Thursday, 4 June 2009
Sometimes you wanna go...where everybody knows your name
Today, I got up nice and late at about 11ish, and then decided to take a stroll around Boston. I headed down Commonwealth Avenue park, towards Boston Public Garden, with Chevelle's Wonder What's Next album beating a strong and steady dirge. (Incidentally, after having this album on mp3 for ages, I bought it on cd in Chicago :) ) it was a really nice walk, broken up by statues every block or so, then through Boson Public Gardens and Boston Common, which was part of the original mile and a half square peninsular that was here when Boston was founded. most of the rest, (Back Bay) has been made by filling in the Charles River since the 1800s, and as such was subject to city planning, which means all the roads are wide and square, whereas further into the old city as I would find the roads follow the old puritans footpaths and everything is rather narrower. I walked myself to the river and came back along the 'Freedom Trail,' a double line of red brick set in the pavement as a set walk to take visitors past all the main points of Boston and it's revolution, ironically to Rage Against the Maching and Mr De La Rocha Screaming freedom down my ears. Awesome. Finally, to end my tour of Boston, I had to do the only other thing you have to do...go to the pub that was the original basis for cheers. I only had one pint, (at $6.50 can you blame me?) but I can now say I've had a beer in the real life equivalent to cheers. And I feel much better for having done so! :)
Quack Quack!
Today I only had one goal, to go on the Boston Duck tour! Which is a 90 minute tour of Boton from an old WWII amphibious vehicle, sounds a bit over the top right? well, that's because it also goes down the river too. Oh yeah, two for the price of one baby! It was a cool and informative tour, loads of stuff that I'll probably foget or have forgotten, but it was good to know whilst it was still in my head, our driver/pilot/tour guide was called Ace Bandage, ad informed us you needed 4 licences to drive one of the ducks (Actually GMC DUKW 6 axle 2 1/2 tonne all-purpose vehicle - hence duck) truck, bus, hackney and masters, so yes, he was a captain and he could marry any of us at sea if urge took us. ANY of us, as we're in Boston and it's fairly liberal these days ;)
Hehe, it was a pretty cool tour, he told us about the four seasons of Boston, "Nearly winter, Winter, Still Winter and Road Construction." and about a thisrt he saw on a biker dude the other day that read 'if you can read this my wife has fallen off' We were informed this was cleaned up dude to the children on board and the fact that the speakers meant everyone around us could hear from the sidewalk (americanism) too. I really enjoyed the tour, and think it was well worth the $30, and if any of you ever come here, you must do it! I must also give a big thanks to Em for finding the tour for me online, else I'd have probably never know about it. ('I wanna do things out here that I can't do back home.') It's also given me a sight of where I want to go look in the next few days, including the actual bar that Cheers was based on! Offically! hehe :) Anyways, since then I've mostly come back chilled out and written up this little lot! I wonder what tomorrow will bring. In other news, I'm lovin' it, and today I actually got to talk to people for the sake of talking, not just because they wanted to sell me something. I haven't done this since Alana left, I'm not sure I've missed it. I think I can live without talking to people. THis does not bode well for future relationships with people in the world.
Anothe
Hehe, it was a pretty cool tour, he told us about the four seasons of Boston, "Nearly winter, Winter, Still Winter and Road Construction." and about a thisrt he saw on a biker dude the other day that read 'if you can read this my wife has fallen off' We were informed this was cleaned up dude to the children on board and the fact that the speakers meant everyone around us could hear from the sidewalk (americanism) too. I really enjoyed the tour, and think it was well worth the $30, and if any of you ever come here, you must do it! I must also give a big thanks to Em for finding the tour for me online, else I'd have probably never know about it. ('I wanna do things out here that I can't do back home.') It's also given me a sight of where I want to go look in the next few days, including the actual bar that Cheers was based on! Offically! hehe :) Anyways, since then I've mostly come back chilled out and written up this little lot! I wonder what tomorrow will bring. In other news, I'm lovin' it, and today I actually got to talk to people for the sake of talking, not just because they wanted to sell me something. I haven't done this since Alana left, I'm not sure I've missed it. I think I can live without talking to people. THis does not bode well for future relationships with people in the world.
