Monday, October 23, 2006

New York City Photos

The Metropolitan Opera House:
Me with Alice from Alice in Wonderland in Central Park:

Me in a New York City cab... with the window down:

Me eating Spongebob Squarepants:

Me on Brooklyn Bridge:

Friday, October 20, 2006

London, York and Beyond..

Okay, where to start... hmmm... London is as big and grey and foreboding as it always has been, I cannot see that changing any time soon. However, I was staying with my cousin Fiona and her husband Steve in Deptford and it has a lovely green and a bit of purple.

I don't think I'm quite in the mood to pour out a page of descriptive comments regarding my travels in the past fortnight, as I am in Edinburgh, it is raining outside in the lovely manner of Scottish rain and I have just managed to entrance myself with a few hours in the Edinburgh Castle. I think I need a coffee...

I met my wonderful and gorgeous niece, Nicole, and her wonderful and gorgeous mother, Jessica, while I was in London. We went to lunch, we played barbies, we had a miniature tea party. It was good. I learnt the hard way, twice, not to sit next to Nicole at dinner - the first time she was stealing my food, the second time she was feeding me hers... It was lovely. I had a wonderful time playing and I look forward to my one night in London in December to see them again!

Oh dear, this isn't happening for me today... I'll come back another time and try to write far more entertaining things!

Take care,

Love Sarah

Monday, October 09, 2006

New York and other exciting tales...

So, I'm in Reading in the UK so it seemed a suitable moment to catch up on my activities between Salem and this delightful corner of England.

Boston:
Johann and I adventured down to Cape Cod (their very own version of the Gold Coast, only in Massachusetts, only it's not quite the same...) and although we intended to go swimming it was a wee bit cold (and there was a sting ray washed up on the beach and we all know what that means, yes, documentary makers). So instead we took photos of seaweed and a dead crab and went to play mini golf at a Pirate mini golf place. If you don't believe me go here: http://www.piratescove.net/location/9. I was winning most of the way, then I messed up on the last hole and we tied. After numerous tied tie-breaker rounds, the guy gave up and we both won an ice cream. Yay for Massachusetts mini-golf! And pirates who play mini golf of course.

I got to see Johann fly on the trapeze. It looks like fun but I was far too comfortable in the bean bag on the ground to have a go (that's what I tell myself at least...). The website is here: http://boston.trapezeschool.com/

We did a bit of touristy stuff including walking through Fanuel Hall and seeing street performers, going to the Cheers bar (I know I know, very tourist, but they made good Boston cream pie!), and seeing the Blue Man Group. On the Friday I went into town by myself as Johann had to study and walked the freedom trail - I went into Paul Revere's house and got a free history lesson from one of the helpers in there. There is a bridge in Boston called the Charlestown Bridge. It is the ugliest thing I have ever seen:

However, when you are standing on it and listening to the cars driving past, it makes the most amazing resonant sound. I could have stood there for hours just listening.

I don't think we spent as much time bar hopping as had been planned, however we did manage to go go-karting with a number of pints in us, and I had a few interesting phone conversations with Johann's family members (Johann is convinced that his family loves talking to me when I'm a tad under the weather for some reason...). We went to a piano bar in Boston called Jake Ivorys (http://www.jakeivorys.com/) which was incredibly cool. We should so have piano bars at home.

New York:
In order to make things that extra bit more exciting, we went down to New York on the China Bus. Otherwise known as the dodgy method. It wasn't so bad, I didn't see too much insanity surrounding us - although after a week with Johann my perception would have been suffering somewhat (hehehe - sorry Johann...). An entertaining journey through chinatown in New York and an introduction to the subway and we were at our hotel on the upper westside of Manhatten (not quite the upper east side Mum, but it was still very nice and I didn't get mugged!).

We saw two comedy shows, went to the opera (oh my gosh, the Met is amazing and the opera was brilliant and I want to go again...), climbed to the top of the empire state building (with the assistance of an elevator of course), took the Staten Island ferry (which is free - we were cheap what can I say?) to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty, ate hot dogs from a hot dog stand, went to Times Square, meandered in Central Park, and walked on the Brooklyn Bridge (which I fell in love with and wanted to take home but couldn't really fit it in my back pack). Oh, and Liz, you'll be so proud - I got a manicure from a little Chinese lady in New York! After I got the hang of the subway I felt increasingly more comfortable in New York. I don't think I could live there, but I'd certainly visit again. Although, word of advice, leave plenty of time to get to the airport, the traffic is ghastly!

So, I am now in England - I saw my lovely Kate again (yay!), we had lunch (I met Kermit - http://kermitthefrogblog.blogspot.com/) and had lunch, and Kate gave me a lift to Reading. I'm staying with Sarah and her friend Lisa in Reading and I'll tell you all about that another time as I am now quite sleepy...

I hope you're all well and healthy,
Take care!

Love Sarah

Sunday, October 01, 2006

USA - Photos

Me and Samantha Stevens - the first mainstream witch...

Carly, Tucker (the big dog) & Lilly (sort of hiding behind Carly) in front of one of the most silly souvenir shops in Salem.

The barn attached to the Salem prison - that building is incredibly creepy. Apparently when Ghost Photographers come to the prison they get the most activity at the barn... yet no-one knows what happened in there..

Johann, Womble & Seaweed at Cape Cod.

Johann eating "Boston Cream Pie" at the Cheers bar (I know, touristy, but hey, I'm a tourist!)

Me and my beer at the Cheers bar.

We went and saw the Blue Man Group - they were so funny. I recommend it to anyone who gets the opportunity. The blue man gave me an autograph (see the blue paint on my face...)