What a fancy schmancy world we live in! Kara's Big Fat American Journey is now accessable from mobile devices.
So check it out - maybe it will give you some ideas for your own USA adventure.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, November 8, 2010
The songs that moved us: Music from coast to coast
Now, I've been meaning to do this for a while so here goes... my playlist of songs covering our road trip from LA to NYC... some are classics, some are cheesy, all bring back memories from the road.
Oh, and I'd love your musical suggestions for other classic American songs.
First up, I have chosen LA Woman by the Doors from their sixth and last studio album...
Oh, and I'd love your musical suggestions for other classic American songs.
First up, I have chosen LA Woman by the Doors from their sixth and last studio album...
Saturday, October 16, 2010
It's a new day, it's a new dawn
Well, our trip has come to an end and we're settling into London life.
If for some reason you can't get enough of my ramblings you can keep up with the adventure here:
Just another girl in London.
Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed it x
If for some reason you can't get enough of my ramblings you can keep up with the adventure here:
Just another girl in London.
Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed it x
Monday, September 6, 2010
New York City: So from us.. goodnight
Well, here it is.. the final entry in Kara's Big Fat American Journey.
Over two months we have made our winding way across this great country.
Our last stop... NYC.
Our bus from Boston arrived right in time for rush hour - lovely. Thankfully, Nick's parents had treated us to two nights right in the centre of town on the corner of 52nd and 8th so it wasn't such a huge schlep from the bus stop.
The place was lovely, and expensive, friendly and very central to everything.
With only one day left in the Big Apple we planned to take on everything we'd missed the first time round.
First stop, last minute souvenir shopping - the tackier the better.
Next, to the icon of icons the Empire State Building.
Because of all the skyscrapers in the city you can hardly spot the ESB in close quarters.
With our CityPasses we skip most of the queues and in no time we're whizzing up the giant tower. The inside is just as beautiful as out - there was even a real life 'King-Kong' (read: guy in cool gorilla costume) posing for pictures.
For once I took up the offer of the free audio guide and it paid off as an old dude with the best Noo Yourk accent ever gave a great overview of the city sights.
With the temperature rising on what was set to be a scorching day we escaped the midday sun in a near by pizza joint - cheap and cheerful.
Heading uptown we took a walk around the man-lake in Central Park.
It's remarkable just how quiet a park in the middle of a buzzing city can be. The park is huge and we only managed to see a fraction of the greenery.
Back downtown I still hadn't seen the famous 30 Rock statue - you know, the one that opens the show - I can hear the music now!
A few photos later I noticed a crowded gathering around the NBC store. Filming was going on.... could it be... is it she? YES! It was the awesomeness herself - TINA FEY!
OMG it's Liz Lemon! I made Nick take multiple photos on his super zoom - I love you Ms Lemon!
What other way to finish the perfect day than soak up the bright lights of Times Square one more time.
We gave into the easy option and had dinner at Olive Garden - complete with cocktails!
And that was that - two months have come to and end. Back to the hotel and off to bed, hopefully to get a good night sleep before our big flight to London.
More photos of our NYC adventure here
Over two months we have made our winding way across this great country.
Our last stop... NYC.
Our bus from Boston arrived right in time for rush hour - lovely. Thankfully, Nick's parents had treated us to two nights right in the centre of town on the corner of 52nd and 8th so it wasn't such a huge schlep from the bus stop.
The place was lovely, and expensive, friendly and very central to everything.
With only one day left in the Big Apple we planned to take on everything we'd missed the first time round.
First stop, last minute souvenir shopping - the tackier the better.
Next, to the icon of icons the Empire State Building.
With our CityPasses we skip most of the queues and in no time we're whizzing up the giant tower. The inside is just as beautiful as out - there was even a real life 'King-Kong' (read: guy in cool gorilla costume) posing for pictures.
For once I took up the offer of the free audio guide and it paid off as an old dude with the best Noo Yourk accent ever gave a great overview of the city sights.
With the temperature rising on what was set to be a scorching day we escaped the midday sun in a near by pizza joint - cheap and cheerful.
Heading uptown we took a walk around the man-lake in Central Park.
It's remarkable just how quiet a park in the middle of a buzzing city can be. The park is huge and we only managed to see a fraction of the greenery.
Back downtown I still hadn't seen the famous 30 Rock statue - you know, the one that opens the show - I can hear the music now!
What other way to finish the perfect day than soak up the bright lights of Times Square one more time.
We gave into the easy option and had dinner at Olive Garden - complete with cocktails!
And that was that - two months have come to and end. Back to the hotel and off to bed, hopefully to get a good night sleep before our big flight to London.
More photos of our NYC adventure here
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Final Blog... is coming
The last time you visited us we had just spent a swelting day around Boston.
Now, we are back in the city that never sleeps...
Check back tomorrow for the final chapter in this amazing saga...it's gonna be a good one.