Anothe
Boston!
Woke up, went to wifi hotspot, still no money on card. Swore, called home, booked flight for 6 hours time on mum's card.
The rest of the day was pretty much spent getting ready to go, one last quick internet check, then heading to the airport on the subway, the subway ride took about 50 minutes and was totally painless, and only cost $2.25! Which was a totaly result. You can keep your $25 airport shuttles mate :) As we flew out of Chicago and I looked out the window back at the city, I finally realized how tall the John Hancock and Sears Tower really are, they were still level with us after take off! and they were above the cloud level at the top, Chicago really does look awesome fro the air, and so does the coastline stretching away from it. I then wished I'd had my camera with me instead of in the overhead luggage, and as we were stil taking off, I couldn't get up and grab it. :(
The flight was pretty straightforward and I read some more of Clarkson on Cars, then looke dout the window to see we were flying along the beach, rather low. It would seem, dear readers, that the runway in Boston stop/ends (depending on how you look at it) on the watherfront, and to get there you fly along the beach, then over maybe 500m of land then more water and then you touch down on the most buttock-clenching landing you can think of, as the plane gets lower, all you can see is water, you hear the engines pick up as the pilot levels, and wonder for a split second before dismissing it, 'is this right?' Of course it was and we landed all safe and sound. I then took the magical subway (again $2.25 and this was over two different lines) to the station by my hostel, then wandered around in circles, actually around the road with my hostel in for a while before I found it. walked in, checked in, card got declined, called the usual, told the money had not been put in, and that I should wait about 6 hours. I wandered out to the nearest atm, drained my nationwide account of all but $20 and finally checked in. (which reminds me, i'd best top that back up.) my new room is a 2 bed co-ed, where I'm sharing with 6 irish guys, one usa/korean guy and 2 english lads. I headed out to find the nearest Subway for dinner, and along the way my trusty mp3 friend picked Enter Shikari, excellent call, I nu-raved my ass all the way to subway, past the musical college centre of the world (literally dozens of buldings) past a very posh theatre with posh old people coming out, in my black hoody with the bright hot pink writing on. Oh yeah, I'm that cool, and past a musical instrument store, (i'll be checking that out tomorrow.) And finally, to bed :)
The rest of the day was pretty much spent getting ready to go, one last quick internet check, then heading to the airport on the subway, the subway ride took about 50 minutes and was totally painless, and only cost $2.25! Which was a totaly result. You can keep your $25 airport shuttles mate :) As we flew out of Chicago and I looked out the window back at the city, I finally realized how tall the John Hancock and Sears Tower really are, they were still level with us after take off! and they were above the cloud level at the top, Chicago really does look awesome fro the air, and so does the coastline stretching away from it. I then wished I'd had my camera with me instead of in the overhead luggage, and as we were stil taking off, I couldn't get up and grab it. :(
The flight was pretty straightforward and I read some more of Clarkson on Cars, then looke dout the window to see we were flying along the beach, rather low. It would seem, dear readers, that the runway in Boston stop/ends (depending on how you look at it) on the watherfront, and to get there you fly along the beach, then over maybe 500m of land then more water and then you touch down on the most buttock-clenching landing you can think of, as the plane gets lower, all you can see is water, you hear the engines pick up as the pilot levels, and wonder for a split second before dismissing it, 'is this right?' Of course it was and we landed all safe and sound. I then took the magical subway (again $2.25 and this was over two different lines) to the station by my hostel, then wandered around in circles, actually around the road with my hostel in for a while before I found it. walked in, checked in, card got declined, called the usual, told the money had not been put in, and that I should wait about 6 hours. I wandered out to the nearest atm, drained my nationwide account of all but $20 and finally checked in. (which reminds me, i'd best top that back up.) my new room is a 2 bed co-ed, where I'm sharing with 6 irish guys, one usa/korean guy and 2 english lads. I headed out to find the nearest Subway for dinner, and along the way my trusty mp3 friend picked Enter Shikari, excellent call, I nu-raved my ass all the way to subway, past the musical college centre of the world (literally dozens of buldings) past a very posh theatre with posh old people coming out, in my black hoody with the bright hot pink writing on. Oh yeah, I'm that cool, and past a musical instrument store, (i'll be checking that out tomorrow.) And finally, to bed :)
