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  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 26

    Day 26

    August 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Up 8ish. Tea & toast and out to Manchester by the Sea with Ally. About an hour drive. More road works but did fine. Parked for an hour and walk around. Started very cloudy and had been raining but sun soon came out. Very pretty town.

    Went looking for replacement hat and in one shop, lady told us she has been to Manchester and experienced beans on toast in Warrington! She told us where to buy hat so we found quite easily. Also bought fridge magnet.

    Had quick drive around then to Singing Beach. Looked beautiful in the sunshine but they were charging for carpark and to get on the beach so we didn't bother. There was hardly anyone around except the money collectors! Parked on the road on 2 hour limit then went for lunch.
    Went to Cala and had haddock sandwich/club/pizza - all very nice then headed back to the car. Got $35 ticket for pointing in the wrong direction. Sickening!

    Drove home via liquor store looking for John's current favourite wine Sebastiani but they didn't have it.

    Shopped at Hannafords then home 2.30. Had tea and cake brought by friendly neighbour this morning.

    Made big lasagne for tea then sat and had beer outside.

    Andy asked about warm spot in kitchen ceiling John most interested in investigating! Later discovered permanently heated pads - fire hazard.

    More chat. Bed 10ish    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 25

    Day 25

    August 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Didn't wake up properly till 9am.

    Pottered and did some shopping. More chatting.

    Had sandwich for lunch then out to Portsmouth No sun today and a little bit chilly near the sea. Nice town - has grown and is more commercialised. Lots of bars and restaurants but all pretty quiet. Looked at Strawberry Bank but $20 each to get in and it looked really quiet so we didn't bother. Had drive along the coast. Very pretty and some beautiful houses.

    Stopped at Lowe's shop to look for small garden table, yard brush, pan scourers and plastic wine glasses. Success in all but the glasses. Home 4.30 and made cottage pie for tea.

    Ally struggling with some aspects of the new house - water is awful and needs special filtering, need treatment to disperse supposedly dangerous radon gas. Garden is a wilderness - much work to do but location is good.

    Had beer outside watching and listening to humming bird. Lovely.

    Had wine & tea and yet more chat. Bed 10ish    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 24

    Day 24

    August 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Awake early and up 6.30. Quick shower and final pack then very swish taxi at 7.15. Miles too early so hanging about at airport.

    Flight 10ish. Landed 12.30ish. Bags quick then went to pick up car. No problem - we took all the extra insurances.

    Easy drive to Ally's new house in Stratham. They only moved in a week ago so there is much work to do. It will be lovely. They wanted to move somewhere with a bit more life, a bit less druggy, public transport and a bit less cold in the winter. They also have public transport nearby and their rubbish is collected! John's job is moving to Manchester NH in February which will be half hour drive each way.

    Chatted the afternoon away. Charlie came home from first day at school.
    John came home from first day commuting to Meredith for the time being.

    Matt has just gone to college in Montreal and Natalie in Carolina.

    Had beer, wine, lovely food and good chat.

    Bed 10ish.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 23

    Day 23

    August 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Slept till 8.30 ish. Tea, biscuits and out to Arlington National Memorial cemetery.

    Metro station closed for weekend work so got bus to Foggy Bottom 😀😀then metro to Arlington. Quite easy - people around for guidance but they weren't there yesterday!

    Went round on tour bus because the place is huge. Almost 1/2 million graves here and it's expanding to make room for more. 'Inurnment' new word on us! Guide pointed out places of interest. More reminders of the horrors of war. Unknown soldier, various presidents, Pentagon 9/11, Lockerbie etc.

    Went for bite to eat at cafe in park - turkey sandwich & pizza.

    Then to Holocaust Museum - another enormous place on 4 floors. Couldn't face all the reading so headed home 3.30ish for cup of tea.

    We find the museums here hard work - very little interactive, very few videos, no guided listening tours. Too much reading.

    Maid wanted to clean room so out again. Walked around block and found lots of bars and restaurants. Reminded us of Chorlton - buzzing with people enjoying Sunday afternoon sunshine.

    Back for wine hour 5pm. Asked reception to print directions for tomorrow - should only be half hourish drive to Ally's new house.

    Like this hotel very much. Would definitely stay here again.

    Back to Stoney's 6.30. Same girl serving - very friendly. Had crab sandwich and Cajun cheddar $60 inc beer. Really nice.

    Home 8ish. Glass wine & tv    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 22

    Day 22

    August 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Restless sleep - time change again but not too bad.

    Tea and out 9ish. Tried to get metro to meeting point for tour - couldn't find entrance! Eventually realised gates were locked so got taxi.

    Put money on metro cards then met up with tour. Little electric buggies. We had the 'celebrity seats' facing backwards. Not ideal but ok.

