awalby

"Is This The Way To..."
Amarillo, United States
I will NOT be hugging my pillow in this town!
This is where we say goodbye to Route 66, as we head south to Lubbock (home of Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings and Tanya Tucker).
written by  awalby on April 17, 2008 from Amarillo, United States
from the travel blog: The Highway Is Alive Tonight

"The Day The Music Died"
Lubbock, United States
written by  awalby on April 18, 2008 from Lubbock, United States
from the travel blog: The Highway Is Alive Tonight

Windy West Texas Plains
Lubbock, United States
Can't put up wind farms in Australia as the do-gooders say they chop up the birds.
written by  awalby on April 18, 2008 from Lubbock, United States
from the travel blog: The Highway Is Alive Tonight

"FARWOOD FER SALE" said the sign
Abilene, United States
Literacy's not too good in Abilene - but then this is the home of Jessica Simpson.
written by  awalby on April 18, 2008 from Abilene, United States

"Crazy Hair"
Abilene, United States
Considered a detour to visit the polygamist compound in San Angelo to see the women with crazy hair.
written by  awalby on April 18, 2008 from Abilene, United States

Who Shot JFK (or was that JR?)
Dallas, United States
written by  awalby on April 18, 2008 from Dallas, United States

Crackpots and Conspiracy Theorists
Dallas, United States
At Dealey Plaza I didn't need to pay to go upstairs to the Sixth Floor Museum and look out the window - the answers were free from the guys who were there on the day back in November 1963.
written by  awalby on April 19, 2008 from Dallas, United States

...but I found out who really was responsible
Dallas, United States
written by  awalby on April 19, 2008 from Dallas, United States

Another Bunch of Crazies
Waco, United States
Texas really is the place to set up if you're part of the lunatic fringe - remember David Koresh and The Branch Davidian?
I'm surprised Tom Cruise and the Scientologists aren't in Texas.
written by  awalby on April 19, 2008 from Waco, United States

Texas State Capital
Austin, United States
written by  awalby on April 19, 2008 from Austin, United States

Caffe Medici
Austin, United States
Another student hang out for breakfast with free wifi so I can continue to blog and plan the day's activities.
written by  awalby on April 20, 2008 from Austin, United States

Texas State Capitol (City Hall)
Austin, United States
The biggest State City Hall in the country, with only the National Capitol building in Washington DC being bigger (everything's bigger in the Lone Star State).
Guess who was the previous Governor of Texas?
written by  awalby on April 20, 2008 from Austin, United States

"Everybody Cut Loose, Footloose"
Linnet doesn't want me to get a pair, but I'm sorely tempted...

"She's Got Legs, She Knows How To Use Them"
La Grange, United States
Pit-stop in La Grange, but didn't spot these guys!
written by  awalby on April 21, 2008 from La Grange, United States

Houston We Have A (Traffic) Problem
Houston, United States
Traffic's a nightmare in Houston - freeways everywhere in various states of construction.
written by  awalby on April 21, 2008 from Houston, United States

Far East Texas Feels Like Louisiana
Beaumont, United States
written by  awalby on April 21, 2008 from Beaumont, United States

Another Ghost Town
Beaumont, United States
Despite the downtown being desolate and boarded up, we found another charming cafe with decent coffee and free wifi. Met a bloke named Kevin Bishop (originally from Montreal, but now residing in Houston) who was as disillusioned as me about the st
ate of the US.
written by  awalby on April 22, 2008 from Beaumont, United States

Welcome to Louisiana - state no.6
Lake Charles, United States
written by  awalby on April 22, 2008 from Lake Charles, United States

Lakeside
Lake Charles, United States
written by  awalby on April 22, 2008 from Lake Charles, United States

"Ol' Man River"
Baton Rouge, United States
written by  awalby on April 22, 2008 from Baton Rouge, United States

Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, United States
I hope they've found homes for all those displaced persons who ended up living here following Hurricane Katrina. Good work Brownie!
written by  awalby on April 22, 2008 from New Orleans, United States

The Big Easy
New Orleans, United States
Trams ("streetcars") just like ours - only they run much more frequently AND 24/7.
written by  awalby on April 23, 2008 from New Orleans, United States

Ol' Man River, The Big Muddy, The Ol' Miss
New Orleans, United States
written by  awalby on April 23, 2008 from New Orleans, United States

A Bit of Editorial Comment...are you paying attention George?
Isn't this what "homeland security" is all about, rather than killing civilians in Iraq?

