I have a half a day in Chicago, which is half a day too much. You can basically do it in a day if you bypass the museums and old buildings.
I am back at the hotel and just about to get on the shuttle bus to take me to the airport.
Well, what has this trip meant to me. I think I managed to have 'fun', especially going on about 30 roller-coasters. I really enjoyed going to the theatre and meeting some people in the Hostels. But, it wasn't fantastic, and I think the reason is that Rosy wasn't with me. There were some things that I think she would have really enjoyed. I missed her screams on the roller-coasters and the special love that a husband and wife of 21 years can share with each other. One thing though, the poor service levels that usually get me very frustrated, didn't have any effect on me. Interesting!!!
So, overall I think the trip has been great and I am ready to share the Australian touring adventure with Rosy.
Cheers
Stephen
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
First full day in Chicago
You know, it's not so bad staying at an airport hotel once you get use to the jets taking off and landing. It think they have a curfew of about 3am.
I just basically roamed around Chicago all day. Had a look inside Macy's and Sears. Not much here other than a few bookshops and multitude of food places, a few odd shops and theatres. It was a bit of a disappointment actually.
I did manage to find my way to powell's bookstore on Lincoln Ave, using the train system. It's about 25 miles north of the city.
I managed to get tickets to a musical 'Wicked', which is aparantly coming to Sydney in Summer. I tried to get a ticket in new York, but it was booked out solid. It was cheaper and easier to get into here in Chicago. I also got a ticket to the behind-the-scenes tour, which happens a little before the show. It was quite interesting and was conducted by two cast members. It was a really good show. Lots of good music, props and special effects. But, I still really preferred 'Hairspray'. It has a lot to do with the energy and music level. I found it really hard to hear some of the dialogue in Wicked. It may have had something to do with the accents. Even though the show started at 7:30am I didn't get back to the Hotel at O'Hare until 12:30am. The Airport train is really slow and is pissing some of the natives off a bit.
Cheers
Stephen
I just basically roamed around Chicago all day. Had a look inside Macy's and Sears. Not much here other than a few bookshops and multitude of food places, a few odd shops and theatres. It was a bit of a disappointment actually.
I did manage to find my way to powell's bookstore on Lincoln Ave, using the train system. It's about 25 miles north of the city.
I managed to get tickets to a musical 'Wicked', which is aparantly coming to Sydney in Summer. I tried to get a ticket in new York, but it was booked out solid. It was cheaper and easier to get into here in Chicago. I also got a ticket to the behind-the-scenes tour, which happens a little before the show. It was quite interesting and was conducted by two cast members. It was a really good show. Lots of good music, props and special effects. But, I still really preferred 'Hairspray'. It has a lot to do with the energy and music level. I found it really hard to hear some of the dialogue in Wicked. It may have had something to do with the accents. Even though the show started at 7:30am I didn't get back to the Hotel at O'Hare until 12:30am. The Airport train is really slow and is pissing some of the natives off a bit.
Cheers
Stephen
Monday, August 20, 2007
Drive to Chicago
All I can say is thank god for the GPS. It wasn't so bad on the 6 hour trip from Cincinatti to Chicago, but once you get into Chicago it is a nightmare. A complete nightmare. Sometimes I think I just shut my eyes and hoped for the best. You should try driving at full pelt on 6 lanes of packed traffic, when you have to get from the left hand lane, all the way over to the right hand land, within 200 feet. Aghhhhh!!!
Anyway, I made it to the Best Western at O'Hare airport in one pice, without any accidents. I will need the rest of the afternoon to get over the drive.
Cheers
Stephen
Anyway, I made it to the Best Western at O'Hare airport in one pice, without any accidents. I will need the rest of the afternoon to get over the drive.
Cheers
Stephen
Off to Kings Island Cincinatti
Made it here in one pice after a four hour drive. Had the afternoon to myself so I decided to go to the park for half a day, as the area was forecasting showers for the next day.
This park has the longest rollercoaster in the world, called the Beast. Its is so big that you can't take any pictures of it as you can't see it amongst the hills and trees. it was a great ride at 4minutes and 20 seconds. The smart allec kid in front of me said that it took 4 minutes to get up the inclines.
The other great ride here is firehawk. This one loads you up in a horizontal position and then when it get;s you up the incline it flips you over so you arms are dangling towards the earth. It is a coaster that makes you feel like you are flying. It was a great experieince. Shame about the slow loading times. It was pretty intricate.
I managed to ride everything that was there, in the afternoon. This means that I can go to Chicago a day earlier and do some touring there for two days, and then it is back to Oz.
Cheers
Stephen
This park has the longest rollercoaster in the world, called the Beast. Its is so big that you can't take any pictures of it as you can't see it amongst the hills and trees. it was a great ride at 4minutes and 20 seconds. The smart allec kid in front of me said that it took 4 minutes to get up the inclines.
The other great ride here is firehawk. This one loads you up in a horizontal position and then when it get;s you up the incline it flips you over so you arms are dangling towards the earth. It is a coaster that makes you feel like you are flying. It was a great experieince. Shame about the slow loading times. It was pretty intricate.
I managed to ride everything that was there, in the afternoon. This means that I can go to Chicago a day earlier and do some touring there for two days, and then it is back to Oz.
Cheers
Stephen
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Off to Cedar Point
Well, the first hurdle to overcome was that there were no day bus tours to Cedar Point, which meant I needed to drive there (about 75 miles). The second hurdle was to find a car rental place. They are few and far between. There was one about 4 blocks from where I am staying and they have GPS rentals as well. Thank God!!! Well I made it there in one piece, without incident. I love GPS. She has such a sexy voice (I think I have been travelling too long).
