so much of this trip actually. This tour of the states has been amazing, and has actually made me want to come back to so many places - a boy's holiday of debauchery to New Orleans and Las Vegas (lads - we need to do this - Hannerz agrees!) and an adventure trip through Yellowstone and Alaska - backpacking and fishing the days away (never fished before... but it looks fun in the middle of glaciers and huge rivers with wild bears and bison on all sides!). Never dismiss the US as a holiday destination folks - there's much more to this country than Orlando... just avoid the crap areas i've highlighted! Ha!
So that's all for now folks - i'll speak to y'all soon!
Aaron! x
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
It's Fun to Stay at Le YMCA, N'est pas?
Howdy there folks!!
I'm currently holed up in San Francisco, California!! Not a bad little place, though i've only been here a day... and how much have i covered?! LOTS. I've seen all the sights AND been to A&E - hell yes. What a day indeed! Let's get down to the nitty gritty then shall we??
There's nothing much else to report re: Alaska. Simply, it was amazing, and i'd love to go out there again in the true mid-summer where it doesn't get dark until 2am. Hence the title of my last post - 'The All Night Lights' - Alaska stays lit now right past 10pm, which to me with my dodgy eyes was HEAVEN. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for San Fran - hence me going to A&E, but that comes into play later on in this sordid little tale...
So, talking of titles - why have i named this one accordingly?? Well, it's San Fran isn't it - the US's answer to Brighton (though i don't recall anyone actually posing the question in the first place... so why answer it?) Not my thing, and not the reason why i've come here - i'm more into 'peach melba' ice cream if you get my drift, as opposed to 'rocky road' flavour... the reason for coming here is to see the sights! And goddam there are QUITE a few of them, that's for sure... but again, i'm jumping ahead of myself (it didn't take long did it?) I'll keep explaining the title...
The French bit. It seems that California is the favoured holiday destination of the French! I noticed this in San Diego, and now again in San Francisco - it's like i'm in bloody Quebec or Paris! Everyone i ask a question to is French and denies all knowledge of the English language - why?? Oh, and one of my room-mates is a French dude... which is fine... except for the fact that in the middle of the night i thought i heard someone being severely mauled by a bear. But no... it was no bear, it was his SNORING. Now, y'all know i can't tolerate that right?? It drives me UP THE WALL, incase you hadn't guessed!! Out came the i-pod and 6 hours of the most broken sleep in the world last night... not good. On an aside - girls, how do you cope sleeping next to a guy at night when he snores?? If i were you i'd have already placed that pillow securely over his face and smothered him into the next life.
Anyway - onto San Fran itself (as i arrived here late last night, so saw nothing then - yesterday was purely flying time!). How is it?? As i expected?? Yes and no. I'd heard a mix of things off folks before i came - namely that there are LOADS of homeless and some random weird folks around - both of which are true. Also heard it was a beautiful place... that also is very true! The city has so many things to see and do that i had to organise my day with military strategic planning! Did i pull it off?? Ofcourse, it's me!
Kicked off the day by again cooking another world-class set of pancakes (i unofficially crowned myself in Hollywood, having seen what the girls and Alex could cook up!) and setting off for The Rock aka Alcatraz! I always thought Alcatraz was Alkatraz - i was wrong, but nevertheless, let's not get bogged down in the semantics shall we??
I rocked upto the ticket office to see the sign ''Sold Out Until Thursday Afternoon'' - this alarmed me. Thursday afternoon will see me riding that big ol' Greyhound bus for the best part of 27 hours... i won't be IN San Fran then. Lame! So i switched on the British accent and approached the ticket lady - asked, and she said no. So i tried my best 'puppy dog' look (not a good look for me) and she managed to pull a ticket out of thin air for me - RESULT!! So i happily boarded the ferry and sailed over to The Rock. Have to say - it was awesome, and was exactly what i was expecting. It was just so damn cool to walk around the big ol' cell blocks and see everything and learn about all the ne'er-do-wells that spent time in there aka Al 'Scarface' Capone, 'Machine-Gun' Kelly etc. and also learnt about the only escapees - it was like a real life Prison Break!! Hannerz and Jay - i know you boys would have enjoyed it!! I felt like shouting out ''Now... we run!!'' but there wasn't a prompt and i wasn't feeling that lively!
