The US of A 🇺🇲

A 42-day adventure by Greg Read more

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Day 14
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 3:34 PM
☁️ 28 °C
Altitude: 15 m
United States Fenway Park 42.347282, -71.09823542°20’50” N 71°5’54” W
Boston Red Socks
July 31, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
This afternoon I headed west to Fenway Park to watch the famous Boston Red Socks take on the Seattle Mariners. Boston Red Socks of course being the former home of Babe Ruth and also being owned by Fenway Sports Group who also own Liverpool FC!

The match itself was low scoring with the score after 9 innings being 2-2. I was surprised at how full the ground was given that the match kicked off at 4:10pm on a workday. But the crowd were glad they did turn up as Boston ended up winning 3-2 in an overtime style 10th innings. Who doesn't love a last minute winner!

Whilst the stadium itself was somewhat old I really liked its charachter and the atmosphere was a good one too!Read more
TravelerAnother ball game and another great experience x
8/1/24Reply
TravelerHaving viewed baseball in the past, I found it not an inspiring game but there again as a Tranmere footie supporter I've got use to that feeling over the years, ha! 🤣
8/2/24Reply
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Day 15
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 9:51 AM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 34 m
United States Benjamin Franklin Statue 42.357901, -71.05964642°21’28” N 71°3’35” W
9 Months - Boston Freedom Trail Pt.1
August 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Today marks 9 months since I left the UK on 1st November 2023! I started the day by continuing on the Boston Freedom Trail. By snooping at another tourists phone I discovered that there is a local government website which has 4/5 minutes of audio describing each site on the trail. I also discovered through this that there are bricks disrupting in the pavement that mark out the entire route through the city, very helpful.

A couple of features on this route was the oldest church of England in the US and site of the Boston Massacre.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 12:06 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 10 m
United States Winthrop Square 42.373293, -71.060742°22’24” N 71°3’39” W
Boston Freedom Trail Pt.2
August 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
The trail continued including a stroll through the lovely old neighbourhood of Charlestown and a stop off at the former house of Paul Revere, the man who betrayed the English to warn the Bostonians of their impending attack on his midnight ride of 1775.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 12:44 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 19 m
United States Breeds Hill 42.376331, -71.06080142°22’35” N 71°3’39” W
Boston Freedom Trail Pt.3
August 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
In the final stops on the Freedom Trail I headed to Breed's Hill, with its obelisk which was once the tallest structure in the US until the Washington Monument in DC came along. The final stop was at USS Constitution, the oldest floating battleship in the world!Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 1:36 PM
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 13 m
United States Copley Square 42.349992, -71.0764142°20’60” N 71°4’35” W
Copley Square
August 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
My very final stop of my time in Boston was up towards Copley Square and the public library. This is also the site of the Boston Marathon finish line where there were 2 bombs set off back in 2013, killing 3 people.

I've given up on taking pictures of Ryder lorries at this point as I've seen dozens upon dozens of them but this one was a sitting duck so thought it would be rude not to.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 10:13 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 168 m
United States Victory Park 36.16009, -86.78352136°9’36” N 86°47’1” W
Boston > Nashville
August 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
At 6pm I took off from Boston towards Nashville, the home of country music. Upon landing the airbridges at the airport had stopped working so after them not being able to fix the problem we had to taxi to another terminal. Almost 2 hours after landing we finally disembarked. The airline were however kind enough to give us a $12 meal voucher that can be used anywhere. I now realise that I forgot to use it before it expired.

As I changed buses in Nashville it started to absolute lash down for around 5 minutes in typical US fashion. With the delays I made it to my accomodation much later than planned and decided I'd head almost straight to bed rather than going out.Read more
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 11:32 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 133 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.162242, -86.7745436°9’44” N 86°46’28” W
Heading Downtown
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
After a good night's sleep what else could possibly be on the cards than to head downtown in Nashville to where the action is. I thought I'd pop down early whilst it was quiet but nope at 11am every bar was open with live music and were all relatively busy.

The queue for the famous Hattie B's was out the door although I can't say the same for the Johnny Cash museum.Read more
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 12:10 PM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 136 m
United States Howell Park 36.15856, -86.77660236°9’31” N 86°46’36” W
Country Music Hall of Fame
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Next up I paid a visit to the outside of the country music hall of fame and the square opposite containing stars of America's most legendary country musicians. I knew barely any of then, and two of those with pictures on the front of the building (Taylor Swift & Luke Combs) didn't even have a star which I thought was quite odd.Read more
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 12:35 PM
⛅ 32 °C
Altitude: 131 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161889, -86.77430136°9’43” N 86°46’27” W
Downtown Day Drinking
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
After about an hour of exploring I caved in and went into a bar for a drink and some live music. My first destination was the bar owned by Morgan Wallen, the man who has had a number of global country hits in recent years. It had a lovely rooftop looking over the city and the band were great, and even played Mr Wallen's biggest hits, something which I soon discovered every single band in every bar did.