D'n'B and Museums
So today, for my last full day in Chicago, I headed on down to the Museum of Science and Industry. It was a bout a 20 min bus ride from the nearest bus stop, it was a good ride. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we are about to enter the Arron Museum technique zone...a I walked in and grabbed a map I could tell this was going to be a massive mueseum and would take a fair few hours of my time up! So...on went the mp3 for some serious museumage. The place had everything, a meagre collection of cars through the ages, though I'm proud to say they were mostly british (Aston Martin, Two Lolas, a Rolls) then into the ships section, where they had 1:75 and 1:200 scale moselds that were still over a metre long, these things were huge! Mostly British and American once again, one was even made by the guy who built the actual boat the model was of, which was quite crazy. I then headed to the U-505 an actual u-boat captured by the Americans in WWII. Now, as is always the way with these museum places, you could see all the exhibits around the outside, but to go in the sub you needed t pay extra for a ticket, and I'm not going to do that. Cheeky beggars, so I had Powder on the mp3 and wandered around looking and interacting with the exhibits, and taking pictures, (very difficult with the lighting conditions.) Anyways, moving on, there was plenty of stuff to see, many many exhibits, more space stuff, andother big Imax screen, some future stuff, basically, everything you'd expect to find, DNA, engineering and so on, and upstairs, Aeroplanes and trains. and actual 727, with some parts still working (flaps and airbrakes) a Stuka, a Spitfire and some stunt bi-planes, it was all very cool stuff, it was also about this time the mp3 decided it was time for me to hear Pendulum and then the new The Prodigy album, possibly the best museum music ever! I saw everything I wanted to and got out in a shade under 4 hours. I then wandered back through downtown one last time, just because I could and because I like it. Someone, unfortunately however, decided it was about time for it to absolutely chuck it down, so, on came the coat and wet got the jeans! I then went back to lé hostel, to try and sort out accomodation and flights for tomorrow and beyond until I go home. Needless to say the Halifax still hadn't put the money on my credit card account yet, so I decided I'd give them until the morning.
Monday, 1 June 2009
"Barry White, saved my life"
SUN! There is SUN! Bugger this, I'm off out...
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...wel, that was awesome, the sun was shining, so I took a walk up the 'Magnificent Mile' and got myself a new phone charger, as mine broke in the motel the other day. I stopped off in various sports shops looking at the prices of replica bears and blackhawks tops and tees and hoodies. I promised myself I'd get a new replica jersey, but now I think I have to re-prioritize. As people have commented from my pictures, it would seem I need new jeans more, and I think I may need another, non black and bright pink hoody! Also, I think I've sourced somewhere I can get the jerseys when I get home and have some disposable income anyways. After that I wandered back, stopped off at subway for my breakfast/lunch it was 2pm) and had a $5 footlong (plus tax) mhmm oven roasted chicken breast, lush! then through Millenium Park, with it's weird amphitheatre/venue and a random super polished stainless steel ball thing, with which I took some pretty cool pictures, and generally just wandered round and enjoyed the weather as I headed to Soldier Field, home of the Bears, the one place I've wanted to see for like 15 years, the one main thing I wanted to do when I finally reached Chicago all those years ago. The bugger's don't do public tours unles for a group and booked by phone in advance! how totally unfair is that? they're missing a massive trick here, the money generated, the interest in the franchise, the not dissapointing me after 15 years. I felt gutted. So I wandered round what I could and took pictures to the 4th album of the day on my mp3 (two by vertical horizon, then half of the Presidents of the USA and half of somthing corporate (so that only counts as 1) then AFI - Live, I Heard a Voice, and finally Fun Lovin Criminals, 100% Columbian.) I eventually headed back to the hostel, and found out they don't do tours of the United Center either. So that's that idea buggered too. Ahh well, was still a great day, and lovel weather, and now I'm in the TV room watching game 2 of the Red Wings, who are sadly winning this game too :( but it's good entertainment! :) Night all!
