USA - The Final Way.

After hitting the road again, we high-tailed it back to Seattle to jet on over to the windy city - Chicago. I think we both had high expectations as Chicago is world renown for its architecture, which i guess is Edwina's thing... and also pizza, which happens to be one of my things!

Chicago really didn't disappoint as we had more than enough time to settle in and explore the city as we were staying right in the middle in an area known as "the loop" (train line style). One of the highlights, not just in Chicago... or on the trip... BUT IN MY LIFE, had to be the architectural Segway tour. Yes people... a segway! Do yourself a favour and go out.. find one, hire one, steal one, I don't care how you get it just ride it! It was super fun and an amazing way to check out a city without using your legs like a weak human. I have no idea how these things aren't everywhere (although I have seen many police forces in the states and even Europe using them...)

Anyways, we also managed to squeeze in some famous Chicago deep dish style pizza at Uno Pizza (thanks for the hot tip Claire!) which is apparently where the style began. These things are huge and delicious. We also spent some time check out Millenium park which contains heaps of amazing art and sculptures, including the famous "bean" and "faces of chicago" (two huge walls in a water park that project faces of over 150 people of Chicago. Random but awesome). We also checked out the view from the top of the Sears tower and the John Hancock building, and spent some time on the pier.

From Chicago we made the cross country leap all the way to the nation's capital, Washington DC. We only had two full days to explore so iwe pounded the pavement. The town is jam packed with museums so it was hard to pick our battles. For once, I won and we got to go to the Spy Museum and live out my dreams of being Agent Spence... James Spence. Next stop after a friend's recommendation was the Newseum. Hands down - Best museum ever! The little journalist inside of me went wild with all the amazing exhibitions including; National Geo's Photo's of the Year, 9/11, Katerina, Media around the world, Sports and countless others. This place was so big and amazing we had to come back the next day to see more! Once all the museums shut-up-shop, we hit the "Mall" and checked out all the monuments, Capital, Library of Congress and White House. Those American's sure know how to build a grand structure.

At night we got to squeeze in some live music and check out one of Edwina's faves - Friendly Fires. Flashbacks to Splendour 09 in-sued, the weekend we met. sigh.  *cue corny music*. Luck would have it Edwina's friend Jolly was also in DC at the time so we got to catch up for an old fashioned Ethiopian dinner and drinks. As always, lovely to catch up with a friendly face in a foreign land.

Our next destination was one I had been dreaming about since I was old enough to stay up and watch Carrie and the Girls... NEW YORK CITY. Okay... maybe that wasn't the reason, but I was tots defs pumped for the NYC. We started our trip in the much underrated, although now super hip, Brooklyn. We were very lucky to meet an awesome couple from Brooklyn on our Inca Trail trip who were silly enough to offer us a place to stay if we were ever in town. Unlucky for them, I have an amazing memory and little shame, so pounced on that offer like a spider monkey. Vanessa and Johnny were AMAZING hosts and managed to squeeze so much into our short stay with them. After our time in Vancouver, it was lovely again to have a nice home to relax in. We checked out the super hip Williamsburg (where we couldn't move without knocking over a dozen hipsters on fixie bikes),  corny Coney Island, beautiful Prospect Park and amazing Brownstone buildings. Hands down there were two highlights. #1 our first celeb spotting - Anne Hathaway and more importantly #2 Johnny and I finishing our first eating challenge! It was suprisingly easy, well for Johnny at least, and we both earned our photo on the wall of fame (check out Facebook for photo montage of events.. its awesome). It was sad to leave the lovely "Remington nest" and I hope our paths cross again soon.

It was time to plunge deep into the heart of NYC, Manhattan. We set up shop if the fabulously hip and combustibly gay hub of the Meatpacking district. Named after all the former abattoirs, not the current residents. Our hotel was appropriately "nautical themed" which was code for tiny but nice. Anywho's, it was a fantastic location for us to start exploring the most famous city in the world. We started local and checked out the Meatpacking and surrounding areas. Whilst wondering around a night we had our celeb spot #2.... non other than ANNE HATHAWAY. Yes... again. By this stage I'm pretty sure she's taken a liking to me and has begun stalking me. Can't blame her really.

The next day we got up early and made the trek over to New Jersey to avoid the lines and hit up the big lady herself, the Statue of Liberty. The ferry ride over stopped at Ellis Island, the famous immigration centre, where we stopped and checked out the museum. Jumping back on board the ferry we landed on Liberty island and got our tourist on. Luckily we had planned ahead and pre-booked tickets to the viewing platform so we got amazing views over the Hudson river to Manhattan. We then high-tailed it away from the swarming crowds and ferried back to Battery Park. Lucky again for us, Edwina had another friend (wow she is popular!), Sian, who was now living in Manhattan near Tribeca. We crashed that couch like nobodies business! That night Sian took us to famous Shake Shack - her pick for the best burgers in town. True to form, they were delicious. The next day we explored Sian's local area including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Financial District where we eventually found the famous Bull.  Edwina managed to grab him by the horns and we both gave his balls a good polish. From here we also checked out Ground Zero, which is still undergoing construction for the 9/11 memorial. We also discovered the shopping mecca that is Century 21. Discounts galore on all your favourite brands... or so they tell me.

The next day we set off early again and explored only part of the huge Central Park, the Guggenheim, the United Nations and the shopping on Fifth Avenue. Hello Tiffiany's ladies! By night we took in the Broadway show experience and saw The Lion King, which was pretty cool. We then hit the bright lights of Times Square and climbed on over to the Empire State Building at midnight. Yes, there was still a half hour line at this time, crazy.

After an amazing and hectic week in the Big Apple we bused ourselves north to Boston. After the hustle and bustle of NYC, it was nice to slow the pace down and explore a little slower. On our first night we joined the old hostel pub crawl and of course managed to make friends with the Aussies and adopted the lovely Sarah into our posse. It is always nice to meet new people to party with and luckily she was a big sports fan as it was finals in the NBA and NHL - Go Mavs! To top off a sports filled weekend, we FINALLY managed to attend a baseball game, and watched the Boston Redsoxs. Fenway Park (their home field) is one of the most famous in all of baseball and the city of Boston is completely obsessed with the team. It was an amazing atmosphere as we both donned our team hats and downed hotdogs and popcorn. Our final day in Boston we spent exploring Harvard and finished with dinner with Sarah and a hockey match (on Tv sadly).

From Boston we again crossed the great white boarder and entered Montreal where we tested our French (or lack there of), checked out the street parties in town for the Formula One, explored the old town and saw another of Edwina's fave bands live - Yeasayer.

We then headed west to Toronto for a super quick stop before returning to NYC for our flight to Europe. So it is that I write this blog as I stare out the window to the beautiful French Riveria. But those stories dearest reader will have to wait until next time. Au Revoir!