After that I went for a delicious lunch before heading to another bar where they played all sorts of music including Queen and Flo Rida.

One absolutely mental thing that struck me is you had to pay $20 to suggest a song, but $50 would let you jump the queue. Then one band said they'd play certain songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody for $100. People were continually spending this sort of money on song requests which I find absolutely mental.Read more
TravelerPerfect day 🎵
8/4/24Reply
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 6:35 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 162 m
United States Nashville 36.159316, -86.78174236°9’34” N 86°46’54” W
Evening in Downtown
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
After a quick change I headed back out for more live music! In doing so I got absolutely soaked in a downpour which wasn't ideal but thankfully it's like an oven here so I dried off relatively fast.

I passed a bar that I could hear was playing Five O'Clock Somewhere so obviously I had to nip into there to catch the end of it. Then I went to another bar I've no idea the name of but the band was great. Then I headed back to Morgan Wallen's as it was packed.

At one point on the middle floor all of the LED screens went to the US flag. The guy performing said that he thought the audience were 'his kind of people'. He then went and told a story about how 2 weeks previous he was at the Republican National Convention (which got a huge cheer) and that the best moment of his life happened when Donald J Trump walked past him in a corridor (which got an even bigger cheer). The room then erupted into chants of USA USA, Trump Trump Trump and people just randomly shouting Let's Go Trump and similar phrases. The next song he played was something about the red white and blue which included a guitar solo of the entire US national anthem which roused more passionate displays of patriotism. It was truly one of the most bizarre experiences of my life, but an authentic American one nonetheless.

Shortly after I headed downstairs to a more populist band on the main stage.Read more
TravelerSOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE IN ONE OF TRUMP'S POLIITICAL STRONGHOLDS 🇺🇸
8/4/24Reply
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9:23 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 146 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161345, -86.77768536°9’41” N 86°46’40” W
Rockstar
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Find Penguins only allows one video per post so I'm just going to throw a few separate posts on with a few different songs.

First up, Rockstar by Nickleback.
TravelerBrill x
8/3/24Reply
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9:23 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 146 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161345, -86.77768536°9’41” N 86°46’40” W
I Had Some Help
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
I Had Some Help by Morgan Wallen (in Morgan Wallen's bar!)
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9:33 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 146 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161345, -86.77768536°9’41” N 86°46’40” W
Last Night
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Last Night by Morgan Wallen (in Morgan Wallen's bar!)
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9:51 PM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 146 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161345, -86.77768536°9’41” N 86°46’40” W
A Bar Song
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
A Bar Song by Shaboozey. One of my favourite songs of the summer (written about Nashville) so it was cool to have heard it being played there at a party downtown near 5th street!
TravelerFab tune 🎶
8/4/24Reply
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Day 16
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 10:56 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 145 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161353, -86.77763636°9’41” N 86°46’39” W
End of the Night in Downtown
August 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The finale of one band in Morgan Wallen's bar was Love Story by Taylor Swift which was very popular. I stayed for a bit of the next band but shortly left to go and meet Laura from St Mary's who also happened to be in Nashville! At this point the main strip was heaving and the police had even closed the road to traffic. We headed to 2 bars and called it a day just after 1am. Not a bad 13 hour mostly solo session!Read more
TravelerGREAT THAT YOU MET UP WITH LAURA FROM SCHOOL
8/4/24Reply
TravelerThat's lovely to meet up with someone from school 😃
8/4/24Reply
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 2:32 PM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 165 m
United States Capitol Hill 36.164927, -86.78382836°9’54” N 86°47’2” W
Tennessee State Capitol
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
This morning (afternoon by the time I'd gotten up and out) I took the bus down to the Tennessee state Capitol building. I wasn't expecting much but it was a pretty spectacular building, so clean too and literally not a person in sight. Makes sense as they're probably all on the strip.Read more
TravelerYEAH THERE'S NO FUN TO BE HAD THERE 🥳
8/4/24Reply
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 2:47 PM
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 136 m
United States Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park 36.172576, -86.78867836°10’21” N 86°47’19” W
Tennessee Mall & Hattie B's
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Ascending down from the Capitol is the mall, similar to that in Washington albeit smaller. I was really surprised at how nice and peaceful this area was!

I then took a walk north up towards Germantown although disappointingly there wasn't a currywurst in sight. I therefore headed to the famous Hattie B's for a late lunch / early dinner.Read more
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 7:01 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 141 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.160957, -86.77642936°9’39” N 86°46’35” W
The Start of Night Out 2
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
After a quick change and a shower I took the bus back to downtown for 7pm. First I headed to Jason Aldean's which had a few different floors and a nice rooftop terrace.

