P Stands For Philly: Part 1

Arriving in Philadelphia, I knew that my historical buttons would be pressed that day and prepared myself for a cultural and educational experience. I plodded off to the visitors centre, the only tourist (amongst many) laden down with baggage on his back.

Salem

I was waiting in one of Boston’s train stations wondering whether I should go to Salem or not. While I didn’t have a place to stay yet, I did really want to see Salem and I didn’t know whether I’d have a chance to or not. While I was waiting I got a call from one of the people I’d emailed on couch surfing, Sam. He said that he already had two people staying with him but that I could join if I didn’t mind squeezing in somewhere. I can sleep anywhere and so was more than happy. Sam said he’d pick me up from the train station upon my arrival and to look out for a ‘blue jeep with something unique about it’. I had no idea what this could possibly be, and actually approached a different blue jeep asking if it was him. What are the chances that two blue jeeps would be coming to the train station around the same time?

Portland, ME

The journey from Boston to Portland was only a couple of hours and after touching down, I made my way over to the place I’d be staying for my first night. I'd met Jacob on Couchsurfing and he'd agreed to put me up for two nights, but after an interesting walk to the city with his roommate Indy (named after the state he was on the run from, nobody knows his real name) I decided I'd be more comfortable elsewhere, away from nameless criminal. I spent the evening looking around town, trying to stay away from shady characters (for a nice town, Portland has a lot of scary people) and stuffing my face with a pizza and then a burger. Don't judge, it was raining so what's a girl to do? I took a walk along the coast line, where a man was shuffling along like a week old zombie. Another one to avoid. What with it being Portland, there were some pretty cool coastal sights, like the bait shack below and a collection of lobster traps seen below that. 

BAIT SHACK btw

Boston: Further Adventures

I spent the day after Independence Day lying around hungover feeling sorry for myself. I took no pictures and I still attest to this being the worst hangover of my life. At least it was for a good event, right? After this day of moping and weeping, I rested up and felt all fine and dandy for my third day in Boston. I was still staying with Eric and Leonardo at this point, but Leonardo had left for Texas, leaving Eric and I to explore Boston together.

Independence Day @ Boston, Massachusetts Eric

BK took me out to a slip road to catch a ride and waited for me in the car, watching until I got a ride. Well, it's a good job he did as there was almost no traffic so he took me somewhere else where I quickly found a ride all the way to Boston with a nice Cabo Verdean man named Ivan. He was driving home to Boston after dropping his daughter in Providence. We chatted along the way and stopped for some breakfast  in a place called Victoria's diner once we reached Boston. 

Rhode Island Part 2: Cranston and Newport

BK came and picked me up from Terry's house and took me back to his house in Cranston for a very tasty fish curry. BK is a super relaxed guy who loves to travel and take photos. His love of travel extends so far that he didn't attend to a bad burn from a barbecue fire because it would have got in the way of his first trip home to India in years.

Rhode Island Part 1: Providence

Back in New York City, I met my new friend Marilyn, a professional clown, for falafel and we ate in a nearby park. Marilyn is a lot of fun to hang out with. We sat in a communal lounge and spoke with a man who professed to hate money, but couldn't stop speaking about how wealthy he was and all the crazy times he'd had. We also went into a club at 3PM on a Sunday afternoon for a two minute look around (Marilyn played my foreigner card well) and we discovered that the party had been going on since Friday. Oh, New York. That evening I boarded another megabus bound North East to Providence, Rhode Island,

Toronto Part 2

 I arrived at Sarah's house and within an hour we were making cocktails. Matt taught me how to make a Negroni, a gin based cocktail. It was pretty tasty if I do say so myself.

Toronto Part 1

Arriving in Toronto, I met my host Christian at a party celebrating Saint Jean-Baptiste Day, a holiday mainly celebrated in Quebec. It was at this party that I learnt about the cultural differences between English and French speaking Canada, and also witnessed some Quebec style debating between them. We drank wine and ate cheese with crackers, and then took an uber to Christian's neighborhood to get a drink, not before leaving my backpack in the car and having to call it back. That really would have ruined my holiday... 

Niagara Falls, etc.

After an eight hour bus journey to Buffalo, New York, I hopped on a local bus to Niagara because I just love buses and can't get enough of them...