This is it. Final day of our tour of duty!
Got to Terminal 1 and had to go through 3 security checks at Heathrow.
1. Normal security check with metal detector and x-ray
2. Had our photo taken before the duty free
3. Photo recall just before departure gate to make sure its still the same person
Annoying, but at least London is taking internal flight safety seriously!!!
The flight was 30 minutes long, we taxied on the runway for a longer length of time. Crazy!
Heather and me had to sit separately even though we both had spare seats next to us!!
Guess who was sitting infront of me - Eamonn Holmes, on his way to Manchester!!
Met Kev and Jill at arrivals, it was great to see them. Then off we went back to Leeds. Andy came over in the evening and we had a take away and got about 3/4 of the way through showing them our photos.
Its canny nice being back home, for now anyway, we'll see in a weeks time. I think our house has shrunk! Everything feels smaller. Maybe I've grown, all them burgers in the U.S. might have added a couple of inches to me height!!!
Tuesday 12 May 2009
LOST IN QUEENS
Woke up at 3:00am and left the hostel. Walked to the subway station on 44th street, passing bars and diners and coffee shops still going as if it were happy hour!!
Went down to the subway station and stood for a while and when no trains came we asked this woman when the E train was due. She replied with 'Of course no E train aint running boy!!' Then she proceeded to speak in numbers and colours to try and explain how to connect with the E train via about 4 different trains.
We somehow found our selves some where in the middle of Queens, in the black dark, wondering whether to venture out of the safety of the subway and flag down a cab to take us to the airport. Then help came in the form of a drunken, snaggled toothed, homeless woman. She talked at us for about 20 minutes about the pro's and con's of each of the different train lines we could catch to JFK. She was brilliant. She only had two bottom teeth in her whole mouth and they looked like they'd had a quarrel and were trying to get as far from each other as possible.
I talked to her for a while after getting a good enough route and she was cool man. She had bags of 'stuff' she'd collected and was just riding the subway to find more 'stuff'. She asked if I had a spare subway ticket to give her, which I didnt. Then she asked for a buscuit, I didnt have one of those either. Then she went on her way stopping at this shivvering young lad, who was on his way home from a night out and offered him a hoody she produced out of her bag of 'stuff'. How nice is that? I think she was an Angel!! All she has in this world is a bag of 'stuff' and she wanted to give some of it to a random lad who was in need of it and all she wanted was a buscuit. Not sure if he accepted it as our train came. I wish I'd had had a biscuit to give her - might carry one round with me from now on just in case!!
Caught 3 more trains and finally arrived at JFK. Only to find out from the guy on the desk that we were booked onto a flight to Heathrow in a weeks time and not today!!!!!!!!! Originally our return date was the 16th of May, which was a estimated date untill we fine tuned our plans, then we changed it to the 10th May. We got sent to another desk and a couple of minutes of mixed feeling later it was all sorted and we were checked on to the flight!!
There was a bird flying inside the departure gate, dont know how it got in there, hope it had to go through security like we did. Then the poor thing slammed into a glass wall right beside us with a dull thump and died instantly.
6 hour flight to London Heathrow. We got a good flight time 8:30am landing at 2:30pm (7:30pm British time) so hopefully not have any jet lag as we're not loosing any sleep really. Fingers crossed anyway!!!
Got to the travelodge at Terminal 5. Last leg of the journey tomorrow: London to Manchester, where we'll meet Kev and Jill who are going to take us back to Leeds and home sweet home!!!
Went down to the subway station and stood for a while and when no trains came we asked this woman when the E train was due. She replied with 'Of course no E train aint running boy!!' Then she proceeded to speak in numbers and colours to try and explain how to connect with the E train via about 4 different trains.
