The US of A 🇺🇲

A 42-day adventure by Greg Read more

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Day 8
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 9:59 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 14 m
United States Liberty Bell Center 39.949803, -75.15017439°56’59” N 75°9’1” W
Liberty Bell & Independence Square
July 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
This morning I was up and our fairly early to make up for time lost to the rain yesterday. First up I took a trip to see the Liberty Bell, a bell of significance in Philadelphia as it would be rung often in the build up to the revolution to signal gatherings of those looking to liberate the US from the British.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 10:40 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 19 m
United States Christ Church Park 39.952136, -75.14476139°57’8” N 75°8’41” W
Philadelphia Walking Tour
July 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
At 10:30am I joined the free walking tour. To my amazement there was a British family plus a solo British woman on the tour, not a common sight for me thus far in the US.

The tour started at the Betsy Ross house, the woman credited with sewing the first American flag and made official flags for the government for the first 50 years of the union.

Next was back to Ethrel's Avenue, the oldest, continously inhabited, English speaking, residential road in North America. A lot of caveats there.

Then we visited the church where all 56 signers of the Constitution once attended, Benjamin Franklin's old house and grave, N3rd Street and finished off back in indepence square.Read more
TravelerGreat to hear a seamstress is recognised for her work 🧵
7/27/24Reply
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Day 8
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 1:34 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 22 m
United States Chinatown Friendship Gate 39.951272, -75.1577339°57’5” N 75°9’28” W
Philly Cheesesteaks & Shoes
July 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
I was feeling a little hungry so of course I had to try a Philly Cheesesteak. Does exactly what it says on the tin, just a huge greasy sandwich full of beef and cheese.

In other news, both of my pairs of shoes are bordering on destroyed so I'd found a pair of shoes the day before I wanted to buy. To my horror, when I returned to the Nike shop they'd gone from the sale price of $65 back to full RRP of $90. I refused to pay full price so instead bought a pair of Air Max that I'll probably end up giving to my dad.Read more
TravelerYour “destroyed” shoes have served you so well, enduring 9 months on the road. 👟🥾
7/27/24Reply
TravelerTHANKS VERY MUCH ! 👟👟
7/28/24Reply
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Day 8
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 3:02 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 19 m
United States Eakins Oval 39.965078, -75.1792239°57’54” N 75°10’45” W
Rocky Steps
July 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Next up I headed down the boulevard of museums, past the Franklin Institute and all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Outside of here at the steps Rocky famously trains on in the movie, Rocky.

The place was full of people of all ages running up the steps and the queue for the statue was so long I just took a picture of other people with it.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 4:11 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 26 m
United States Philadelphia Museum of Art 39.966094, -75.18201339°57’58” N 75°10’55” W
A Walk in the Park
July 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
To finish off the day I took a stroll through the park in the west side of the city. Once I arrived back to my accomodation it was time to say RIP GBNF to my £15 Vinted Asics, but worry not, I've got another identical pair from Vinted waiting for me when I return home.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 10:13 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 10 m
United States Terminal Newark One Helistop 40.715343, -74.13614440°42’55” N 74°8’10” W
Philadelphia > New York City
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
This morning I was up and out early to catch the 8:35am bus to New York City! New York has been at the very top of my travel wish list since I was little so I was very excited to get the day underway.

After about an hour and a half the world renowned skyline came into view and half an hour later we'd arrived at the bus terminal. I had about a 5 minute walk to the subway from there and unexpectedly bumped into Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building and of course another Ryder van!Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 12:08 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 42 m
United States Sol Bloom Playground 40.791666, -73.96708840°47’30” N 73°58’2” W
Home Alone 2 & Elf
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
In and around Central Park is where many movie scenes have been filmed. I was mainly on the lookout for the classics Home Alone 2 and Elf.

Just before getting into the park is 51 95th Street, the outside of the house where Kevin makes a mockery of the Wet Bandits. The filming inside the house is however in Chicago.

Picture 2 is Bethesda Terrace, Kevin walks through here and it's also the Terrace where the horse riding Central Park Rangers appear in Elf when trying to catch Santa.

Pics 3 & 4 are where Buddy the Elf and Michael have the snow all fight with the yoofs. 5 is the ice rink from Home Alone although it's currently lots of tennis courts! 6 is the spot where Kevin first sets his eyes on the Plaza hotel (7 is the hotel entrance). 8 is the bridge where Kevin first encounters the bird lady, and where the Wet Bandits are captured after a bird attack initiated by bird lady. The final picture is Radio City Music Hall where Kevin walks past in Home Alone 2.