    Toured all over city with a couple of walking bits to look at major monuments. Guide very good.

    Monuments and memorials are spectacular - they can build big and impressive stuff but they cant build history!

    All major museums run by Smithsonian Institute - Smithson was rich Englishman who had never been to the US but he approved of US principles. He promised his money to his nephew on condition that he produced an heir. He didn't so the money went to the US.

    Went to American History museum - enormous place but far too much about wars. Quite depressing really. Then to sculpture park - clever house that changed perspective as we walked past it.

    Back to hotel 4.30. Cup of tea then wine hour 5.15.

    Has 3 glasses of wine and 1 sangria (waiter was going to throw it away) then off to Stoneys pub 6.30.

    Few beers, crab cake & burger $80 inc tip then home 9.30. Watched Pretty Woman (1990!) and couple of wines.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 21

    Day 21

    August 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Phone call at 4.30am from Virgin Media. Grrr.
    Up 7.30 and packed. Out for breakfast. Streets reasonably quiet and temperature pleasant.

    Went to FatBar - not the usual menu on the table. Only burgers. Asked what's available for breakfast. Answer - nothing because they are expecting hordes of people for the boxing match tomorrow. Went to Hard Rock - sat upstairs outside. Nice acoustic guitar music. Had scrambled egg/bacon/sausage/home fries & toast. All quite nice.

    Back to check out and taxi to airport. All fine and plenty of time.

    Luxor was ok but very tired. Hated the smell as soon as we opened the bedroom door - trying to keep air clean and smoke free but it was horrible. Didn't notice it in any of the other hotels. So difficult to manoeuvre way from a to b - traffic on the street busy so lots of bridges but too much like hard work. If we ever came back, would stay somewhere more centra - New York, Mirage maybe.

    We've settled into the madness of the city but quite relieved to be leaving it. I don't think I want to go back.

    Flight to Washington 4 hours. Had sandwich $9.99 and one free beer. No option to buy anything else's during the flight but we were fine. Landed early but had to wait for bags then shuttle to hotel. $24 for two people - quite cheap. 3 hours later here so now we were thirsty!

    Checked into Kimpton Rouge at 10ish. Lovely place and great receptionist. She gave us maps, guides and metro tix to save us $2 initial fee. Guided us to Stoney's bar round the corner. Shared a pizza which was nice. Bar was s bit noisy but only to be expected at 11pm on a Friday night. We will be back.

    Temperature very pleasant and lovely to walk down street without dodging people.

    Tried to buy bottle of wine but 11.30 by now so went home to bed. Beautiful room.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 20

    Day 20

    August 24, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Up 8ish. Tea & biscuits from buffet yesterday.

    Out on Deuce to Fremont Experience - the original Las Vegas. Bus very busy and took ages. Fremont is a dump. Might look better at night when the lights are twinkling but it's decidedly grotty in the day time. Lot of dodgy looking people around.
    Had brunch in Hennessys pub - club sandwich and omelette. Coffee and hottish water & teabag with free refill. €35.

    Back on bus - home at 1pm. Not impressed. We had intended to go last night but the endless pour had other ideas!

    Regroup, checked in for tomorrow, shower and out.

    Got cash, booked for Bronx Wanderers show for 5.30 tonight - $118 for two.

    Had couple of beers - one $10 back street. Ridiculously expensive.
    Went into casino with $30 flutter money gift from Dave & Sue. We only know roulette so went to quiet table. Minimum bet $15 so lost our money in 2 spins. Ouch.

    Then to Geordano's. Looked really expensive but happy hour so only $6ish for two. People next to us had HUGE deep pizza and we were quite envious. It looked delicious. Next news, the guy said they had ordered too much and offered us half the pizza. We said take it with you but they were off to a show. We offered some payment but they wouldn't accept it so we took the pizza and demolished it. The biggest, deepest pizza I've ever seen and it was lovely.

    Off to show 5.30. Vinny Adinolfi is the star. He was a record producer for some big names in his day and now has show with his sons. Was really good - musicians and singing were excellent Only lasted 1.5 hours so done by 7pm.

    Went to New York bar. Singer on there and band after he finished. Both very good. Pleasant evening.

    Home 10.30. Glass of wine and bed.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 19

    Day 19

    August 23, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Up 7am. Picked up 8.15 for Grand Canyon trip. 6 + pilot per helicopter. Used birthday vouchers from Anne, Peter and Chris to pay for part of trip - special birthday outing.