Bourbon Street

Another Black and White...
Just to keep you on your toes, the taxis in New Orleans look like police cars!

The Longest Bridge in the World!
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is officially the longest bridge in the world (24 Miles) heading north out of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain.
Check out the Wikipedia entry at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pontchartrain_Causeway

Welcome to Mississippi - state no.7
McComb, United States
written by  awalby on April 24, 2008 from McComb, United States

"Look Out Jackson Town"
Jackson, United States
Halfway across Mississippi.
written by  awalby on April 24, 2008 from Jackson, United States

Welcome to Tennessee - state no.8
Memphis, United States
Two new states in seven hours!
written by  awalby on April 24, 2008 from Memphis, United States

"Walking in Memphis"
Memphis, United States
Who shot MLK?
written by  awalby on April 24, 2008 from Memphis, United States

"FIRE PUTTER OUTER"
Memphis, United States
Not too smart down south - can't spell "extinguisher".
written by  awalby on April 24, 2008 from Memphis, United States

The Birth of Rock and Roll

"I Had A Dream..."

"I've Reason To Believe, We Both Will Be Received In Graceland"

Nashville
Nashville, United States
written by  awalby on April 25, 2008 from Nashville, United States

Caffeine Addiction Thwarted by >30000 Marathon Runners
Nashville, United States
We picked the wrong day to come to Nashville - streets blocked off for a Marathon.
I would have thought a "country music Marathon" would have been 42 hours of non-stop duelling guitars, not people running 42 kilometres!
written by  awalby on April 26, 2008 from Nashville, United States

I Found the "Choo Choo"
Chattanooga, United States
written by  awalby on April 26, 2008 from Chattanooga, United States

Welcome to Georgia - state no.9
Chattanooga, United States
written by  awalby on April 26, 2008 from Chattanooga, United States

"Hotlanta"
Atlanta, United States
Global headquarters of two evil American empires!
written by  awalby on April 26, 2008 from Atlanta, United States

Ted "CNN" Turner Owns Everything in Atlanta
Atlanta, United States
Even the home of the Atlanta Braves is named "Turner Field".
written by  awalby on April 27, 2008 from Atlanta, United States

Home of Dick, Otis, Greg & Duanne (just to name a few)
Macon, United States
Little Richard, Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers came from Macon, GA.
written by  awalby on April 27, 2008 from Macon, United States

Spanish Moss
Savannah, United States
written by  awalby on April 27, 2008 from Savannah, United States

"Life is like a box of chocolates"
Savannah, United States
Forrest Gump's parkbench scene was filmed in THIS square in Savannah (Chippewa Square).
written by  awalby on April 28, 2008 from Savannah, United States

"The most beautiful city in North America" - Le Monde
Savannah, United States
written by  awalby on April 28, 2008 from Savannah, United States

Welcome to South Carolina - state no.10
Just outside Savannah we crossed the state border.

You know you're in the south when...
Charleston, United States
...you can buy fireworks at the gas station.
written by  awalby on April 28, 2008 from Charleston, United States

Who could forget Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2007...
Charleston, United States
written by  awalby on April 28, 2008 from Charleston, United States

Unlike the French, Bill Bryson believes Charleston to be more charming than Savannah
Charleston, United States
written by  awalby on April 29, 2008 from Charleston, United States

USS Yorktown @ Patriots Point (why no apostrophe?)

