Any excuse to drink beer in the sun. And if there’s some baseball playing, all the better. This afternoon, Kate, Josh and I went to Nationals Park to watch the Nationals battle the Atlanta Braves. The scheduling had worked out perfectly for my D.C. trip; obviously I’m a bit of a fraud when it comes to …
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…saw the cherry blossoms in Washington D.C.
Today I headed to Washington D.C. to stay with Kate, my best gal pal from my time in Atlanta. She only recently moved here, so was keen to be a tourist with me. We headed straight for the Mall, which is bookended by the Capitol and the Washington Monument. At this time of year, the …
Read More…rode the M line
One thing I love about New York is how easy it is to get around – on foot or public transport. The subways are frequent, in straight lines and much, much more reliable than in London. Jaunting all over the city for various events means I’ve pretty much been on every subway line. But until …
Read More…cooked an Indian Banquet
Since living in New York, Seamless has taken a hefty chunk of my pay check. But today I rekindled my love for cooking with a course in London. And there’s no modesty here: The results were impressive. Mummy Warren and I headed to Acton to create an Indian Banquet under the instruction of Angela Malik. …
Read More…looked over London from the top of The Shard
After going to the Empire State Building last week and overlooking Edinburgh from Arthur’s Seat this week, today I completed the hat-trick. I visited the top of the newly-opened Shard in London so I could look over my capital city. With a view like this, it makes one wonder how somebody could possibly not want …
Read More…played Pooh Sticks
After a joyous eight-hour delay in Edinburgh airport yesterday, I finally made it to my parents’ house in West Sussex. And this morning I appreciated the countryside with a visit to Pooh Bridge in Ashdown Forest to play pooh sticks with my Dad. The game is the creation of A. A. Milne, the author of …
Read More…toured the Scottish Parliament
Last night when I was wondering what to do today, my friend Neil kindly offered to show me around the Scottish Parliament, where he works for Alex Neil, the health minister and the MSP (Member of Scottish Parliament) for Airdrie and Shotts. After taking him up on his offer, I’m now convinced Neil also works …
Read More…climbed a volcano
Four days after I went to the top of the Empire State Building for a view of New York City, I have completed Edinburgh’s equivalent: climbing to the top of Arthur’s Seat. Arthur’s Seat is a dormant volcano looming over Edinburgh – one of my favourite cities in the UK. Its steepest part is at …
Read More…had a mud treatment
I’m on holiday, so it’s about time for some pampering. Today Lauren and I went to Eve Spa in Paisley to unwind with the help of mud chambers, Chinese salt treatments, saunas, steamers and aroma rooms. There was lots of gossiping and even more sweating. I’ve never really done spas, so I wasn’t sure what …
Read More…ate haggis in Glasgow
When in Rome Glasgow. This morning I arrived in Scotland for a few days and soon stocked up on some traditional Scottish food. Or traditional Scottish scran, as the natives would say. Among my shopping was haggis, a dish that seems to be the stuff of folklore. It’s a mixture of sheep’s pluck (heart, liver …
Read More…moved to the East Village
While it’s been a great 18 months battling tourists to get to my front door, rejecting the same restaurant hecklers each evening and hearing bar crowds just hours before my 7 a.m. shift, today I moved out of Little Italy. Little Italy was my first home in the city, and it was actually a great neighbourhood to move …
Read More…devised a Subway art tour
Whenever I’m using the subway, I’m in a rush. My head is always down – either to gawk at my phone or to avoid eye contact with the creeper in the corner. But when I looked up for a brief moment at 23rd Street last week, I realised that there were hats painted on the …
Read More…escaped to Alcatraz
Perhaps it’s my job as a reporter. It could be my obsession with the Investigation Discovery channel. Or maybe it’s just sick human nature. Whatever the reason, when I planned my trip to the west coast, visiting Alcatraz was right at the top of the list. This morning, I caught the 9 a.m. ferry from …
Read More…rode a cable car
Another day, another state – and while I have been to this one before, I did achieve a first moments after arriving in San Francisco: Taking a cable car. I hopped on the rickety Powell and Hyde cart from Union Square, hanging off the side as we whizzed up and down the city’s undulating streets. …
Read More…wobbled around the Portland waterfront on a bike (and visited my 32nd state)
Lots of firsts today. A new state! A visit to Portland! The first time I got on a bike in about 15 years! After more travel delays, I arrived in Portland, Oregon hours later than I’d hoped – but thankfully still in time to watch the sun set over the city’s waterfront as I wobbled …
Read More…took a DIY food tour of Pike Place Market
I had planned on taking a food tour of the historic Pike Place Market when I arrived in Seattle today, but thanks to fog clogging the coastline this morning, my flight was delayed and I missed it. But not to be defeated (or left hungry), I did a cheeky DIY tour – based on reports …
Read More…sampled the local beer on Orcas Island
After two days of hikes, ferries and driving up mountains here in Washington, it was time for some refreshments. This afternoon, my friend Jane and I stopped at Island Hoppin, a six-month-old microbrewery on the island of Orcas (an appropriate name as Orca whales swarm its waters). The owner, an excitable man named Nate, pulled …
Read More…visited my 31st state
Today I flew to Washington (state, that is) for the first time. I know it’s not in keeping with my ‘new thing in New York’ premise, but I’m counting it anyway. And it takes my tally of states up to 31:
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