Tea in the Whitehouse..

There was SO much to do in Washington..

I'll give you the highlights:

Saw the capitol building, the whitehouse, sat in the Senate and House galleries, met the actual Kermit the Frog, saw Dorothy's red shoes, saw (probably not) Obama in a motorcade, saw a giant elephant, the star spangled banner, the hope diamond, climbed through an air duct, saw Jaw's actual teeth, learnt how to be international spies, ran through the reflecting pool like the girl from forrest gump.. (tried.. Rach wouldnt let me)

Fantastic city. Apart from the hostel. It seemed we were sharing with crazy people, a lady in her 50s who seemed to talk to 'God' a lot about the bad thing she did that made her leave Baltimore.. And an elderly lady who we came to the conclusion was a witch. Unfortunately she overheard our conclusion and shuffled threateningly towards us at 2am on her way to the bathroom.

We're now cursed.

Amtrak was sufficiently better than the hostel and ten hours later brought us sunshine in Charleston!

Go Ravens!!

Leaving Buffalo standing on an empty street at an empty station with creepy circus music playing eerily to mask the silence, Philadelphia could not have been more welcoming!

After spending all night next to some canadian violinist who insisted on taking up a seat and a half on the megabus, I wasn't overly cheery when we arrived. But we stuggled through the sights of the Liberty Bell, Independance hall and getting free Shredded money from the Fedral bank! A decidedly laidback, friendly city made all the better with sunshine. The visit was topped off with a trip to the Eastern State Penitentiary, well worth a trip, amazing building!

A cheeky hour on a bus took us to Baltimore. Yes I did sing the song when I woke up and got caught in the process.. awkward! The only way to describe the city is the word 'gritty'. Hard to explain but not a place I'd wander round late at night. Big square buildings but somehow spread out. A place for a few beverages by the water front in the summer, not for a winters afternoon in January! I want to live there purely because I want to be a true Ravens fan!

Adopted Identity for the Superbowl?

I think so.

Canada is VERY cold.

After my last update the weather closed in, the snow came in full force and we ended up getting stranded in New York for an extra night! No 14 hour bus journey, instead a cheap flight a day later. Who could complain?!

Landed in Toronto to a very 'intimate' hostel. By 'intimate' I mean I could stroke the person in the next bed's face without really having to stretch... only downside was snoring and coughing, meaning not much sleep was had but I accepted a compromise of free waffles for breakfast every morning.

The city was friendly and inviting but SO cold trudging about in the snow. Particularly as our main entertainment was watching people ice skate.. better than you've been framed.

Met some crazy people, decided on taking their advice on our last morning to attend a bluegrass brunch. Unlimited food and a live band for $14 dollars. Amazing. If any of you find yourselves in Toronto go to the Dakota Tavern. Don't even hesitate!

Snipey found herself occupied by a new sport of 'cross country skiing'.. basically involved sliding along the pavement much to the guy behind's disgust.. comedy gold!

Niagara Falls was the venue of choice for New Years Eve, the falls themselves were amazing, it was a shame to find 'Blackpool' had moved in next to them. Tacky cannot even begin to describe it. Again SO cold. So cold my hair froze! Great atmosphere on the night surrounded by 65,000 people and what could go wrong with a bit of Nelly Furtado..

Currently in Buffalo killing time before our next move. Painfully cold here.. it's proved to be a ghost town!

Despite all, I can now say I've eaten Buffalo wings in Buffalo however Buffalo's don't actually have wings... who knew?!!