    40 mins flight across Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Spectacular landscape and enormous, beautiful lake. Pilot Jake told us about points of interest. Landed in the bottom of the canyon and had fizz and cake (champagne picnic - mmmm). Amusing that picnic benches set up in the canyon and cheeky squirrels and chipmunks come looking for crumbs. 30 min stop then back via refuelling station plonked in the desert. Absolutely amazing trip - really enjoyed it. Bit nervous about first trip in helicopter but we were fine and flight very smooth.

    Back to hotel for tea and regroup then out again 1ish.

    Bought 24 hour Deuce bus tix $8 each - need to save our legs a bit! Went to CIrcus Circus. More old fashioned style casino with proper slot machines and coin pushers. Andy pushed a few coins over and won a pile of tickets. Worth 132 points - enough for a little toy for Nell and some sweets. Biggest win we had!

    Watched a balancing act then had a beer.

    Started to rain so rushed to Wynn for buffet lunch. Huge array of food and new dishes kept appearing. Had several plates and had good value from the 'endless pour'. Very drunk and since discovered my Ballast Point beer is 7 percent! Andy stayed on Stella at 4.8.

    Got Deuce back and went in casino. Andy went to watch a couple of games of craps and I dozed off at the bar. Security lady came to check on me - shows that they are watching all the time.

    Asleep by 9.30.    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 18

    Day 18

    August 22, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Hard to settle in yet another bed. Chilly in the night so pulled covers back on.

    Up 9ish. Window cleaner with a head for heights outside - abseiling down the pyramid!

    Out looking for lions - mmmm. Old guide book so didn't realise lions long gone! Already tired legs so fed up.

    Went to check on tix for Rod Stewart - min $112 on desk so went to box office. Lowest price $65 in the gods for 1.5 hour show. Decided against.

    Went to fat burger 12ish. Asked for bacon/sausage butty but they said breakfast finished at 11. They served us yesterday! Had burger & beer watching strip. Lot of people earning living from dressing as show girls or superheroes. Quite sad really.

    Went to Mirage to see dolphins. $22 each to get in but quiet inside. Had beer - very large!! Not much going on with dolphins but also area got lions, tigers, leopards, cheetah. Quite entertaining.

    Then to big wheel (high roller) via Venetian. Quite liked this place - Rialto Bridge, St Marks Sq, Bridge of Sighs & gondolas.

    Wheel $25 for 30 mins. Quite good but can't possibly be high enough to see well.

    Then to bar for happy hour beers near wheel. $5. Watched people again.

    Then to Beerhaus outside New York for Party in Park.
    Beer $5 and fabulous live band. Had ribs/chicken cob salad and few beers. Chatted to couple going to show. They'd started on Margaritas at 2pm. She was smashed and he was not feeling good!

    Enjoyed the music. Got monorail home 10.30. Long day !    Read more

  • DooWhitt toursBig Trip 2017
    Day 17

    Day 17

    August 21, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Woke up 7ish. Good sleep again. Tea and final pack.

    Checked out 8.15am - we paid for P & V. Total cost about $900. A lot of money but they were so hospitable with us and saved us lots of $.

    Airport 9ish. Higher security than expected - gave Andy thorough check. Sniffer dog in queue.

    Flight 11ish.

    Flight to Vegas only an hour. Airport very near strip. Checked in fine and went to room. The hotel is enormous.....went through casino - garish carpets and bright lights. On 11th floor of famous Luxor pyramid. Room pretty big but a bit tired. No kettle or fridge!! Bad news for me! It's cheap and the lack of facilities explains why.

    Unpacked then out to strip. Hot but not unbearable. Looked for Bank because ATM in hotel charges $8 to withdraw cash. Didn't find so went for beer in Fatbar. Had bacon/sausage/egg butty and a beer. Very nice and quite cheap.

    Bought mini immersion heater for $16 and milk for €3.75 - much cheaper than buying coffee from Starbucks or similar!

    Went into Tropicana for beer - similar garish carpet.

    Then walked/monorail to famous Las Vegas sign. Queues for photos then Elvis arrived with music pack on his belt. Amusing.

    Home for tea and bit of hand washing 5.30pm.

    As expected, will take a while to adjust to this town!

    Out 7.30ish. Dusk and getting very busy. Went to German bar - quite nice then walked to Belaggio to watch the fountains. A bit disappointed really - they didn't do much and we've seen better. Think we must have missed something or they weren't working properly. Tried Double Barrel bar - closed for private function. Tried Beer Garden - closed for private function. Walked miles again and aimed for steak bar we'd seen this afternoon. On 4th floor and no menu visible so didn't bother. Went back to Irish bar in New York - bought beer and tried to sit away from music but they said diners only. We said we might be dining but they weren't interested so we drank beer and left. Went for pizza slices in New York cafe - about $25 and very nice.

    Bought bottle of wine for $30 and back to room 11ish. Tired legs!    Read more

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