We somehow found our selves some where in the middle of Queens, in the black dark, wondering whether to venture out of the safety of the subway and flag down a cab to take us to the airport. Then help came in the form of a drunken, snaggled toothed, homeless woman. She talked at us for about 20 minutes about the pro's and con's of each of the different train lines we could catch to JFK. She was brilliant. She only had two bottom teeth in her whole mouth and they looked like they'd had a quarrel and were trying to get as far from each other as possible.
I talked to her for a while after getting a good enough route and she was cool man. She had bags of 'stuff' she'd collected and was just riding the subway to find more 'stuff'. She asked if I had a spare subway ticket to give her, which I didnt. Then she asked for a buscuit, I didnt have one of those either. Then she went on her way stopping at this shivvering young lad, who was on his way home from a night out and offered him a hoody she produced out of her bag of 'stuff'. How nice is that? I think she was an Angel!! All she has in this world is a bag of 'stuff' and she wanted to give some of it to a random lad who was in need of it and all she wanted was a buscuit. Not sure if he accepted it as our train came. I wish I'd had had a biscuit to give her - might carry one round with me from now on just in case!!
Caught 3 more trains and finally arrived at JFK. Only to find out from the guy on the desk that we were booked onto a flight to Heathrow in a weeks time and not today!!!!!!!!! Originally our return date was the 16th of May, which was a estimated date untill we fine tuned our plans, then we changed it to the 10th May. We got sent to another desk and a couple of minutes of mixed feeling later it was all sorted and we were checked on to the flight!!
There was a bird flying inside the departure gate, dont know how it got in there, hope it had to go through security like we did. Then the poor thing slammed into a glass wall right beside us with a dull thump and died instantly.
6 hour flight to London Heathrow. We got a good flight time 8:30am landing at 2:30pm (7:30pm British time) so hopefully not have any jet lag as we're not loosing any sleep really. Fingers crossed anyway!!!
Got to the travelodge at Terminal 5. Last leg of the journey tomorrow: London to Manchester, where we'll meet Kev and Jill who are going to take us back to Leeds and home sweet home!!!
NEW YORK TIMES
Got up early and left the hostel. The hostel is run by this lovely Chinese fella who lives there with his wife and 6 year old kid. The communal shower is their shower with all their stuff in it and the kitchen is their kitchen that they use. Lovely place to stay, feels like your staying with friends in their own home, which I guess it is.
Went for breakfast in a diner round the corner from the hostel, scrambled eggs on toast and endless top ups of Quwwoffeey!!
Set off around Manhattan as soon as we'd finished breakfast, we've only got one day here as we're leaving very early tomorrow morning to fly home, so we're making the most of being here. Walked round the corner to Times Square then down Broadway to see the wedge shaped Flatiron building which looks class. Its Saturday, so there were a load of people out walking their little designer dogs in Madison Square Park. I dont get them daft little dogs, you know them ones that look like shaved rats! I bet its just a matter of time before we find out that they're carriers of the Bubonic Plague!!
Stopped to take a few photo's of the Empire State Building, didnt bother going up it as we went to the top on our honeymoon and remembered how long we queued inside.
Walked up 5th Avenue all the way to Central Park, diverting slightly to have a little look inside Grand Central Station. Had a Quwwoffeey there and watched the world go by for a bit, its a canny busy station! Saw the Crysler Building, which is a cool building!! We then walked up the rest of 5th Avenue and had a look in F.A.O Swartz the big toy shop near Central Park and got our Chloe her birthday present. Spent about an hour walking round Central Park. There was loads of people about, running, walking dogs and that! Then we stopped to watch the University team play softball on the playing fields. (now thats just rounders, at least with baseball they pitch the ball, but in soft ball they use a massive ball and throw it under arm)
Manhattan is stunning. Its such a cool city. Now I know I can only comment on what Ive seen and experienced in 5 days back in 2005 and 2 days this time around so I have no idea what it would be like to live or work in Manhattan and from what Ive read and heard its a pretty tough and hardened city to exist in. Something I read about New Yorkers said that ' The faces in New York look like they've played a game and lost'. But to spend time in New York is truely the best thing I can think of doing if you're in need of something to do! Flashing lights, city nights, busy streets, I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!
