White stuff

We awoke this morning to snow! Shovelling was required to clear the driveway before the car could be backed out. We waved Margaret goodbye at the Alewife underground station and trained into Boston. We dumped our luggage and headed out into the ice.

Boston is a “walking” city, where there’s plenty to see for those on foot. The buildings are very diverse and modern shopping malls line up next to traditional markets. After a visit to Filene’s Basement, where the clothes get cheaper the longer they’ve been there, we wandered up to Boston Common. It was cold there. The usual swan boats had been frozen out of service, but we sniffed out the famous ducklings sculpture. Realising that we hadn’t eaten for almost 45 minutes we found a bagel shop and watched the world go by (“go buy” might be more appropriate).

Back at South Station our train was on time, but they never tell you the platform the train leaves from until 5-10 minutes before it departs. Everyone mills around until the number is given and then rushes in a panic to get there. It’s all very exciting. The train was an older one than last time, but still as plush. Unfortunately, at New Hampshire station, someone turned the engine off and they couldn’t get it on again. A second engine was backed up in front of the first and they jump started it. Cheers rang out as the lights came back on in the carriages.

We got to Penn Station, back to Kath and Rob’s and then out to a Mexican restaurant. The margaritas here were smaller than in Boston. The food, however, was delicious. Tomorrow the shopping begins.



David and Margaret compete at snow shovelling



Boston Common. Apparently the Americans beat the British at something here. Not cricket.



Ice skating on the frog pond



Hannah covers up



Scary snow eagle thing spotted on the Common



David refuses to make way for ducklings



Stations we have been delayed at: part two.



Kath, after one too many margaritas

Boston

Back from Harvard, where I evaded the business school authorities!

It's very cold round here, and snow fell tonight. We were on our way back from the mall (where else?) and dinner at Legal Sea Foods, which included the first margaritas of our holiday. Tomorrow we're back on the train so will hopefully arrive in New York sometime before midnight.



Harvard: impressive



The Charles River: frozen



Hannah: auspicious



John Harvard: founder



Harvard Business School: swanky



Legal Sea Foods: tasty



Hannah and Margaret: shopping



Ice cream: yummy

And our case arrived! It had been rifled through, hopefully by security guards, but everything was there. I can finally put on clean pants.

I'm not supposed to be here

This is a guerilla post from inside Havard Business School! I'm surrounded by the future heads of international commerce and there isn't even basic security on their computers!! I don't suppose they expect slackers like me to turn up and use them...

Hannah's at an MBA introduction session. This morning she got to sit in on a class, where she was announced and everyone clapped her.

I wandered around the cafes surrounding Harvard, trying to engage strangers in existential conversation. Intellectuals seemed to be thin on the ground so I contented myself with a latte and writing postcards.

I'd better go before I'm discovered and given a detention.

David "Che" D.

On the rails

I’m typing this on a train! Unfortunately the power keeps going off, and this laptop is so old it means that it turns off too. Hannah says that we need to buy a new one while we’re out here. I’m so proud of how far she’s come in ten years of marriage!

We made it from Kath’s to the subway and then to Penn Station. “Uptown” and “Downtown” still confuses me – the Newcastle Metro is so much more user friendly. Having found the Amtrak ticket window a nice lady called April served us. She kept talking and talking as the departure time of the train drew nearer. But all is well, we are here.

The trains are fantastic. I walked end to end, convinced that we’d sat in first class but no. Every seat is huge. The conductor raised an eyebrow at the sheaf of tickets we handed over, but then told us which was the best side of the train to sit on for the views. We’re such tourists!

Unfortunately we’re stationary (but not in a station) as there is some kind of damage to the track. They’ve apologised for the long delays, which could be up to an hour. In England I think that still counts as “on time”.

The next challenge is contacting Margaret, who we’re staying with in Boston. The number she gave us isn’t connecting…

…TIME PASSES…

Eight hours on a train! That’s 100% late. After the track damage there were more and more delays, culminating with someone wandering onto the track ahead of us. After that they let us get out and walk around a station for a bit – Kingston, Connecticut. Not the most exciting place.

We’re in Margaret’s house now. Still no luggage, so a frantic trip to T.J. Maxx (brother of the English T.K.) has taken place. Air France say definitely tomorrow, probably at 2pm. Tres bien.

New York, early in the morning



Penn Station. All aboard (they really say that!)



