Maple Leaf Hunting

Day 1: I finally arrived in Toronto after an unscheduled overnighter in London. My flight from Dublin to Heathrow was delayed and the Aer Lingus lady who checked me in failed to actually check me right through to Toronto, so I missed my connection. No worries though, I was put up in a lovely Heathrow-area Novotel and given vouchers for a 3-course dinner, buffet breakfast … Continue reading Maple Leaf Hunting

Race to Crown Heights

Prologue A series of odd circumstances converged this week, with the unexpected outcome that I’m spending the first ten days of 2014 in New York City! I’ve arranged to spend a few days with my good friends Holly and Syed at their apartment in Brooklyn, a few days with my good friend Tom DeGroot at his house in Wantagh, Long Island, and a couple of … Continue reading Race to Crown Heights

Sometimes I go to Coney Island

The Beach is divine… Yep, it’s time to go to the seaside! I don’t have a bucket or spade, or a bikini, or anybody to be frivolous with… and truth be told, I’m going less for the sand and the sea and more for the sake of “going to Coney Island” like they do in the movies… but I’m still fairly excited about the ice … Continue reading Sometimes I go to Coney Island

A Tale of Three Bridges

Everyone loves a good bridge, right? Majestic, strong and really quite useful, the right bridge in the right place can become more than just a piece of infrastructure, it can become an icon. Of course, the most iconic bridge in New York City has to be the Brooklyn Bridge, a Hollywood favourite and one of the oldest suspension bridges in the US, but all good … Continue reading A Tale of Three Bridges

We the Peoples of the United Nations…

“… determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind. To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from … Continue reading We the Peoples of the United Nations…

To and From Roosevelt Island

New York City: The final destination of this three-week mad-dash around the North East US. It’s quite pleasant knowing that I’ll be staying put for the next three nights and that it’s just me, free to run around and do whatever I want to, in this huge metropolis. Of course, I’ve run around this metropolis before… My parents are very good tour guides, and the fact that … Continue reading To and From Roosevelt Island

Pittsburgh to La Guardia

Quite honestly, I can’t be bothered writing a lot right now… It’s after midnight, and I think I exhausted my writing resources for today with my earlier post. Anyway, I’m in New York City now, in an awesome wee hotel called the Bowery House. I spent the afternoon in Pittsburgh before flying into La Guardia. I liked Pittsburgh. The buildings were pretty. Meh, I’m just … Continue reading Pittsburgh to La Guardia

The Amish and the Ex-Cons

Leaving Erie was pretty sad. I’d had an awesome time with some awesome people that I knew I probably wouldn’t see for a couple of years at least. But no time to dwell on that, there’s travellin’ to be done! So. I’m sitting at the bus station in Erie, waiting to for my Megabus to Pittsburgh to arrive, and I notice a bunch of women in maroon … Continue reading The Amish and the Ex-Cons

A Spot of Boating

Hangover pretty much gone after a morning of idyllic lounging at the house (And more pancakes. Pancakes can sort out anything) , it was time to head out down to the Yacht Club where Colleen’s dad keeps his boat. I’m pretty excited. You know (If you’ve read my other posts) how much I love good boat! We did all of the pre-trip checks (I don’t … Continue reading A Spot of Boating