I "heart" DC

Hi everyone from Washington DC!

I am really loving it here - this is my kind of city, and we are getting some of my kind of weather (ie sunny and warm) which is definitely helping me enjoy it even more. I really feel like there is something for everyone in this place... but let me start at the beginning...

Since I last wrote, I visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is an amazing museum - huge and so many paintings even a pleb like me recognises. I loved all the Monet and Picasso work, and also seeing a few of the Andy Warhol images that are so iconic! After that cultural overload I went and visited some of the shops like Bloomingdales, and finally found the ultimate in tacky fridge magnets (that one's for you Gilly!) at a souvenier shop just off Times Square.

Monday morning I got up very early to catch my totally uneventful (HURRAH!) train to Washington DC. I was able to check straight in to my hostel, which is one of the nicest I have stayed in for a while, so dropped off my bag and went for a wee wander. I stumbled across George's place (aka The White House) just in time for lunch but he didn't seem to be in so I just grabbed a hot dog from a guy on the street instead! Loads of police and security everywhere but they were all very courteous and pleasant and quite a nice change from normal US security styles.

After that I went on a mission around some of the presidential memorials - from Washington to Lincoln, and by the reflecting pool. I visited the new World War II memorial, and the moving Vietnam wall of names and the Korean War memorial which is made up of life sized sculptures of soldiers. I have a few pictures for you all but haven't been able to find a computer that will let me share just yet - I promise to put some on as soon as I can! The memorials were all much bigger and further apart then expected so after a few hours of walking I hit the Hard Rock Cafe (hi, my name is Clare and I am addicted to Hard Rock Cafes) for a restorative ale.

After that I visited Ford's theatre, which is where Lincoln was shot, and the little house across the way that is where he actually died and where the 'council of war' set up to hunt down the assassins. After all of that I headed back to the hostel for a surprisingly good sleep, considering I was in a 10 bed dorm and that my excellent luck has finally run out and I found myself on the top bunk for the first time since Sweden.

Today became the day of the museum, where I went to the Natural History Museum which I adored! I spent far to long gazing at the Hope Diamond and various other gems on display, as well as indulging the child side of me and wandering around the dinosaurs... all very excellent stuff! After that I took a walk further up the Mall in the sunshine and had a look at the Capitol before visiting the Museum of Air and Space, including some Treasures of the US on display there as the Museum of American History isn't open. I saw Lincoln's hat, Prince's guitar, the MASH sign, and Dorothy's ruby slippers which was fun and left me a little disappointed that I couldn't see more from this museum's displays. Still, all the planes and rockets were fun (if a little confusing) and after that I visited the National Portrait Gallery to take in the gallery of the presidents.

After that I had a wander around chinatown and a beer and some nachos at the Capitol Brewing Company and have finally come back to the hostel to do laundry (yawn!). Tomorrow I am going to Arlington to see the Pentagon and JFK's resting place, and then there are some more museums that I want to check out before I leave on Friday. So far I am giving DC 5 stars!

Hope you are all well - missing you heaps!
Clare

Hello from the Big Apple!

Hi all from New York! I hope you are all well!

I have been having a really interesting time in New York and thought it was probably time for an update for you all. I can't say that New York has cast the same spell on me as it has for a lot of people but it is certainly a fun place to visit and I have enjoyed exploring all the iconic sites! Unfortunately I have had a bit of a bug for my whole trip here so haven't been operating at full strength but still managed to get around a bit... so let me see... what have I done...

Well on Thursday I headed off to explore Central Park - visited Strawberry Fields, a little area dedicated to John Lennon just across from the apartment building where he was shot, Belvedere Castle, where New York's weather gets read, and the famous ice-rink... all very excellent! Then I hit the shops of 5th Avenue, although sadly only window shopping! Then I took in the Rockefeller Centre and Times Square and tried to visit the Guggenheim, which was sadly closed for renovations.

Friday I decided to go to the United Nations and checked out the Security Council and General Assembly areas - unfortunately the driving rain and snow meant you couldn't really appreicate the outdoors much though!! I also visited the Grand Central Station and took loads of pictures of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. Empire State had visibility of zero from the viewing areas so I had to give that a miss but may try to catch it today if I get a chance. I decided to wander down to Canal Street to get the requested hat for big brother and decide if I needed a rip-off Dolce and Gabbana purse... I am still deciding!

Yesterday I started the day by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, then I took in City Hall and visited Ground Zero. I don't know what I expected at Ground Zero to be honest, but it is essentially a big construction zone with lots of art and other displays about September 11, complete with tacky souvenier stalls and people handing out leaflets trying to convince you that it was an inside job by the US Government... a very bizarre place to visit for sure.

After that I grabbed a slice of pizza and caught the ferry out to Ellis Island and got some great views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline, plus a really interesting tour around Ellis Island, which is where all immigrants used to enter the United States. Today I am going to try and visit the MoMA and visit Macys and Bloomingdales I think, and fingers crossed for some improved weather so I can get up the Empire State.

Hope you are all well and I will write more from DC later in the week!
Clare