America Round Up

Yeah so blogging about your trip is definitely harder when you are back home. I did mean to catch up on all the places I visited, but it just didn't happen. Here is the short version...

Arkansas

Visiting Arkansas was pretty much the reason behind my American adventure. I have a lot of friends at a university over there (long story) and have always wanted to pay them a visit. Anyway I spent a week hanging around this small town called Siloam Springs with my buddies and it was brilliant, highlight of the trip for sure. The people definitely make a place.

There are too many people and stories to tell about, but here are a few. Patrick first of all, let me sleep on his sofa for a week and kept me fed & watered, total hero. Second, the college football game I went to was crazy, 70,000 people there to watch a university team, insane. My favourite story though is about one night we went for a swim in this heated lake beside a factory. The water is used to cool down the machines in the factory and so it's always warm! Hilarious night, but who knows what kind of diseases will result.

Knoxville

I arrived in Knoxville at 4am one morning and left 17 hours later, but it was a surprisingly memorable visit. A couchsurfer called Andrew took me in and turned out to be an absolute legend! He let me sleep for a few hours and then bought me a great meal and then in proper American style, we hung out at the mall! That night we went to a great service at his church and then I had to catch my late bus. We still keep in touch, absolute legend.

Washington D.C.

I stopped over in the capital for a day to see the sites and catch up with my fellow Irishman Barack O'Bama. Unfortunately he had some prior engagements and so I had to make do with a bus tour round the city. Saw lots of famous monuments in the rain and caused a security alert when I left my huge black bag sitting around while I took some photos.

Philadelphia

My sister has been to Philly a couple of times to work at a summer camp so she told me I had to visit her 'second family' when I was passing by. The wonderful Hernick family took me in for a couple of days and it was so great to meet them all. In town I ran up the Rocky steps, went to Love Park and ate a real Philly cheesesteak, good times.

Boston

In Boston I visited my friend Julia, who had played for the Queen's ultimate frisbee team when she studied in Belfast one semester. She showed me around town, Harvard and we went to cool private gig in some record company offices with her friends. We also volunteered at this big bike race through the city which was good fun. People were so confused by the Belfast accent shouting instructions at them as they rode past our rest stop.

New York

Epic! I stayed in this hostel in ghetto Brooklyn that turned out to just be some guy's apartment. He was called Dave and we played Call of Duty and he made me some food so it wasn't all bad. Hanging round the city for a few days was incredible. I shopped in Times Square at 2am, ate $1 pizza, saw the Flight of the Conchords set in Chinatown, stumbled upon the Occupy Wall Street camp, met up with some couchsurfers and rode the subway like an absolute champion! Awesome times.

Buffalo

Worst city ever. That is all.

End

Coming back to Canada felt good and I was able to see some camp friends before I left. I stayed with my buddies Andrew & Sarah and we went to Niagara Falls, although I couldn't actually see the falls because it was at night, Doh! Still, it was a good way to end the trip and I guess it leaves me with a reason to return to Canada some day!

Altogether, my trip was three months of incredible places, great times and amazing people. A huge thank you to everyone I met and especially those that took me in. Come to Ireland someday and let me repay the favour. Big love!