More sights from these films to come in the coming days I'm sure!Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 12:15 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 46 m
United States Sol Bloom Playground 40.788288, -73.96590740°47’18” N 73°57’57” W
Central Park Pt.1
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
My hostel is right next door to Central Park so the first thing I did was to meander through it's many paths and fields. The sun was out in full force but thankfully the trees provided much shelter.
TravelerI did laugh when Joe came back from New York: "I didn't buy you anything front New York mum, it was full of tat!" 😂
7/27/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 1:06 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 31 m
United States Bethesda Fountain 40.774494, -73.97085840°46’28” N 73°58’15” W
Central Park Pt.2
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
A few more pics here of Central Park, first Bethesda Terrace. Towering over the park is Central Park Tower, the top 3 floors of which are a penthouse which recently sold for $195m. Not a bad price for the highest residential property (with probably the best view) in the world!

Another pic of the Plaza and also an unexpected statue of Simon Bolivar, the saviour of Northern South America whom we have become very familiar with over the past few months!Read more
TravelerOlmsted's vision for Central Park was inspired by Birkenhead Park, widely acknowledged as the first publicly funded park in England. 💙
7/27/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 1:27 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 39 m
United States Strawberry Fields 40.77615, -73.97608640°46’34” N 73°58’34” W
Strawberry Fields
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
A special shoutout to Strawberry Fields, the place which inspired one of the Beatles many famous hits.

The first building across the street is the apartment block and archway where John Lennon was murdered, Strawberry Fields evidently being his closest leisure area.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:35 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 55 m
United States Dahesh Museum of Art 40.762195, -73.9740140°45’44” N 73°58’26” W
Trump Tower
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Another spot from Home Alone 2 but more famous for being owned by and named after former (and maybe future) President Trump.

The sign on the door said public are welcome so I had a look around inside. It was unexpectedly very very nice with restaurants, cafes and a few shops including Gucci and Trump's very own official merch store!Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 2:49 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 64 m
United States Samuel Paley Plaza 40.760871, -73.97545240°45’39” N 73°58’32” W
Some of 5th Avenue
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Trump Tower sits on possibly NYC's most famous street, 5th avenue. I took a stroll a little further up here past many striking buildings including St Patrick's Cathedral.
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 3:04 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 52 m
United States Channel Gardens 40.758819, -73.9780840°45’32” N 73°58’41” W
Rockerfeller Centre
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
My next stop was at the Rockerfeller Centre. The site where the famous ice rink and Christmas tree usually sits has been converted into a Paris 2024 viewing area so I caught a few minutes of the opening ceremony, mainly countries beginning with L on boats.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 3:21 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 30 m
United States Times Square Church 40.761635, -73.98434640°45’42” N 73°59’4” W
Broadway
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Next up, Broadway! Line from top to bottom with theatres, and leading all the way down to Times Square. I stopped here for an overdue (I.e. haven't had one for 7 days McDonalds) with a view.

Also, whilst taking a picture of the street sign I thought hmm that guy in the peripheral looks a bit like Mo Salah. When I looked with my own eyes I realised it was indeed a Mo Salah mural on Broadway.Read more
TravelerAny Tranmere players mural? 👍😀⚽️ SWA
7/27/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 4:10 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 54 m
United States The Palace Theatre 40.758837, -73.98440740°45’32” N 73°59’4” W
Times Square (By Day)
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
At the end of Broadway I roamed around all quarters of Times Square. It wasn't overly busy at this point but still made for quite the spectacle!
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 4:41 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 55 m
United States Times Square 40.756528, -73.98597140°45’24” N 73°59’9” W
Empire State, Chrysler & PwC
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
My next stops were to 3 of the world's most iconic buildings; the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and of course PwC's global headquarters!
TravelerThere’s always a PWC x
7/27/24Reply
TravelerLIKE THE NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK 💰
7/28/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 4:50 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 56 m
United States Grand Street Market 40.752694, -73.97725340°45’10” N 73°58’38” W
Grand Central Terminal
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Not much more to say other than probably the most iconic train station in the world!
TravelerGreat “virtual” catch up with you at GCS.
7/27/24Reply
TravelerAnd it's a bit better than Lime Street Station 😆
7/28/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 5:36 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 41 m
United States New York Public Library 40.753085, -73.98189340°45’11” N 73°58’55” W
New York Public Librar(ies)
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Next stop to two of NYC's public library buildings. One of which has a spectacular Rotunda and the other has a very nice 7th floor viewing platform.