One thing i noticed whilst there was how many US people use video recorders to record everything on film. That sounds cool n all... but when was the last time any of you actually VIEWED what you'd recorded?? I for certain cannot recall watching a home-movie in recent memory... well, except for ones featuring Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson (not at the same time though... oh baby that'd rule...) but we won't go into that!! I can't ever say i've watched one of my own movies (mine aren't of the same ilk as Paris or Pamela's - believe me, they don't exist!) and i'm damned if i know anyone else who's watched back their holiday movies. Weddings, sure, skydives (hi mum), sure, but holidays?! I recall recording when i went to Orlando back in 1999 and i've not seen it in the past 9 years... probably because it's on a VCR, but that's not the point. Well, what is the point to this paragraph?? There isn't one - it was just an observation / conundrum. I'm afraid you won't ever be able to get back the minute you just spent reading this little aside. Sorry. So onwards...
After that i headed out for some lunch, which AGAIN consisted of Caesar salad (i've gone mad on it - had 5 in 4 days!) - guess it's a rejection of all that meat i had in the south (make a joke out of that... go on... *sigh*). Also happened upon an incredibly hot waitress called Saidy. Boys, we're talking so hot that your eyeballs melt in your sockets when you glance at her... yes! She picked up on my accent (it never gets old!) and sat down and chatted to me about my journeys. I guess in San Fran, they don't care if you randomly take time off! She's actually from Chicago it turns out - where i'll be heading, and she got real excited so i was thinking ''say stay at mine, say stay at mine'' - it never happened, as she's in SF now, but i've got a list of cool places to check out in my wallet, so that should be pretty killer. Oh, and incase anyone cares which Caesar i had - i had fresh crab and shrimp (straight out the sea).
Next... well... this is more like a confession. In my guidebook i saw an advert for ''Cartoon Art Museum'' which immediately peaked my childish interests. Yes, the 10 year old boy inside me (in a non-Michael Jackson way) piped up and said ''go go go'' - you see, i was / am a bit of a comic book geek. I don't read them anymore (honest), but i read them religiously when i was younger - X-Men, Spiderman, Incredible Hulk - they were my Bible! So i naturally had to indulge!!
How was it?? Pretty cool! LOADS of strips everywhere to read and look at. Some of the cells in there are worth in excess of $100,000 - so there's nothing childish about that amount of money! We're talking ORIGINAL Looney Tunes and Walt Disney stuff - wow! Always been a fan of animation, so it was a pretty cool way to pass a couple of hours!
Next on my hit list was the big thing you associate with San Fran... the Golden Gate Bridge! I, naturally, assumed that Americans are just lazy and that i could walk there no hassle - it looked close enough physically. I now put this down to what i have termed ''The Vegas Complex'' - this is something that Hannerz and I found out oh too soon in Vegas. Basically, Americans build all their signs WAY too big, so to a non-US person like you or I (or not you if you're from the US) the place looks really close. The Strip in Vegas seemed to stretch an eternity and the walk to the bridge was no different. After 3 miles, i plain gave up and felt a bit glum as i couldn't reach the bridge and all my photos were blurry messes... so i started to walk home when i noticed a boat advertising $15 boat rides to the bridge!! Result!! Right??
Yes, yes it was. And no, this isn't where the A&E story kicks in, but it's coming. The boat was basically a little fishing vessel, and we drove out and saw the bridge just as the sun was setting, which was beyond beautiful and really romantic... for me, myself and I to experience. Well worth the money and i'm very glad that boat was there, got some crackin' shots to show you all. It's one hell of a big bridge!!
Pull back into port at 7.45 and it's already dusk - this is no Alaska folks, this place gets dark too early! So i quickly beat a trail home - i'm like a reverse vampire - if i 'see' the darkness i'm sure to expire... or at least put myself in A&E ha! Before all that, i happened across Pier 39 - which is home to a huge colony of Sea Lions. Yes, WILD sea lions all belching up their food and making an incredible amount of noise - it was awesome to see! And no, a sea lion did not put me in A&E, though i'm sure it could have.