Now about Cedar Point - Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God. Is this the place to be to ride some of the craziest, wildest, fastest, highest coasters all in one location. They all blew me away. There's the one that has a first drop of 320 feet and it was called Millenium force. It went so fast that I could feel my eyelids flapping around in the wind. I can't remember much about the ride, except the waiting time for the queue was 90 minutes.
Then there was top Dragster. Excelerated from 0 to 120 mph in under 4 seconds, lunged up to a height of 420 feet at 90 degrees, then straight down again at 90 degrees with a spiral thown in. Oh my God. The take off was incredible. The waiting line for this ride was 2 hours.
Anyone who thinks they have ridden the best coaster in the world has to definitely come to this place. there are plenty of motels in Sandusky, which is a bit closer than Cleveland. The rides here and the park are the best I have been on so far. Let's see what Kings Island brings up.
Oh, by the way, I haven't had much trouble with driving on the wrong side of the road. The GPS makes it so much easier to get around.
Cheers
Stephen
Now about Cedar Point - Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God. Is this the place to be to ride some of the craziest, wildest, fastest, highest coasters all in one location. They all blew me away. There's the one that has a first drop of 320 feet and it was called Millenium force. It went so fast that I could feel my eyelids flapping around in the wind. I can't remember much about the ride, except the waiting time for the queue was 90 minutes.
Then there was top Dragster. Excelerated from 0 to 120 mph in under 4 seconds, lunged up to a height of 420 feet at 90 degrees, then straight down again at 90 degrees with a spiral thown in. Oh my God. The take off was incredible. The waiting line for this ride was 2 hours.
Anyone who thinks they have ridden the best coaster in the world has to definitely come to this place. there are plenty of motels in Sandusky, which is a bit closer than Cleveland. The rides here and the park are the best I have been on so far. Let's see what Kings Island brings up.
Oh, by the way, I haven't had much trouble with driving on the wrong side of the road. The GPS makes it so much easier to get around.
Cheers
Stephen
Getting from NY to Cleveland
Well, once again Amtrak have outdone themselves. I will be certainly writing to them when i get back home to let them know of the terrible way we were dropped off out the back of now where in Cleveland, with no transportation at 3:30am. I ended up walking my luggage through downtown, which I have been told that was not a very wise thing to do. But then, if that is all that is available, then I don't have a choice. I finally get to my hotel and get 4 hours sleep before I head off to Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio.
Cheers
Stephen
Cheers
Stephen
Thursday, August 16, 2007
2nd day in New York
Went to Coney Island and rode the world famous "Cyclone" roller coaster. It's not as big as the new fast steel models, but it still packs a punch. I am going to have bruises on my legs and arms from this ride. All the corners are on an angle. They don't flatten out like more traditional coasters. It was made in 1927 and has held up all this time. Astroland itself isn't much to talk about. Just your traditional midway affair with very old amusement rides. It looked like they opened that part to some school kids who were given open tickes. They seemed to be enjoying all the rides there.
It only took about an hour to get out to Coney Island from 42nd Street, using the subway. It only cost $2 each way. Not bad considering the distance.
I roamed around Times Square for the afternoon, then went back to the Hostel to freshen up for another show I went to called "Hairspray" You have probably seen the ad for the recent movie release. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the productions 5th year on broadway the night I went to see it. The show was great, great, great. The band was loud and rock'n and they had everyone bopping up and down in their seats. All the performers were top notch, especially the black cast. Boy could they belt out a melody or two. The storyline is set in 1962 when there were issues in the States about integration. The sets weren't much to look at, but then they didn't need to carry the musical like Mary Poppins did. The guy that played the mother was a hoot. He stole most of the scenes.
Anyway, made my way back to the Hostel and there were a new bunch of guys there. Several of them were from Eastern Sydney. They were working in the US in the Summer Camp. Although, by the fourth week they were ready to kill the little brats. I must say that the moajority of people I meet up with in Hostels are really nice. They are always open to having a chat (the Germans seem to have a problem with this) and swapping annecdates about the travels. It's funny i the morning how all the alarms and mobiles go off intermitantly to wake up the respective owner. You'd think that the fist one would have woken them all up anyway. Everyone is usually up by 9:30am anyway. Not early risers. The Hostel in New York is US$38 per night. It has a room with 4 double bunk beds and an ensuit.
Cheers
Stephen
It only took about an hour to get out to Coney Island from 42nd Street, using the subway. It only cost $2 each way. Not bad considering the distance.
I roamed around Times Square for the afternoon, then went back to the Hostel to freshen up for another show I went to called "Hairspray" You have probably seen the ad for the recent movie release. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the productions 5th year on broadway the night I went to see it. The show was great, great, great. The band was loud and rock'n and they had everyone bopping up and down in their seats. All the performers were top notch, especially the black cast. Boy could they belt out a melody or two. The storyline is set in 1962 when there were issues in the States about integration. The sets weren't much to look at, but then they didn't need to carry the musical like Mary Poppins did. The guy that played the mother was a hoot. He stole most of the scenes.
Anyway, made my way back to the Hostel and there were a new bunch of guys there. Several of them were from Eastern Sydney. They were working in the US in the Summer Camp. Although, by the fourth week they were ready to kill the little brats. I must say that the moajority of people I meet up with in Hostels are really nice. They are always open to having a chat (the Germans seem to have a problem with this) and swapping annecdates about the travels. It's funny i the morning how all the alarms and mobiles go off intermitantly to wake up the respective owner. You'd think that the fist one would have woken them all up anyway. Everyone is usually up by 9:30am anyway. Not early risers. The Hostel in New York is US$38 per night. It has a room with 4 double bunk beds and an ensuit.
Cheers
Stephen
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