We went to Appleby's on Times Square for some scran, the same one we went to on honeymoon and had some ribs. Then the plan was to go to a few bars and head back for an earlyish night as we have to leave at 3:30am to catch the subway to JFK.
Found a bar on 9th avenue on the way back and stayed there all night as the music was quality. Mostly British guitar music: The Cribs, The Smiths, Lilly Allen, The Who, The Beatles they even played Maximo Park so I wasnt going anywhere. Had a great night in there.
Went for breakfast in a diner round the corner from the hostel, scrambled eggs on toast and endless top ups of Quwwoffeey!!
Set off around Manhattan as soon as we'd finished breakfast, we've only got one day here as we're leaving very early tomorrow morning to fly home, so we're making the most of being here. Walked round the corner to Times Square then down Broadway to see the wedge shaped Flatiron building which looks class. Its Saturday, so there were a load of people out walking their little designer dogs in Madison Square Park. I dont get them daft little dogs, you know them ones that look like shaved rats! I bet its just a matter of time before we find out that they're carriers of the Bubonic Plague!!
Stopped to take a few photo's of the Empire State Building, didnt bother going up it as we went to the top on our honeymoon and remembered how long we queued inside.
Walked up 5th Avenue all the way to Central Park, diverting slightly to have a little look inside Grand Central Station. Had a Quwwoffeey there and watched the world go by for a bit, its a canny busy station! Saw the Crysler Building, which is a cool building!! We then walked up the rest of 5th Avenue and had a look in F.A.O Swartz the big toy shop near Central Park and got our Chloe her birthday present. Spent about an hour walking round Central Park. There was loads of people about, running, walking dogs and that! Then we stopped to watch the University team play softball on the playing fields. (now thats just rounders, at least with baseball they pitch the ball, but in soft ball they use a massive ball and throw it under arm)
Manhattan is stunning. Its such a cool city. Now I know I can only comment on what Ive seen and experienced in 5 days back in 2005 and 2 days this time around so I have no idea what it would be like to live or work in Manhattan and from what Ive read and heard its a pretty tough and hardened city to exist in. Something I read about New Yorkers said that ' The faces in New York look like they've played a game and lost'. But to spend time in New York is truely the best thing I can think of doing if you're in need of something to do! Flashing lights, city nights, busy streets, I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!
We went to Appleby's on Times Square for some scran, the same one we went to on honeymoon and had some ribs. Then the plan was to go to a few bars and head back for an earlyish night as we have to leave at 3:30am to catch the subway to JFK.
Found a bar on 9th avenue on the way back and stayed there all night as the music was quality. Mostly British guitar music: The Cribs, The Smiths, Lilly Allen, The Who, The Beatles they even played Maximo Park so I wasnt going anywhere. Had a great night in there.
Saturday 9 May 2009
AND NEW YORK CITY'S VERY PRETTY IN THE NIGHT TIME . . .
Got up dead early to walk to union station to catch the Amtrak to New York.
Nowt much to report - 14 hours on a train!!!!!
Had to stop at the boarder for 2 hours. The customs officers got on the train and checked everything on board and only took off problem people.
It was canny comfortable like, at first I thought we were in first class but we weren't, the seats had enough room for all the chairs to lie down and for the feet rests to come up!
Passed Niagra falls again as we crossed the boarder.
Saw loads of fruit trees all in blossom.
Saw a Beever when we stopped once.
The train goes really slow and stops to let freight trains pass.
Thats about it for the train journey!!
Arrived into Pen station at 11pm, caught the subway to 42 nd street and walked up the subway steps to ground level. I'd forgotten how good this city is. The buildings are so big and look really bonny all lit up at night. I really love New York!! Walked a few blocks and checked into the hostel which is just off Times Square. Every street we walked down was proper buzzing with people even though it was midnight!!!
