MARDI GRAS (N'awlins)

Well... I survived.

I don't really know how to go about describing Mardi Gras, chaos doesn't seem to cover it! I went in not really knowing what to expect and came out battered and bruised and feeling like I could sleep for a week.

The hostel we stayed in left little to be desired. A precariously balanced top bunk proved a little difficult for the drunken mind to cope with and nearly ended in tears a couple of times as the whole bed nearly collapsed. Being in the position where I knew I had to be quiet because of sleeping stranger below me, made sure that I found myself many a night drunkenly perched on the top of a ladder not knowing whether to go forward or back as the whole bed wobbled more and more and got louder and louder. Safe to say I was not popular.

The girl in the bunk next to me however had it down to a tee. I was woken up one night by her flinging the door open after spending a good ten minutes trying to get her key in the lock.. she bounded towards her bed, swung off it, flung herself face first onto the bed and just lay there. No attempt to use the ladder or to get changed. Absolutely Brilliant.

Our time in New Orleans was mainly spent being swept up in the Mardi Gras chaos.. We did however find time to spend a lazy afternoon on a steam-powered paddle boat on the Mississippi, obviously with Bloody Mary in hand!

A walk down Bourbon Street proved a bit of an eye-opener. It appeared to be some sort of Gentlemans club, a lot of seedy men in suits and the women were dressed up to the nines, if dressed. People filled the balconys above throwing beads down to the drunken plebs below. It was a bit unsettling to see how willing a lot of girls were to flash in order to get beads or alcohol, especially as the majority of ladies doing it were at a 'later stage' in their life.

I have never seen anything like it.. Ladies in their late 60's (who looked like they worked in the local library) in short skirts, a drink in each hand staggering along the street and a lot of beads round their necks. One of these 'older' ladies grabbed my arm during a parade and loudly appologised for being so drunk and that it was due to the fact she was on her second hurricane.. her poor husband could only shrug.

The parades were also not what I expected, everyone crammed towards the barriers waving at masked strangers on floats in hope that they would throw them some tatt that they had, aside from normal beads, it ranged from giant teddybears, frisbees, flashing beads, cups and Footballs. It became a competition to see who could get all the 'good' stuff.. You had to keep your eyes on the floats at all times we quickly found out as I got hit in the face a couple of times by beads that had been lobbed full force from a float by some sweaty, drunk man in a mask.

After spending 6 days of this, with the added pressure of having to look over your shoulder the whole time as every person we met put great emphasis on how unsafe the city is, the prospect of a comfy bed and good night sleep is on the horizon.

All that stands between us now is a dirty hangover combined with 7 hours on a Greyhound..

The Sunshine State..

The past three weeks has been spent chasing the sun in Florida!

We started in Orlando, the town that was left in the 90's.. its a run down, odd sort of place. I guess just a stepping stone for the theme parks. We contented ourselves with Gator Golf and Frozen yogurt.

Then a week at Clearwater beach.. managed to bag an apartment for a week, bags were unpacked and stuff went everywhere! Lovely beach, lovely sunshine, even managed to fit in a cheeky 15 mile walk along the Peninsula. An enjoyable relaxed week spent with the Blue Rinse Brigade..

From Clearwater to Miami.. The hostel was grim, tiny room that came with strange spanish lady who followed us round with disinfectant.. (things have not got that bad yet fyi!) Miami is a weird and wonderful place, it seems to be quite literally anything goes and noone bats an eyelid. I probably walked round with my jaw on the floor half the time because of some of the sights you see! We filled our time with mainly mojitos, beach and more mojitos. Had a cheeky jaunt to Millionaires row and the Everglades. The Everglades was a brilliant day, went on an airboat and saw Alligators in the wild, tame Alligators for displays, held a baby Alligator called Snappy then ate one. Unbelievable experience!! Sad to leave Miami and its bizzare ways!

Finally ending our time in Florida just out of Fort Lauderdale in Florida's Hollywood. White Sand beaches and above 30°c temperatures are just what we need before a week at Mardi Gras.

Anticipating Carnage...

Life is like a Box of Chocolates..

Getting off the train into Charleston was a bit surreal.. the humidity for one felt strange, I was getting worried I'd never feel warm again! We arrived at our 'Not so' hostel to discover it was basically a house, with a porch, with rocking chairs galore. AMAZING.

We went for dinner at a traditional grill place, which was lovely until we had a little friend join us. Being British however, we sat there and watched the cockroach merrily scampering around the table for a good ten minutes casting occasional pleading glances to the waitress. I had to stand up at one point because I thought he was going to venture into my lap. We finally got someone to remove him and the owner gave us free dessert for enduring our friend for so long. A beer float made up for the experience!

Daylight brought sunshine, deep blue skys and shorts. Downtown Charleston is one of the prettiest places I've ever been to, and traditionally southern with the porches and rocking chairs. Didn't want to leave!

Savannah, Georgia was our next stop. Similar to Charleston, although bizarre how the 21 squares are the focus of the town, making it hard to pinpoint a centre to it. Saw the square where Forrest Gump sat in his famous 'life is like a box of chocolates..' speech. The visit was completed by a trip to Leopold's World Famous Ice cream shop. The Ice cream, it has to be said, was almost better than Brymor. 

Very sad to be leaving South Carolina and Georgia, however Sunshine and Beaches are beckoning...

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?!!

New York, New York...

I've been singing THAT song all week..
After a few interesting incidents at security at the airport. Snipey got taken aside and searched.. obviously looking like a terrorist that afternoon. Me on the other hand, got basically accused of being a stripper at passport control.. I suppose claiming I 'do anything' whilst working in a bar didn't really help the situation..

Well what can I say about New York.. I don't know where to start! We've done so much: 5th Avenue, Rockefella centre and top of the rock, 9/11, Park Avenue, Christmas Markets, Grand Central, Wall Street, Staten Island, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn bridge, China Town, Greenwich village, New york city library, Central park and the Zoo.

I can safely tell you all that Alex, Melvin, Gloria and Marty probably are still in Madagascar however the Penguins have returned to a VERY fishy enclosure and a very sorry looking polar bear!

I can also tell you that there are cats in America and the Streets aren't paved with cheese, but seeing the statue of liberty gave me an excuse to sing the song to a very confused Snipe.

New York does what it says on the tin. Amazing city, has weird contrasts from calm to busy. Steam does come out the grates and all the buildings are very big!

Impressive christmas day views from Top of the Rock, pancakes and a trip to the oriental side of New York rounded off a spectacular start to the trip.

14 hour bus journey to Canada? YES PLEASE!

See you on the other side and MERRY CHRISTMAS!