Arthur Ravenel, Jr Bridge
Crossed the Arthur Ravenel, Jr Bridge (Cooper River Bridge) which according to Wikipedia/Wikitravel is the longest among cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere.
It's interesting that some countries make their bridges appealing to look at, whilst we come up with the Bolte Bridge - two vertical concrete columns and nothing else.

"South Of The Border"
Dillon, United States
For > 50 Miles before the border with North Carolina, roadside billboards alerted us to the delights of "South of the Border", a theme park of sorts. Each billboard had a message, many of which were unintelligible. Words cannot adequately describe exactly what we saw at SOTB - I will let the images in the next blog entry tell the story.
written by  awalby on April 30, 2008 from Dillon, United States

Welcome to "Wally World"!
Dillon, United States
written by  awalby on April 30, 2008 from Dillon, United States

Welcome to North Carolina - state no.11
Rowland, United States
written by  awalby on April 30, 2008 from Rowland, United States

Every Town Has A Water Tower
Lumberton, United States
written by  awalby on April 30, 2008 from Lumberton, United States

Trees and Hills Everywhere
Raleigh, United States
written by  awalby on April 30, 2008 from Raleigh, United States

The Third Place (put this into Wikipedia for an explanation)
Raleigh, United States
Check out the purple hookah on the table out the front of The Third Place.
Perhaps it is legal to smoke dope in Raleigh.
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Raleigh, United States

Welcome to Virginia - state no.12
Roanoke Rapids, United States
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Roanoke Rapids, United States

"My City of Ruins"
Emporia, United States
...unfortunately there's a lot of this across the States.
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Emporia, United States

Batman's Hiding Out in Virginia
Emporia, United States
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Emporia, United States

Lucky We Weren't Here Three Days Ago!
Suffolk, United States
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Suffolk, United States

They Even Tile Their Tunnels
Norfolk, United States
The Burnley and Domain Tunnels would look much better if we tiled them - but that would cost money, wouldn't it Mr Brumby.
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Norfolk, United States

Gnocchi Not As Good As My Mother-in-Law's
Virginia Beach, United States
written by  awalby on May 1, 2008 from Virginia Beach, United States

"Coffee With Attitude"...and without taste
Virginia Beach, United States
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Virginia Beach, United States

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Virginia Beach, United States
Bridge->tunnel->bridge->tunnel->bridge.
That truck doesn't have much clearance!
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Virginia Beach, United States

Welcome to Maryland - state no.13
Salisbury, United States
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Salisbury, United States

"I've just sent the chef home and he won't be back until July"
Princess Anne, United States
This is what we were told when we entered this cafe in the delightfully named town of Princess Anne.
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Princess Anne, United States

Bay Bridge (heading into Annapolis)
Annapolis, United States
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Annapolis, United States

Welcome to DC
Washington, United States
written by  awalby on May 2, 2008 from Washington, United States

"We're So Sorry, Uncle Albert"
Washington, United States
Sculpted in bronze in the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences.
written by  awalby on May 3, 2008 from Washington, United States

"Has anyone seen my old friend Abraham?"
Washington, United States
The Lincoln Memorial really is BIG!
And what a view!
written by  awalby on May 3, 2008 from Washington, United States

"Has anyone seen my old friend Martin?"

"God help me, I was only nineteen"
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

"Pushy Americans, always showing up late for every war. Overpaid, oversexed, and over here."
WWII Memorial.

Washington Monument
The world's tallest Stone structure (169m) and the world's tallest obelisk.

Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge by a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson (1765–1829), who had never visited the United States himself.
In Smithson's will, he stated that should his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, die without heirs, the Smithson estate would go to the government of the United States for creating an "Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men".
After the nephew died without heirs in 1835, President Andrew Jackson informed Congress of the bequest, which amounted to 104,960 gold sovereigns, or US$500,000

National Air and Space Museum
Planes, planes, but no automobiles.