After this I had a quick wander around the huge Macy's store before devouring 3 servings of $1.50 pizza slices.Read more
TravelerWow the size of that pizza slice, mind you everything is supposed to be big in the States, ha! 🤣
7/27/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 7:54 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 24 m
United States Washington Market Park 40.71559, -74.01290740°42’56” N 74°0’46” W
World Trade Centre (At Dusk)
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
My penultimate stop of the day was to the World Trade Centre. All's I'll say is blimey its big.

I'd bought a ticket to head up to the 102nd floor observatory deck which made for magnificent viewing over the city from the cities and the countries tallest building.Read more
TravelerYou finally got there , same month, 4 years later. Yeah !! 👍
7/27/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 8:40 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 21 m
United States Freedom Tower 40.713127, -74.01318640°42’47” N 74°0’47” W
World Trade Centre (At Night)
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Whilst I was at the top of the tower the natural light faded but of course this city never sleeps! The views were just as (if not more spectscular) out to Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty. I took this opportunity as it got quiet at the end to sit in one of the windows to listen to the NYC related songs I'd embargoed up to this point!Read more
TravelerNYC absolutely marvellous view of a “concrete jungle where dreams are made of 🎵”. Never mind Brooklyn & Manhattan, can you see Wirral yet ??
7/27/24Reply
TravelerFANTASTIC VIEWS 🗽
7/28/24Reply
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Day 9
Friday, July 26, 2024 at 9:51 PM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 56 m
United States Manhattan Church of the Nazarene 40.756675, -73.98531840°45’24” N 73°59’7” W
Times Square (By Night)
July 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
For my final stop of the day of course I had to see Times Square at night. By this point the place was bustling with tourists, locals, photographers, cartoon charachters and people carrying snakes.

A fitting way to end a very busy day in this spectacular place!Read more
TravelerSnakes 🐍 haha. What a busy place. Where’s yer mask 😷
7/27/24Reply
TravelerI'M GOING TO SEE DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE ON TUESDAY 📽
7/28/24Reply
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Day 10
Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 8:58 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 9 m
United States Fishbridge Gardens 40.707768, -73.99889940°42’28” N 73°59’56” W
Brooklyn Bridge
July 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
This morning I was up fairly early to head across the Brooklyn Bridge before the crowds arrived. As it turned out that the crowds had sort of already arrived before 9am on a Saturday but hey ho! It was a magnificent place to view the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines and down the Hudson River.

I'm in serious need of doing a wash so today I thought I'd wear my Santos shirt. Pele only ever played for Santos and New York Cosmos so the shirt does have any affiliation with the city. Anyway, throughout the day I received numerous compliments including from a homeless man and a secret service agent driving a secret service car!Read more
TravelerBest keep the Santos shirt “undercover” then 😮😫😳
7/28/24Reply
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Day 10
Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 9:25 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 30 m
United States Fulton Ferry Historic District 40.702938, -73.98942140°42’11” N 73°59’22” W
Dumbo and Brooklyn
July 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Once across the bridge I explored the suburb of Dumbo and Brooklyn's waterfront.

By far the most popular spot in Dumbo is one where you can see the Empire State Building perfectly aligned through the arch of the Manhattan Bridge.

The waterfront offered spectacular views across to Manhattan and of the Brooklyn Bridge! I also got a peep from afar at the Statue of Liberty.Read more
TravelerFab pics x
7/28/24Reply
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Day 10
Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:46 AM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 10 m
United States Pier 11 - Wall St Seaplane Base 40.703651, -74.00642440°42’13” N 74°0’23” W
Wall Street
July 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
From Brooklyn I took the ferry across to Wall Street, home of course to the New York Stock Exchange. Also down here is a Trump owned building and a very nice church at the end. I'd always thought the Charging Bull was on Wall Street but turns out it's just around the corner. Anyway, you couldn't get near it for the swarm of people and the queue to tickle it's balls went on for miles.Read more
Traveler🐂
7/28/24Reply
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Day 10
Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 12:40 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 44 m
United States Zuccotti Park 40.709688, -74.01306740°42’35” N 74°0’47” W
9/11 Rememberance Pool
July 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Next up I was back again to the World Trade Centre, this time in the broad daylight to have a look at the memorial, made up of two pools standing in the footprint of the Teon Towers. One of the pools was closed for cleaning but the other was still open and looking it's best.

In other news, across the road from the remembrance pools is a Kumon.Read more
Traveler🥲
7/28/24Reply
TravelerSuch a sad place, however lovely how they have done the memorial. The freedom tower is amazing to see lit up from the plane x
7/28/24Reply
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