Today I enjoyed beautiful orchids, visited the jungle, the desert, Hawaii and looked at medicinal plants, all for free in the Botanical Gardens in Washington DC. I think it's great that all their museums are free, what a great way to get people in and educate them, even the less privileged and families can do it when it's free. Well done Washington!! The orchids were beautiful all shapes, sizes and colours. This was followed by a brisk walk asthe temperature has dropped to about 55 and it feels a bit like the UK, not liking that too much, never mind. Next stop was a sculpture garden which I found when looking for a warm drink, all sorts of cubic stuff but the one that stood out was a stainless steel tree which had obviously fooled one ... read more

The place I have been staying at is called a co-housing unit. The people who live there are acommunity's who help each other and maintain the premises as much as they can without outside help. They each donate four hours a week to do something around the place, I.e. gardening, cleaning etc. There is a committee who organise things and there are communal areas where you can do yoga or work out at the gym they have. They also have guest roomswhere's guests can stay for a small fee. They are very supportive of each other and do not have any rules about who can live there. It had a really good feel, the people were friendly and everyone looked out for each other. The guy I stayed with was a community artist and worked with ... read more

My very first garlic festival, today with my host Rebecca we travelled to Orange where there was a garlic festival which celebrates an amazing number of different garlics and many other healthy options. There were many different crafts, home grown vegetables some of which I hadn't seen before, local hand dyed wool, music food and dancing. It was well attended and the atmosphere was great. The trees are now starting to change to their autumn colours which are vibrant. It has been a comfortable and relaxing stay and Rebecca is a great person and very kind she couldn't have made me more welcome. Next leg, off to Bosotn tomorrow.... read more

Leaving New York today heading toVermont, weather fine, trying to type on train is a bit difficult thank goodness for predictive text. Yesterday visited the Guggenheim Museum, which was a bit disappointing as the ramps were being prepared for a Picasso exhibition in black and white. However there were some great exhibits, Monet, Degas, Picasso and some great photos. This was followed by a stroll in Central Park, it was a warm September afternoon and the park was very busy. It al happens in Central Park, I did some traditional Greekdancing, watched a guy blow enormous balloons, listened to a drum band they were really good, watchedroller skating dancers, there was volleyball, people running, biking walking, riding in carriages. Saw advertising in the sky something to do with jobs, letters created in the vapour trail. Wow!!!!! ... read more

Left the New Forest in Hampshire, bathed in mist like a soft shroud then transported to New York in rush hour,OMG!!!!!!!! Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous. Todays weather has been lovely warm and sunny, walked down Broadway, along Wall Street (which is amazingly short)caught the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. Then had a boat cruise in the afternoon. Tomorrow off to central park, Empire State building and Guggenheim Museum.... read more