"I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife"

"Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone"

"The Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet"
First round-the-world flight by helicopter.

"The Bloody Red Baron was rolling up the score"
"Eighty men died tryin' to end that spree
Of the Bloody Red Baron of Germany"

"Paint the White House Black"
No relation to Bill!

"Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack"
Baltimore, United States
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Baltimore, United States

Welcome to Delaware - state no.14
Wilmington, United States
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Wilmington, United States

Welcome to New Jersey - state no.15
Trenton, United States
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Trenton, United States

"Greetings From Asbury Park"
Asbury Park, United States
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Asbury Park, United States

Springsteen's Alma Mater
Asbury Park, United States
Vinny "Mad Dog" Lopez played drums on Springsteen's first two albums.
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Asbury Park, United States

"Chasin' the factory girls underneath the boardwalk where they promise to unsnap their jeans"
Asbury Park, United States
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Asbury Park, United States

"Well the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do"
"This boardwalk life for me is through
You know you ought to quit this scene too"

"Start spreading the news..."
Hoboken, United States
"...I'm arriving today"
Spent tonight in North Bergen, New Jersey just across the Hudson from NYC.
Tomorrow we take Manhattan!
written by  awalby on May 4, 2008 from Hoboken, United States

Welcome to New York - state no.16
New York, United States
written by  awalby on May 5, 2008 from New York, United States

Ground Zero
New York, United States
written by  awalby on May 5, 2008 from New York, United States

"And isn't it ironic...dontcha think"
New York, United States
Couldn't help but see the irony that the longest food queues in Liberty Plaza, adjacent to Ground Zero, are for falafels and halal food.
written by  awalby on May 5, 2008 from New York, United States

"There is a blood red circle, On the cold dark ground, And the rain is falling down, The church door's thrown open"
St Paul's Chapel, an Episcopal church backs onto Ground Zero, but was not damaged during the collapse of the Twin Towers.
It was home to an extraordinary eight-month volunteer relief effort.

"My City of Ruins"

American Merchant Mariners Memorial @ Battery Park

"You gotta be cool on Wall Street, When your index is low"
"Do the Wall Street shuffle,
Hear the money rustle,
Watch the greenbacks tumble,
Feel the Sterling crumble

"No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn"

"Send him up to Riker's"

"I'm in love with my car, Got a feel for my automobile"
There are way too many cars in Manhattan so they've come up with an imaginative way to park them.

Another Hokey Australian-Themed Establishment
Why do they do this in other countries? AND in New York of all places!
You can check out their website (if you dare) : http://www.tuckshopnyc.com/

Ellis Island
This federal immigration station at the mouth of the Hudson River opened on January 1, 1892 and was closed on November 12, 1954, but not before 12 million immigrants were inspected there by the US Bureau of Immigration (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

"La liberté éclairant le monde"
aka "Liberty Enlightening the World" - you probably know it as the Statue of Liberty.
Reminds me of a movie : "Hey, how many of you people out here are a national monument, raise your hand, please? Oh, hello, miss!" Half expected to hear the dulcet tones of Jackie Wilson as we approached.

Staten Island Ferry

Wall Street
View of Wall Street from water. Trinity Church visible.

Bridges
Manhattan has at least 16 bridges that connect the island to neighbouring areas.
There are 2,027 bridges and tunnels overall in the New York City metro area.

King Kong vs Godzilla
Two buildings which feature in two famous monster movies.

Yankee Stadium
The Yankees are playing their final season at Yankee Stadium as they're building a new stadium next door (with fewer seats, as they've had to make the seats larger to accomodate the increasing size of their supporters).

"The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge"
The George Washington Bridge and the lighthouse at it's base which were immortalised in 1942 in this children's book.

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"
A beautiful scene in Bryant Park.

"I'm king of the hill, top of the heap"
View from the Empire State Building.

"Let me take you down, 'cause I'm going to..."