Finally made it to America after a long flight from Perth to New York - we flew Perth-Tokyo-Minneapolis - New York, think this was the milk run flight! Was glad to get off plane to our destination as my poor little feet were so puffed up, truly if I had the money first class would be the way, but I am afraid that is out of my price range, though we did see what the cost from Tokyo to New York was and they said it was an extra $2000 US and they did not have any complimentary upgrade, didn't even know that existed so we will try for complimentary upgrade on our way home - that would be heaven, bigger seats, more leg room, better food service, better sleep, though I must admit I did sleep 80 percent of the way over here.
Stopped over in Minnesota for a few hours before we flew onto New York and we saw SNOW FLAKES, so I had to go out and have a ciggie and let the snow flakes fall on me but the snow flakes disintegrated before they hit the ground - weird.
NEW YORK - What a wonderful full on vibrant city - just love it here, the weather has been kind to us, the first few days here was a bit chilly and the rest of the time the sun has been shining, just glorious. Central Park could just hang out there all day everyday.
CHICAGO - We drove down to Chicago and stayed a few days, treated our selves to a stay at the Hilton Hotel, the beds in the room were to die for, as soon as we hopped into the beds your body just moulds around the pillows and bed, slept like a baby those few nights. We had tickets to go and see The Jerry Springer Show - I know what losers we are but had a laugh, I am not sure where they get the guests from or if they pay people to come onto the show and act like that or are they for real? There were a few punches thrown and a few slaps over the face, they looked like they were acting??? People very friendly and helpful in Chicago I could easily live there.
WASHINGTON DC - Spent a day in Washington DC took in all the sites - Mr Bush did not have any time to see us!!, so so many tourists I could not believe my eyes when we got there, on every street to every corner you turned, there were thousands of them - I'm not joking.
Every place we have visited I have enjoyed, the food is great, there is a Starbucks on every corner, thank god for that as Miriam has to have her fix of coffee every few hours, shopping is fantastic and I find it very similar to our prices back home in Australia, they have all there summer stuff out now while we have our winter.
All the sites we have seen in each cities have been magical so many we have seen, Ground Zero bought a tear to my eye (they are still working on it to this day) and all I could see in my mind was those poor people jumping from the buildings. Helicopter ride over the city of New York was awesome, The White House was amazing and for the like of me cannot remember this building we went up in Chicago, 94 floors high for a view over the city, I was that giddy every time I went close to the window - it seems heights is not the place for me.
Hiring a car was great as we could go and see what we wanted when we wanted, Miriam did most of the driving, onya Miriam, especially in the cities and I did stretches of the driving from one city to another. Had to get use to left hand driving, that was really strange, you go to put your seat belt on from the right hand side then realise it is on the left, along with everything else, we got by! Toll gates OMG we drove through so many of them. The money goes to upgrade the roads and a hell of a lot of them need upgrading, pot holes are humongous, road works happening everywhere. Most people here could not believe that we were driving to Washington which is 4 hours away or to Chicago which was 13 hours but when you drive the distances like we do back in Australia that is nothing to us. They have 3 lane highways everywhere which was great as I could not imagine myself trying to pass the many trucks that were on the road if they were single lanes, it was scary enough with the 3 lanes and the hundreds of trucks that were on them when we went down to Chicago, got a bit nervy several times.
The towns we stopped along the way were real country bumpkins but friendly, we would ask them how far is it to such and such place and they would have no idea, I thought Americans new everything? Some of them just need to go outside the square!! We asked one gas attendant if we were heading the right way to Washington and he had no idea what so ever.
When driving long distances here they have these rest stops/service stops for cars and trucks along highways, you stop for gas then go and park and go to these malls where they sell everything it is so strange to see.
Some signs we have seen in the cities: Honk and it is a $350 fine, Don't drive over the box which I think means cross walk?? Take you sunglasses off - sign going into tunnel.
We were taking the car back today to Avis and we saw this man sitting on the ground with a sign "Need Money For A Beer" at least he was honest! Not as many homeless people here than in LA.
Today we saw Ilsa Fisher (Ali G/Borat) other half doing scenes for the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" on 6th Avenue - she just just walking down the street, but she had to do that same scene about 10 times. We did manage to get some photos of her.
You hear sirens from Fire Brigade, Ambulance to Police all day long at first we would think OMG what is happening but after awhile you just ignore the sirens.
We have a few days left here in New York before we head home - I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME - and having the best time but at some stage your holiday has to end.
I will try and post before we fly out - sorry no photos will have to wait until I get home.
AC got you a Hooters T-Shirt.
Chow Bella for now.