Nowt much to report - 14 hours on a train!!!!!
Had to stop at the boarder for 2 hours. The customs officers got on the train and checked everything on board and only took off problem people.
It was canny comfortable like, at first I thought we were in first class but we weren't, the seats had enough room for all the chairs to lie down and for the feet rests to come up!
Passed Niagra falls again as we crossed the boarder.
Saw loads of fruit trees all in blossom.
Saw a Beever when we stopped once.
The train goes really slow and stops to let freight trains pass.
Thats about it for the train journey!!
Arrived into Pen station at 11pm, caught the subway to 42 nd street and walked up the subway steps to ground level. I'd forgotten how good this city is. The buildings are so big and look really bonny all lit up at night. I really love New York!! Walked a few blocks and checked into the hostel which is just off Times Square. Every street we walked down was proper buzzing with people even though it was midnight!!!
NIAGRA FALLS
Woke up and had breakfast in the hostel of pancakes drenched in maple syrup. They love that stuff over here, they even put it on bacon and eggs - a bit too sickly in the morning for me!!!
We got picked up in a mini bus by the company who are taking us to Niagra falls. It took about an hour before the bus had stopped at all the pick up points, then we were off. The first stop, strangely, was a winery!?! We tasted 3 wines and then they tried to flogg us some expensive wine - no one bought any. I cant see how they expect backpackers to fork out 30 quid for a bottle of wine - wouldnt be suprised if the driver had shares in the winery!
Then we drove onto the falls.
The first thing we saw, which shocked me a bit, was a canny big town with massive hotels, casinos and a blackpool style pleasure beach right next to the falls. I'd imagined that we would drive out into the country side and the falls would just be there all solitary. Instead they've built a tourist attraction complex around it, and by attractions I mean Walzers, ghost trains, haunted houses, big wheels, candy floss and all that gash!!!!!
We had about 3 hours to walk around and see the falls. They are amazing like! The size is unbelievable and the volume of water that goes over them bends your head a little bit. We saw the horse shoe falls from the top and the American falls from the Canadian side then got on the Maid of the Mist boat that sails right up to the foot of the horseshoe falls and right inside the mist -it was an incredible sight seeing all that water coming over and landing only meters away, at one point you couldnt see anything as the mist was so thick.
Met back up with the bus and drove to Niagra on the lake for a look round, stopping to see the worlds largest natural whirlpool.
Got back to Toronto about 8pm and went for food in this pub just round the corner from the hostel. Had my first taste of catfish which was well nice!! On the way back I got a compliment of this camp fella waiting to go into this club 'Love yer tash buddy' I think thats what he said anyhow!!!
We got picked up in a mini bus by the company who are taking us to Niagra falls. It took about an hour before the bus had stopped at all the pick up points, then we were off. The first stop, strangely, was a winery!?! We tasted 3 wines and then they tried to flogg us some expensive wine - no one bought any. I cant see how they expect backpackers to fork out 30 quid for a bottle of wine - wouldnt be suprised if the driver had shares in the winery!
Then we drove onto the falls.
The first thing we saw, which shocked me a bit, was a canny big town with massive hotels, casinos and a blackpool style pleasure beach right next to the falls. I'd imagined that we would drive out into the country side and the falls would just be there all solitary. Instead they've built a tourist attraction complex around it, and by attractions I mean Walzers, ghost trains, haunted houses, big wheels, candy floss and all that gash!!!!!
We had about 3 hours to walk around and see the falls. They are amazing like! The size is unbelievable and the volume of water that goes over them bends your head a little bit. We saw the horse shoe falls from the top and the American falls from the Canadian side then got on the Maid of the Mist boat that sails right up to the foot of the horseshoe falls and right inside the mist -it was an incredible sight seeing all that water coming over and landing only meters away, at one point you couldnt see anything as the mist was so thick.
Met back up with the bus and drove to Niagra on the lake for a look round, stopping to see the worlds largest natural whirlpool.