...
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...wel, that was awesome, the sun was shining, so I took a walk up the 'Magnificent Mile' and got myself a new phone charger, as mine broke in the motel the other day. I stopped off in various sports shops looking at the prices of replica bears and blackhawks tops and tees and hoodies. I promised myself I'd get a new replica jersey, but now I think I have to re-prioritize. As people have commented from my pictures, it would seem I need new jeans more, and I think I may need another, non black and bright pink hoody! Also, I think I've sourced somewhere I can get the jerseys when I get home and have some disposable income anyways. After that I wandered back, stopped off at subway for my breakfast/lunch it was 2pm) and had a $5 footlong (plus tax) mhmm oven roasted chicken breast, lush! then through Millenium Park, with it's weird amphitheatre/venue and a random super polished stainless steel ball thing, with which I took some pretty cool pictures, and generally just wandered round and enjoyed the weather as I headed to Soldier Field, home of the Bears, the one place I've wanted to see for like 15 years, the one main thing I wanted to do when I finally reached Chicago all those years ago. The bugger's don't do public tours unles for a group and booked by phone in advance! how totally unfair is that? they're missing a massive trick here, the money generated, the interest in the franchise, the not dissapointing me after 15 years. I felt gutted. So I wandered round what I could and took pictures to the 4th album of the day on my mp3 (two by vertical horizon, then half of the Presidents of the USA and half of somthing corporate (so that only counts as 1) then AFI - Live, I Heard a Voice, and finally Fun Lovin Criminals, 100% Columbian.) I eventually headed back to the hostel, and found out they don't do tours of the United Center either. So that's that idea buggered too. Ahh well, was still a great day, and lovel weather, and now I'm in the TV room watching game 2 of the Red Wings, who are sadly winning this game too :( but it's good entertainment! :) Night all!
lets go Magic
Today I had a lie in and got up about 9:30, went on the interent for a bit, tried to suss out my finances and plan for the next 14 days, gave up and wandered round a few blocked for food for the next few days, failed again and bought a subway. though it was a 5 buck footlong special, so that'll cover me 'til way into tonight, where I shall find a bar to watch the Orlando game. I then trundled back to my bunk to write up the last few days of the usa and all of Fiji. I managed the USA part! it's now 3pm, and I'm gonna post this online, sort out where I can buy food, and plan my trips to the united center and soldier field. I thought about seeing a baseball game, and although I'm sure I'd love the atompshere and experience, I'm not sureI can be bothered. I have better things to spend my money on! In the end I went to a sports bar called Junior's on Maxwell st. It was lush! Upon walking in I saw loads of screens, (I went so I could eat and see the Orlando game,) some local police sitting down for some food, it was mildly empty so i picked a booth and sat down, and by chance the booth happened to be showing the Red Wings - Penguins Stanley cup game on a small screen, result I thought! until I got asked to move to a hightop as booths were reserved for 4-6 people incase it got busy. This wasn't a bad thing as I ended up much closer to the Basketball screen :) I oreder a miller light, and an ace of jack burger and fries for $9. The fires were ok, but over fried. The burger on the other hand... better than anything I've had recently, burger, bacon, cheese, jack daniels bbq sauce, it was awesome. so as I devoured this burger, the place started to fill up, and more screens switched to the basketball, which was nice. lol. As the place filled up I noticed that I was most definately in the minority, not only was I one of only three white punters, but more notably, I was supporting the Magic, and pretty much no-one else was. The big dude oppostie me was very animated over his support for the Cavs, though I think it was mostly for Lebron James, we exchanged multiple glances and expressions of myrth and frustration at our teams as the game progressed, mostly laughing. By the end of the game the place was heaving, and they were clearing out the hi-tops to make space for i guess a dance floor, I don't know as once we won and I sank my 5th pint, (I had planned to go out and get to know people the saturday night I was in Chicago) and I headed on the 30 minute walk home, content that I'd had a great meal, my team had progressed to the NBA playoff finals, and I generally felt good about the world and loving Chicago :)
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