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Published: April 26th 2010
Hi Kids,
Well, flying to the United Kingdom from the USA didn't plan out as expected due to the ridiculous volcano in Iceland. With no option but to be grounded in America, I decided to become a temporary resident with the Medina's of Fair Lawn, New Jersey and explore some of the East Coast of the USA.
Staying in New Jersey, I went about life as I would if I lived in Oz. I shopped, I helped renovate a new bedroom and ensuite of the home I was staying in (including a few trips to Home Depot which is Bunnings Warehouse on steroids), and I even went to the gym a few times (and not just because my trainer Emma is reading this blog but because I wanted/needed to sweat off all the foods unique to the area one must sample whilst on holidays). I also got passed around and became the source of amusement for the extended Medina family as the girl who couldn't leave the country. But, these few days also gave me some normalisation which made me realise you can just pick up and settle in just about anywhere in the world (if only the cops
More Freedom trail
Yet another dose of American history with more Gold roof structurewould give me a job outside NSW - I'd take it!).
However, there is just one thing I'd like to take issue with - local laws. Now, trying to fit in as a local (but one of the only few blonde haired and blue eyed residents), I headed to the local salon as I needed to get my eye lashes tinted. But NO, eye lash tinting in the state of New Jersey I was told was ILLEGAL. I could buy as many GUNS as I wanted, but dying my eye lashes a darker shade is against the law (don't even get me started when I was told they were soon going to outlaw Brazilian waxes...). And each county has it's own laws, and pays its public servants separately to the county across the road. WEIRD. Anyway.....just my thoughts
So, with extra time on my hands, I explored many areas of New Jersey and began eating my way through the state - I learnt how to make Empanada's, had bagels with cream chesse, bad coffee and a Snapple (ice tea) every day, drank home made wine and some of Uncle Nelson's Moonshine (think I got a bit pissed just
Cheers
Where everybody knows your name..... great pub smelling that stuff). And I saw more of New York city than originally intended (and confess to another visit to the Magnolia Bakery for cup cakes - purely for the butter frosted icing - but I did a Spin class to make up for it!).
However, given the small attention span you know I possess, it was time for me to move on to explore somewhere new. Where to though? Well, since I was upset about not going on the tour of Ireland I was looking forward to (where I was convinced I'd meet my future husband like in the movie 'P.S. I Love You', I thought I would find the next best thing and go to the American version of Ireland - BOSTON!
Bright and early Monday morning I got a train to New York, and then the 3.5 hour Amtrak express train to Boston which was comfy and gave great sights of the New England, Connecticut and Massachusetts areas. I arrived to find I had arrived on possibly the busiest day they have all year. Not only was it the day of the annual Boston Marathon, the city also had it's own public holiday 'Patriot's Day'
Boston
Monuments everywhere which I was told marked the anniversary of when the first shot was heard in something to do with the war of Independence where the cittizens revel in their history and those not dressed in marathon gear were wearing colonial period costumes. But the city was also busy with people as they hosted a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park and the Boston Bruins were playing in the play offs of the Stanley Cup Ice Hockey thing.
With the city littered with thousands of limping athletes, I explored on foot and began following part of the famous 'Freedom Trail', which is literally a line painted on the roads around the city that take you to all the Boston American History monuments like a giant treasure map (although many a time I was giving directions to travelling Americans who were concerned the red painted line would not continue on - Idiots!). I did deviate off course and had a pint of Guinness and some Buffalo wings at the original 'Cheers' bar, and later ventured to another Irish Bar in Charlestown where I made friends with the locals enough for them to buy me a couple of beers whilst watching
Patriot's Day
A public holiday only celebrated in Boston - some town folk getting in the mood the play-off of the Ice Hockey that was being played a few streets away. Here I also met Suzie's friend Aaron at the pub as I was crashing at his place and tried to get his Australian accent back on track.
The next day in Boston I started off by continuing the rest of the Freedom Trail with a tour of the USS Constitution and walking back into the city. By now my brain was overloaded with American History and it was time for lunch. I combined my time in yet another Irish pub with the food that Boston is known for - Lobster- and I wasn't disappointed. Then it was time to view the Qunicy Markets and a trip out to Fenway Park where the Red Sox were due to play a sold out game. After seeing all that I felt I had needed to I got the evening train back to New York and got ready for the next leg of my journey.
So, all in all, I enjoyed my unexpected extra time in the US. Thanks once again to the Medina's for accommodating me while 'volcano stranded'. I could live in the Irish themed Boston,
State Building
Again with all the gold.... which is quite cute and seemingly friends (well to me anyway).
Next stop - LONDON (volcano ash permitting).
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Zilia
non-member comment
Don't tell me you acctually drank tio Nelson's moonshine hahahahaha! ;-) Sounds like they took good care of you. See you soon.