Got back to Toronto about 8pm and went for food in this pub just round the corner from the hostel. Had my first taste of catfish which was well nice!! On the way back I got a compliment of this camp fella waiting to go into this club 'Love yer tash buddy' I think thats what he said anyhow!!!
WHERE YOU COME FROM DO YOU PUT THE KETTLE ON?
What a night in that hostel!!!
Firstly this French lad (there's loads of french here) who I'm assuming works for the hostel started cleaning the toilets right outside our room at 1am and had the gaul to sing whilst he did it!! Then a bunch of more ignorant French lads came in about 3am shouting their mouths off and banging on the walls - obviously they couldnt handle there grape juice or what ever they drink!! Then at 6am the straining man made an appearance, I cant be sure that he was French but lets assume he was since Im having a go at them. He was the strangest, he'd go to the toilet and make a really loud painfull straining noise then swear!! The word he used could have been describing what he had just done - Bizzarre!!
The French are temporarily off my Christmas card list!!!!
Firstly this French lad (there's loads of french here) who I'm assuming works for the hostel started cleaning the toilets right outside our room at 1am and had the gaul to sing whilst he did it!! Then a bunch of more ignorant French lads came in about 3am shouting their mouths off and banging on the walls - obviously they couldnt handle there grape juice or what ever they drink!! Then at 6am the straining man made an appearance, I cant be sure that he was French but lets assume he was since Im having a go at them. He was the strangest, he'd go to the toilet and make a really loud painfull straining noise then swear!! The word he used could have been describing what he had just done - Bizzarre!!
The French are temporarily off my Christmas card list!!!!
Wednesday 6 May 2009
TORONTO
Got out into Toronto with a few chores we had to do:
1. Go and pick up our train tickets for New York
2. Book a trip to Niagra falls
3. Get cash out (which is nearly impossible in Canada, there is literally only one bank that recognises Visa)
4. Buy a phone card - so we could phone our neice Chloe on her 3rd birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHLOE
Walked around Toronto for a couple of hours. Its pretty big but unfortunately not that big on being pretty. Alot of the buildings are concrete adn grey - a bit drab looking. Its got a canny atmosphere though, so I could imagine it being a canny place to work but not sure its the greatest place to visit!! So we caught a street car (tram) out of the city to a place called the beaches in the suburbs, which was pretty cool. We walked along the shore of Lake Ontario, which I thought was the Atlantic Ocean but was proved wrong when I licked it and it was fresh water!!
Saw these weird chocolate brown squirrels!!
Went for a coffee and a chill in a coffee shop then trammed it back into Toronto where we walked around for an hour or so and saw a statue or Churchill (Winston not that dog of the adverts)
Walked round the keyside in the evening and had a gander at the CN tower which is massive.
Off to Niagra falls the morra!!!!!
1. Go and pick up our train tickets for New York
2. Book a trip to Niagra falls
3. Get cash out (which is nearly impossible in Canada, there is literally only one bank that recognises Visa)
4. Buy a phone card - so we could phone our neice Chloe on her 3rd birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHLOE
Walked around Toronto for a couple of hours. Its pretty big but unfortunately not that big on being pretty. Alot of the buildings are concrete adn grey - a bit drab looking. Its got a canny atmosphere though, so I could imagine it being a canny place to work but not sure its the greatest place to visit!! So we caught a street car (tram) out of the city to a place called the beaches in the suburbs, which was pretty cool. We walked along the shore of Lake Ontario, which I thought was the Atlantic Ocean but was proved wrong when I licked it and it was fresh water!!
Saw these weird chocolate brown squirrels!!
Went for a coffee and a chill in a coffee shop then trammed it back into Toronto where we walked around for an hour or so and saw a statue or Churchill (Winston not that dog of the adverts)
Walked round the keyside in the evening and had a gander at the CN tower which is massive.
Off to Niagra falls the morra!!!!!
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