No, i injured myself when crossing the road - as a tram decided that red lights mean nothing and charged through towards me. I've read enough horror stories about trams to know that you don't let one of them hit you - they don't stop! So i jumped across to the pavement... and missed fractionally, causing me to shear away the top 1/2cm of my big toe on the curb. Straight off. Ouch. Cue some hobbling - it's nothing i thought... then i looked down to see the blood pouring out of my toe...
Those who know me know all too well that me and my blood do NOT mix well. Seeing my own blood causes me to lose consciousness VERY fast. I'm such a wimp. Cut me AND make me eat a tomato and sit back with a bucket of popcorn because you're in for a treat. Though i do get really ratty when i'm bleeding, so don't laugh.
I quickly dived into a hotel where the owners remarked ''oh my god that looks horrible'' - yea, thanks - and they gave me some plasters and cellotape (yes, cellotape) - so i strapped it round me and hobbled on to the pharmacy where the pharmacist told me to go to A&E as it looked like it needed stitches. Ace. So i went THERE. Boy, there are some craaaaazy people in that A&R unit - they scared me, so i just clutched my toe for comfort. I eventually got in to see a nurse who pulled off the dressing to see that the chunk of skin was still attached to me (yea, i'll give you disgustingly in-depth details - i had to live it damn it!!) which she said was good as i won't need stitches. Result! And my levels of consciousness soon recovered. Really, i AM that soft with that stuff.
And that's it - that's my day!! Here i am now, back in my hostel at 11pm typing this to you. No doubt Pierre (that may or may not be his name) is already awakening the Cracken from the depths of the Pacific to come and engulf the boats in San Fran bay with his voluminous bellows, so it's just as well my i-pod is fully charged!!
What lies ahead is a 27 hour bus journey, which is NOT cool. Luckily it's ''only'' 18 hours on the Greyhound, then the remainder on a little bus, which goes through the Rockies - so at least the scenery will be stunning! Or so i hope!! If not, it's i-pod all the way. As ever.
So on that note - it's goodbye from me for now. Should Yellowstone have the capability to communicate information down a telephone line (aka the internet), i'll fill you in on my exploits up there. Will i find Yogi Bear?? Will i see BooBoo?? Will they swipe-a my pic-a-nic basket?? Time will tell!
Speak soon folks!
Aaron! x
I'm currently holed up in San Francisco, California!! Not a bad little place, though i've only been here a day... and how much have i covered?! LOTS. I've seen all the sights AND been to A&E - hell yes. What a day indeed! Let's get down to the nitty gritty then shall we??
There's nothing much else to report re: Alaska. Simply, it was amazing, and i'd love to go out there again in the true mid-summer where it doesn't get dark until 2am. Hence the title of my last post - 'The All Night Lights' - Alaska stays lit now right past 10pm, which to me with my dodgy eyes was HEAVEN. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for San Fran - hence me going to A&E, but that comes into play later on in this sordid little tale...
So, talking of titles - why have i named this one accordingly?? Well, it's San Fran isn't it - the US's answer to Brighton (though i don't recall anyone actually posing the question in the first place... so why answer it?) Not my thing, and not the reason why i've come here - i'm more into 'peach melba' ice cream if you get my drift, as opposed to 'rocky road' flavour... the reason for coming here is to see the sights! And goddam there are QUITE a few of them, that's for sure... but again, i'm jumping ahead of myself (it didn't take long did it?) I'll keep explaining the title...
The French bit. It seems that California is the favoured holiday destination of the French! I noticed this in San Diego, and now again in San Francisco - it's like i'm in bloody Quebec or Paris! Everyone i ask a question to is French and denies all knowledge of the English language - why?? Oh, and one of my room-mates is a French dude... which is fine... except for the fact that in the middle of the night i thought i heard someone being severely mauled by a bear. But no... it was no bear, it was his SNORING. Now, y'all know i can't tolerate that right?? It drives me UP THE WALL, incase you hadn't guessed!! Out came the i-pod and 6 hours of the most broken sleep in the world last night... not good. On an aside - girls, how do you cope sleeping next to a guy at night when he snores?? If i were you i'd have already placed that pillow securely over his face and smothered him into the next life.