Plus exciting news for people who actually enjoy reading what I write.
Kara x
Now, we are back in the city that never sleeps...
Check back tomorrow for the final chapter in this amazing saga...it's gonna be a good one.
Plus exciting news for people who actually enjoy reading what I write.
Kara x
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Shipping around Boston
On what turned out to be one of the hottest days in Boston this year we hopped aboard the city loop tour bus to take in as much as we could of the city in one day.
All the drivers on the loop seem to be Irish or Italian American men aged 55 plus and they love their city and they love to talk.
The waterfront section of Boston is airy, beautiful and green, but according to our drivers it was once dominated by a large overground motorway system.
It would take a lot longer than one day to take in all the history in the city. Revolutionary sites and battlefields are everywhere and easily reached by the loop bus.
The place of Paul Revere’s famous ride, the site where the American’s drove out the British, the outside of the Cheers bar, Little Italy and Chinatown – they’re all here. Markets aplenty you could find enough great food to fill a lifetime in Boston.
A short ride on a second loop bus and we were in Harvard University. We were there just before the start of semester so the place was packed with students, their families and visitors alike in the scorching sun.
With not enough time to really see anything in great detail and a sick-with-flu Nick we grabbed lunch at a gourmet burger joint B.Good - so tasty!
No time to waste we were back on the bus and off to the home of the Boston Red Socks, Fenway Park.
We got there at the end of a park open day – if only we’d know earlier – so headed straight to the park store.
Several purchases later, Nick left the proud owner of multiple Boston patches and t-shirts.
We decided to stick with our hotel area for dinner and had a pretty fantastic Chinese meal. The bartender was cool too and actually knew some stuff about New Zealand – which meant he accepted my drivers licence when I ordered some Japanese plum wine!
All the drivers on the loop seem to be Irish or Italian American men aged 55 plus and they love their city and they love to talk.
The waterfront section of Boston is airy, beautiful and green, but according to our drivers it was once dominated by a large overground motorway system.
It would take a lot longer than one day to take in all the history in the city. Revolutionary sites and battlefields are everywhere and easily reached by the loop bus.
The place of Paul Revere’s famous ride, the site where the American’s drove out the British, the outside of the Cheers bar, Little Italy and Chinatown – they’re all here. Markets aplenty you could find enough great food to fill a lifetime in Boston.
A short ride on a second loop bus and we were in Harvard University. We were there just before the start of semester so the place was packed with students, their families and visitors alike in the scorching sun.
With not enough time to really see anything in great detail and a sick-with-flu Nick we grabbed lunch at a gourmet burger joint B.Good - so tasty!
No time to waste we were back on the bus and off to the home of the Boston Red Socks, Fenway Park.
We got there at the end of a park open day – if only we’d know earlier – so headed straight to the park store.
Several purchases later, Nick left the proud owner of multiple Boston patches and t-shirts.
We decided to stick with our hotel area for dinner and had a pretty fantastic Chinese meal. The bartender was cool too and actually knew some stuff about New Zealand – which meant he accepted my drivers licence when I ordered some Japanese plum wine!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Boston: Gummy-Bears to go?
A rather long, non-stop bus north brought us to our second to last destination – Boston.
After circling the massive bus/train terminal a few times we were on way, bags and suitcases and all, to our hotel in the Theatre/Chinatown District.
The hotel was pretty lovely – there are no cheap digs in Boston, well none that we could find.
We found this pretty decent Italian place across the road – and dirt cheap. The reason it was so reasonably priced was there was no table service, instead you place you order at a giant counter – several stations for pizza, several for pasta and another for anti-pasta.
Plus drinks were cheap too! Yes!
Instead of mints after the meal there is a GIANT tub of gummy bears.
“Would you like some gummy bears to go?” asked my waitress.
“Why yes!” and I was presented with my very own pack of lollies.
Next door was a fabulous ice cream store where I had the best butter caramel pecan ice cream in a m’n’ms mini dipped cone ever.
A night time walk around the park later and it was time for bed.
After circling the massive bus/train terminal a few times we were on way, bags and suitcases and all, to our hotel in the Theatre/Chinatown District.
The hotel was pretty lovely – there are no cheap digs in Boston, well none that we could find.
We found this pretty decent Italian place across the road – and dirt cheap. The reason it was so reasonably priced was there was no table service, instead you place you order at a giant counter – several stations for pizza, several for pasta and another for anti-pasta.
Plus drinks were cheap too! Yes!
Instead of mints after the meal there is a GIANT tub of gummy bears.
“Would you like some gummy bears to go?” asked my waitress.
“Why yes!” and I was presented with my very own pack of lollies.
Next door was a fabulous ice cream store where I had the best butter caramel pecan ice cream in a m’n’ms mini dipped cone ever.
A night time walk around the park later and it was time for bed.
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