Manhattan from the train



Hannah fills her time constructively



Wise words.



Inside



Outside



David in sleepy Kingston, an unscheduled stop



David, after being mugged by a pack of girl scouts. They took his money, but gave him some cookies.

Arrived…mostly

It’s amazing how the words “small technical difficulty” add a certain frisson to air travel. This was our fate as our aircraft pulled away from the gate at Newcastle airport…and then pulled back in again. After twenty minutes the problem was fixed, and we took off. Panic, a frequent travel companion, set in as we were looking at a quick turnaround in Paris anyway.

A few white wines later we were at Charles de Gaulle, where it was hot. A Frenchman with a sign met those destined for New York and bundled us into a minibus, which he then drove sedately and with caution across the airport leading me to believe that he wasn’t actually French at all.

Seven of us were then pushed through the back door of terminal 2F, where a contingent of security men waited. They obviously didn’t get much custom, and proceeded to search everything. Hannah lost deodorant and toothpaste because the clear plastic bag they were in had poppers rather than a zip top. My camera was swabbed and the sample put through a machine that may or may not check for radioactive substances. I was thoroughly frisked, which left me feeling deeply violated but also strangely excited. Perhaps I should get out more. Then, at the gate with the bus of “late” passengers waiting, they did it all again, including our shoes this time. We were obviously looking suspicious today.

More alcohol was consumed on the transatlantic flight, and we touched down at JFK on time. Unlike Los Angeles last year, they allowed the Air France flight to go to its gate on time and even customs and immigration weren’t too bad (our passport photos don’t look enough like us, we were told).

After the madness in Paris, Hannah had said it would be a miracle if our luggage arrived too. And we witnessed a partial miracle, where one case arrived and one was left lost and alone on a different continent. The helpful ladies at the Air France desk said they would “overnight” it to Boston. We’ll see who wins that race.

We took the subway to Barrow Street where cousin Kath lives. She took us to her fab diner-around-the-corner where Hannah enjoyed a chilli dog – a hot dog covered in chilli con carne! All the major food groups in one healthy snack. Now we just have to see how well we sleep, and whether we can negotiate the transit system up to Boston.

Rachel, who kindly gave us a lift to the airport. And our bags.



Newcastle airport: a wonderful place to start your holiday



Hannah appears with breakfast



David, cruising at 550 mph at a height of 33,000 feet



Hannah and Kath at the local diner

The return of the blog

The plants are watered, the packing is (almost) done. A kind friend is giving us a lift to the airport and the snow has apparently cleared up in New York.

The (slightly more detailed) itinerary is as follows:

Witton Gilbert
Newcastle
Paris
New York - Feb 20th, 23rd - 26th
Boston - Feb 21st - 23rd
New Orleans - Feb 27th - March 1st
Memphis - March 1st - 3rd
Chicago - March 4th - 6th
Kansas City - March 6th - 8th
Albuquerque - March 9th - 11th
Flagstaff - March 11th - 13th
Los Angeles - March 14th - 18th


Next post from New York! Or Newcastle airport, if they have free wireless Internet access.

This is the night train

We get to sleep on the train! Here's a quick guide to the "roomettes" available on Viewliner and Superliner trains. The Viewliner room even has a toilet! Given that the whole room is roughly the size of a toilet anyway that should be interesting.

Superliner Roomette
Our Superliner Roomette is ideal for one or two passengers, with two comfortable reclining seats on either side of a big picture window. At night, the seats convert to a comfortable bed, and an upper berth folds down from above. Roomettes are located on both upper and lower levels of our double-decker Superliner train cars.

Dimensions
Room:
3'6" x 6'6"

Lower Berth:
2'4" x 6'6"

Upper Berth with Steps:
2'0" x 6'2"

Capacity for two small tote bags



Viewliner Roomette
The Viewliner Roomette is designed for one or two passengers, with comfortable reclining seats on either side of a sweeping picture window. At night, the seats convert to a bed, and an upper berth with its own picture window folds out from the upper wall.

Dimensions
Room:
3'6" x 6'8"

Lower Berth:
2'4" x 6'6"

Upper Berth:
2'4" x 6'2"

Capacity for two small suitcases and garment bag.



More information and even virtual tours available here and here!

Will we fit comfortably inside with our tote bags? Who will get the top bunk? How on earth does that toilet work? You know your questions will be answered here.