Anyway - onto San Fran itself (as i arrived here late last night, so saw nothing then - yesterday was purely flying time!). How is it?? As i expected?? Yes and no. I'd heard a mix of things off folks before i came - namely that there are LOADS of homeless and some random weird folks around - both of which are true. Also heard it was a beautiful place... that also is very true! The city has so many things to see and do that i had to organise my day with military strategic planning! Did i pull it off?? Ofcourse, it's me!
Kicked off the day by again cooking another world-class set of pancakes (i unofficially crowned myself in Hollywood, having seen what the girls and Alex could cook up!) and setting off for The Rock aka Alcatraz! I always thought Alcatraz was Alkatraz - i was wrong, but nevertheless, let's not get bogged down in the semantics shall we??
I rocked upto the ticket office to see the sign ''Sold Out Until Thursday Afternoon'' - this alarmed me. Thursday afternoon will see me riding that big ol' Greyhound bus for the best part of 27 hours... i won't be IN San Fran then. Lame! So i switched on the British accent and approached the ticket lady - asked, and she said no. So i tried my best 'puppy dog' look (not a good look for me) and she managed to pull a ticket out of thin air for me - RESULT!! So i happily boarded the ferry and sailed over to The Rock. Have to say - it was awesome, and was exactly what i was expecting. It was just so damn cool to walk around the big ol' cell blocks and see everything and learn about all the ne'er-do-wells that spent time in there aka Al 'Scarface' Capone, 'Machine-Gun' Kelly etc. and also learnt about the only escapees - it was like a real life Prison Break!! Hannerz and Jay - i know you boys would have enjoyed it!! I felt like shouting out ''Now... we run!!'' but there wasn't a prompt and i wasn't feeling that lively!
One thing i noticed whilst there was how many US people use video recorders to record everything on film. That sounds cool n all... but when was the last time any of you actually VIEWED what you'd recorded?? I for certain cannot recall watching a home-movie in recent memory... well, except for ones featuring Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson (not at the same time though... oh baby that'd rule...) but we won't go into that!! I can't ever say i've watched one of my own movies (mine aren't of the same ilk as Paris or Pamela's - believe me, they don't exist!) and i'm damned if i know anyone else who's watched back their holiday movies. Weddings, sure, skydives (hi mum), sure, but holidays?! I recall recording when i went to Orlando back in 1999 and i've not seen it in the past 9 years... probably because it's on a VCR, but that's not the point. Well, what is the point to this paragraph?? There isn't one - it was just an observation / conundrum. I'm afraid you won't ever be able to get back the minute you just spent reading this little aside. Sorry. So onwards...
After that i headed out for some lunch, which AGAIN consisted of Caesar salad (i've gone mad on it - had 5 in 4 days!) - guess it's a rejection of all that meat i had in the south (make a joke out of that... go on... *sigh*). Also happened upon an incredibly hot waitress called Saidy. Boys, we're talking so hot that your eyeballs melt in your sockets when you glance at her... yes! She picked up on my accent (it never gets old!) and sat down and chatted to me about my journeys. I guess in San Fran, they don't care if you randomly take time off! She's actually from Chicago it turns out - where i'll be heading, and she got real excited so i was thinking ''say stay at mine, say stay at mine'' - it never happened, as she's in SF now, but i've got a list of cool places to check out in my wallet, so that should be pretty killer. Oh, and incase anyone cares which Caesar i had - i had fresh crab and shrimp (straight out the sea).
Next... well... this is more like a confession. In my guidebook i saw an advert for ''Cartoon Art Museum'' which immediately peaked my childish interests. Yes, the 10 year old boy inside me (in a non-Michael Jackson way) piped up and said ''go go go'' - you see, i was / am a bit of a comic book geek. I don't read them anymore (honest), but i read them religiously when i was younger - X-Men, Spiderman, Incredible Hulk - they were my Bible! So i naturally had to indulge!!