On one of the floors I was reunited with Bobby McClendon, the Trump enthusiast from the night before. Despite his political beliefs, I must say he puts on a good show.Read more
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 7:58 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 138 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.16093, -86.77701436°9’39” N 86°46’37” W
Honky Tonk Central
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
My next stop was to Honky Tonk Central, mainly to take advantage of it's perfectly placed balconies in the centre of the strip. The music was however very good too!
TravelerTHE NIGHTLIFE LOOKS FANTASTIC 🎶
8/4/24Reply
TravelerUnforgettable nights. Are you now a Country Music fan x x
8/4/24Reply
TravelerLove a bit of Country. x
8/7/24Reply
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 8:40 PM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 140 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161066, -86.77678436°9’40” N 86°46’36” W
1
The Stage
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
To get to my next stop I passed by Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and headed into The Stage. There was a lady performing with a pretty exceptional talent on the violin. Very enjoyable.
TravelerHOPE YOU'VE NOW GOT A COWBOY HAT 🤠
8/4/24Reply
Traveler I see a painting of my favourite country and western singer, Willie Nelson. 👍😀
8/5/24Reply
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Day 17
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 9:17 PM
🌙 26 °C
Altitude: 146 m
United States Metro Riverfront Park 36.161337, -86.77765336°9’41” N 86°46’40” W
The End of Nashville's Nightlife
August 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
For my final stop of the evening and also for my nights in Nashville I headed back to the trusty favourite of Morgan Wallen's bar. Only one rousing rendition of USA USA this time but plenty of good music as ever!Read more
TravelerYOU'VE HAD A GREAT TIME IN NASHVILLE 🙂
8/4/24Reply
TravelerLooks like a great place x
8/5/24Reply
TravelerDan's auntie Jo and Jane are hoping to go to Nashville. They'll love this! 💙
8/7/24Reply
TravelerIt looks fab!!!
8/7/24Reply
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Day 18
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 11:52 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 182 m
United States Peabody Esplanade 36.140717, -86.79811236°8’27” N 86°47’53” W
Sunday Morning in Nashville
August 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
This morning I went to a cereal bar! I've never seen the like before but wow I can't believe it hasn't caught on. All types of cereals with various toppings to match. This is the billion dollar idea I'm bringing back home with me.

I then went for a long overdue walk of the area I was staying and wow it was really really nice thanks to the old school university campus.Read more
TravelerA few precious finds there.
8/6/24Reply
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Day 18
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 1:42 PM
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 160 m
United States Centennial Park 36.149423, -86.81249936°8’58” N 86°48’45” W
Sunday Afternoon in Nashville
August 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
This afternoon I wandered down to the nearby park, simply because it has a to scale exact replica of the Athens Parthenon, why that is I've got absolutely no idea but it was pretty cool.
TravelerIt's all Greek to me as well! 🤔
8/7/24Reply
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Day 18
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 7:23 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 67 m
United States Days Creek 35.067552, -89.98760335°4’3” N 89°59’15” W
Nashville > Memphis
August 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
This evening I took the 5pm bus from Nashville to Memphis. Nashville it was a pleasure!

The Greyhound buses are notoriously a bit rough and well when an argument had erupted within 30 seconds about a woman's window seat being taken it had already lived up to its reputation. Someone was also sat in my seat so I just sat whereever and ended up with a roughly 9 year old Hispanic kid sat next to me with his family all dotted elsewhere. When presented with the chance I asked his brother "Quieres cambiar conmigo?" and we swapped seats!

I made it to Memphis just after 9pm and then took a taxi to my hostel for some rest.Read more
TravelerProud of your Spanish skills💪👏
8/6/24Reply
TravelerGlad your Spanish came in handy or did you use “Google translate”.
8/6/24Reply
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Day 19
Monday, August 5, 2024 at 8:06 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 89 m
United States Whitehaven 35.045783, -90.02314435°2’45” N 90°1’23” W
Graceland Mansion
August 5, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Due to a severe failure in the Memphis bus system I truly got to experience 'Walking in Memphis' at the very first opportunity.

Graceland allows free visitors to its grounds only between 7:30am to 8:30am, so I got up before 6 to catch 2 buses to get there for opening time. The first 3 buses (which were every half an hour) were all cancelled so I ended up walking 4.5 miles (in just over an hour) in order to get there fore about 8:10am.

Anyway, it is a pretty spectacular grounds, all kept in immaculate condition and it was worth the effort!Read more
TravelerNan Marj is delighted (big ELVIS fan) with these pics and thanks 🙏 you so much for visiting Graceland and adding her name to the wall ❤️
8/6/24Reply
TravelerYes. A lovely thing to do Greg x
8/7/24Reply
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