Miami Beach

I have to admit I was a bit clueless about Miami before I arrived here. For example, I didn't know Miami Beach is a completely different city to Miami. And South Beach - the bit you always hear about - is on Miami Beach.



My knowledge, as of my arrival date, came from two distinct areas: Miami Vice and the computer game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. I was OBSESSED with that game and played it for two months solid, although my brother had to help me with a couple of bits I couldn't do.

Oh, I'd also heard the Will Smith song about five billion times. That's a lot of time in my life I will never get back.

Anyway. To get a sense of what Miami is like, do the following:

Turn your oven to 100 degrees F and get inside
Take away pale white British people! Add overly groomed guys with mahogany tans and girls of all shapes and sizes wearing bikinis of all shapes and sizes
Add loud salsa music, house music and Cuban food
Think of what cigar smoke, coconuts and suntan lotion smells like, add a touch of the warm, bright blue ocean
Imagine light sand under your feet
Forget what day it is or what time it is, because it doesn't matter!

Here are some pics to give you an idea of the amazing Art Deco district (on South Beach, where I'm staying) and more:



And one of Miami Ink (obviously)



Here's my delicious pasta with tomato source and shrimp



More pictures to follow!

Toodles
x

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is generally not a city tourists pass through. People know about it, mostly because of The Wire (and if you like the Food Network like me, you'll know it from Ace of Cakes).

It's a shame, because it's really, really nice. Yes, there is a horrid part, just like any major city. And, some statistics show it has a much higher rate of violent crime than average.

However, my friend lives there and I couldn't come to the US for six weeks without making time to stop by! She lives in Greektown, but we started the day at the Cross Street Market. Fact fans, I'm pretty sure this is the same market as in The Wire, when McNulty gets his kids to play front and follow, and they get Stringer Bell's number plate. I'm not 100% sure, but I like to think that's true.

Anyhoo, Baltimore (just like certain parts of Maryland) is known for amazing seafood. So we had crab cakes, Old Bay shrimp (Old Bay is a seasoning and it is beyond delicious) and - while not really seafood - these chicken wings called BRUCE LEE WINGS. Highly recommended! They're all sticky and sweet but teriyaki-esque too. My mouth is watering!

In the evening we went to a place called Fell's Point, which sits next to the famous harbour and is right across from the iconic Domino's Sugar sign.

We ate at John Steven and sat outside with my friend's dog! I had the Cream of Crab soup, pictured below:



We also shared the crab nachos, get ready to drool:



I then had a shrimp cobb salad (no pic, I wolfed it too fast) and some sauvignon blanc. YUM!!!

Oh, across the road there was the building in which they filmed Homicide: Life on the Street (great show by the way).




A few more pics of Fell's Point and one of Penn Station below... apologies again for my rubbish skills. I'm trying to improve!





I wish I could have taken more, but I was busy catching up with great company.

I'll leave you with my favourite clip from The Wire.

Toodles
x

PS. I didn't encounter any crazies but there was one guy who told me to "watch out for the tiger, he's gonna get ya" as I crossed the street. Ironically, he was walking a little tea cup chihuahua as he said this.

PPS. Never get the Light Rail to Baltimore-Washington Airport. It may only cost $1.60 but it scared the shit out of me.

New York - City Hall

"You can't fight city hall."

I never really got what that phrase meant, but now I know it basically means that there is no point fighting a battle you can't win.

You'd think with an intro like that, this post was going to be really thoughtful and philosophical.

It's not.

I just really liked the City Hall building in New York (Manhattan), so took a nice picture. Fact fans, the mayor is Michael R. Bloomberg, who is in his third term and founded the Bloomberg media/information company, which I am a big fan of.



Toodles
x

Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan

I'm lucky enough to have visited NYC twice before. However, I've got a super-injunction out on the events of the first trip. The second was a 2008 holiday during which I somehow spent $95 on a Marc Jacobs headband. What a yuppie thing to do, sigh.

Both times I stayed in Manhattan, so this time I figured Brooklyn was an appropriate choice. I'm at the NYC Loft Hostel in East Williamsburg, a town apparently so trendy it feels the need to look the total opposite. I'd say ghetto-chic is being polite. Regardless, the hostel is nice - although I didn't manage to snag a bottom bunk and being the tiny smurf I am, it's a proper effort to climb into bed.

The picture below is of some of the great graffiti splattered across most walls nearby.



I took a walk today over the Brooklyn Bridge to Lower Manhattan. The views are pretty mint and it was gloriously sunny. To the right, I saw the amazing Manhattan Bridge and the Empire State Building; to the left, it's the Statue of Liberty. I'm not sure how clear these are on the photos, so take a look and see what you think. My photography skills aren't fantastic, I warn you!



So there you have it - I'm only here for a day and I think I spent it well.

As always, feel free to leave a comment or email me to say hi! I'm craving human communication, what with being a typically British solo traveller...

Toodles
x

Cliche number 1 - The sidekick

Han Solo had Chewie, Holmes had Watson, Paul Daniels has Debbie McGee... yes, a sidekick is the new black.

So, without further ado, I introduce you to Hammy aka Heinz, who was gifted upon me by Mumsy (yeah I'm 27 and and my mum still gives me teddies, BOTHERED). He had a bean bag inside that you could put in the microwave, but I accidentally burned it.

Pictorial evidence below (he's the one on the left). He'll be coming with me and I will endeavour to take photos of him in various cities.

I miss the dog and I haven't even left yet

First, he tried to help me pack:


Then he just got in a biff and gave me the generic "canine sad pose".


I can't win.

A polite inquiry

How many pairs of pyjamas should I take?
Do I really need nail polish?
How will I stop feeling homesick?
What if I get malaria?
What if I run out of money?
Why do I need five travel guides?
What if my luggage goes missing?
How do I put suntan lotion on my back if I'm alone?
Who should I trust?
What if I miss a flight?
What if I can't get a job when I come home?
Have I done the right thing?
Will I miss work?
What if something happens to a loved one while I'm gone?
What if I forget something "crucial"?
What if something happens to me?
What time can I check in?
Will my phone work?
How do connecting flights work?
Can I take the dog with me?