How was it?? Pretty cool! LOADS of strips everywhere to read and look at. Some of the cells in there are worth in excess of $100,000 - so there's nothing childish about that amount of money! We're talking ORIGINAL Looney Tunes and Walt Disney stuff - wow! Always been a fan of animation, so it was a pretty cool way to pass a couple of hours!
Next on my hit list was the big thing you associate with San Fran... the Golden Gate Bridge! I, naturally, assumed that Americans are just lazy and that i could walk there no hassle - it looked close enough physically. I now put this down to what i have termed ''The Vegas Complex'' - this is something that Hannerz and I found out oh too soon in Vegas. Basically, Americans build all their signs WAY too big, so to a non-US person like you or I (or not you if you're from the US) the place looks really close. The Strip in Vegas seemed to stretch an eternity and the walk to the bridge was no different. After 3 miles, i plain gave up and felt a bit glum as i couldn't reach the bridge and all my photos were blurry messes... so i started to walk home when i noticed a boat advertising $15 boat rides to the bridge!! Result!! Right??
Yes, yes it was. And no, this isn't where the A&E story kicks in, but it's coming. The boat was basically a little fishing vessel, and we drove out and saw the bridge just as the sun was setting, which was beyond beautiful and really romantic... for me, myself and I to experience. Well worth the money and i'm very glad that boat was there, got some crackin' shots to show you all. It's one hell of a big bridge!!
Pull back into port at 7.45 and it's already dusk - this is no Alaska folks, this place gets dark too early! So i quickly beat a trail home - i'm like a reverse vampire - if i 'see' the darkness i'm sure to expire... or at least put myself in A&E ha! Before all that, i happened across Pier 39 - which is home to a huge colony of Sea Lions. Yes, WILD sea lions all belching up their food and making an incredible amount of noise - it was awesome to see! And no, a sea lion did not put me in A&E, though i'm sure it could have.
No, i injured myself when crossing the road - as a tram decided that red lights mean nothing and charged through towards me. I've read enough horror stories about trams to know that you don't let one of them hit you - they don't stop! So i jumped across to the pavement... and missed fractionally, causing me to shear away the top 1/2cm of my big toe on the curb. Straight off. Ouch. Cue some hobbling - it's nothing i thought... then i looked down to see the blood pouring out of my toe...
Those who know me know all too well that me and my blood do NOT mix well. Seeing my own blood causes me to lose consciousness VERY fast. I'm such a wimp. Cut me AND make me eat a tomato and sit back with a bucket of popcorn because you're in for a treat. Though i do get really ratty when i'm bleeding, so don't laugh.
I quickly dived into a hotel where the owners remarked ''oh my god that looks horrible'' - yea, thanks - and they gave me some plasters and cellotape (yes, cellotape) - so i strapped it round me and hobbled on to the pharmacy where the pharmacist told me to go to A&E as it looked like it needed stitches. Ace. So i went THERE. Boy, there are some craaaaazy people in that A&R unit - they scared me, so i just clutched my toe for comfort. I eventually got in to see a nurse who pulled off the dressing to see that the chunk of skin was still attached to me (yea, i'll give you disgustingly in-depth details - i had to live it damn it!!) which she said was good as i won't need stitches. Result! And my levels of consciousness soon recovered. Really, i AM that soft with that stuff.
And that's it - that's my day!! Here i am now, back in my hostel at 11pm typing this to you. No doubt Pierre (that may or may not be his name) is already awakening the Cracken from the depths of the Pacific to come and engulf the boats in San Fran bay with his voluminous bellows, so it's just as well my i-pod is fully charged!!
What lies ahead is a 27 hour bus journey, which is NOT cool. Luckily it's ''only'' 18 hours on the Greyhound, then the remainder on a little bus, which goes through the Rockies - so at least the scenery will be stunning! Or so i hope!! If not, it's i-pod all the way. As ever.
So on that note - it's goodbye from me for now. Should Yellowstone have the capability to communicate information down a telephone line (aka the internet), i'll fill you in on my exploits up there. Will i find Yogi Bear?? Will i see BooBoo?? Will they swipe-a my pic-a-nic basket?? Time will tell!
Speak soon folks!
Aaron! x
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