Back to New York

We had decided to finish our trip where we started, and spend the last four nights in New York.  I think breaking it up worked nicely for us, as we had a better gauge of how to get around, and what to expect while we were there. On the list the second time where, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, doing the High Line Walk and wondering around the city. 

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

Given that we'd picked Memorial Day for this, I was a little bit nervous that we'd be able to get on the boats. I needn't have worried, we pre-booked the tickets, and virtually walked right through security and onto the boat without much waiting time.  It was a great day to be out on the river, and the Statue of Liberty is such an impressive sight. The crown was closed, so we didn't get up to the top.  I also quite liked visiting Ellis Island, where the first immigrants to the US were processed.  

Brooklyn Bridge

Really enjoyed this, we caught the subway out to Brooklyn, and then had a leisurely stroll back to Manhattan. Given it was a really nice day, we had a fair bit of company. You do get quite an impressive view of the Manhattan Skyline along the way which is quite nice.  If I went back to New York, I would like to explore Brooklyn a little bit more.

Highline Walk

One of the things we'd seen a little bit about before we left was the High-Line Park. The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.  There are some classic street stalls, and contemporary art along the way. Its quite impressive to walk along.

We went and saw another Broadway show. After 25 years Phantom is the longest running show on Broadway, so we thought that we'd take the opportunity to see it, I had seen it before, but it was such a long time ago, and it was great  to see it again.  

We enjoyed walking around the city, and did do a little bit of shopping. We visited FAO Schwarz,.  Such an amazing store - really enjoyed looking around. One of the highlights on the way home, was flying on the A380. I really liked the tail camera, so you could watch the plane leave LA, and land in Sydney. You did have a little bit more room, which is always nice.   In summary, we had an amazing time away, and I could definitely go back to the US in a heartbeat..

View from inside the Time Warner Building

Toronto - Canada

After our time in Boston, we flew up to Toronto, mostly to catch up with our friend Alida, who had been in Australia for a couple of years. It was really wonderful to catch up and be shown around Toronto.  It was definitely a highlight of our trip.

Niagara  Falls

Niagara Falls

Falls Ave, Niagara

The other huge highlight was the day we spent driving to Niagara. The falls were absolutely beautiful. Once we looked at the falls we then walked up the main street of the town which was quite touristy & tacky. We drive along the river, stopping a the whirlpools and the floral clock, before heading to the township of Niagara by the Lake (which is less touristy, and similar to some of the towns you would find the the Australian Wine regions. 

We did some wine-tasting in the region which was really lovely; the pick of the wineries we went to was Colaneri (and we also tasted a bit of Ice Wine, which was quite enjoyable).  

Toronto

Toronto

I didn't know before I left that Toronto has an island just off the coast. Was lovely, to walk around a peaceful island, so close to the city.  After the left the island we went to see an episode of Strombo be filmed. Strombo is a show of interviews, while we were there  George Strombopolous interviewed Olympia Dukakis and Enrico Colantoni. He was an excellent interview, and following the show he did a Q&A, and said one of the key things about interviewing, is listening to the answers so you can ask meaningful follow-up questions.  One of the interviews I would have like to have seen live was this one with Nazanin Afshin-Jam - an Iranian, living in Canada

Museum Station,
Toronto

Rogers Centre,
Toronto

We then went up the CN Tower, and had some wonderful views over the city and surrounding region.  The Glass Elevator, and Glass floor were quite cool.  :)

On the following day, we flew back down to New York for the final few days of our trip.  Toronto Airport, has a terminal where the flights to the USA depart from, and you actually clear customs & enter the US before getting on the plane. Perhaps there is something here for flights between Australia & New Zealand. Not sure I'd hold my breath though. 

I really loved Canada, and hope to get back some-day soon. 

New Hampshire / Boston

Back to our trip. We said good bye to New York for a spell and had a great little train ride up to Boston. It was quite beautiful country, but quite built up in places. We were met at South Station and driven up into the beautiful New Hampshire countryside by one of my mother-in-law's school friends, and it was a nice change for us to have a tour guide taking us around there home. We had a good drive along the NH coastline, and one of the old settlements.

Harvard & MIT

MIT, from the Prudential Center.

On our last day with Ag & Paul, we went and explored Harvard, which was busy preparing for graduations. Paul showed us around Harvard (and as he is an Alum, we were able to go into the main library, and saw one of the first Gutenberg Bibles which was quite a treat). After that we walked around MIT, which has one of the more interesting buildings you will see. We also enjoyed having a walk around their Museum just before it closed.  Boston has a large number of Universities, and many of them had graduations while we were there. 

Another couple of random experiences we had, was going to the studio Click & Clack (a car radio show) is broadcast from at Cambridge and having a photo with Barack Obama (at least a cardboard cutout). We also had lunch in a Pizza restaurant in Portsmouth which has drawings from its guests in their menus. So, if you do go Portsmouth, and see a drawing from a Sydney-sider - that may be me.

Boston

Boston

We really loved Boston, it is just a beautiful city. Walking through the city, you walk through the history of America. Very different to New York, with all of its tall skyscrapers. Boston has so many smaller red brick buildings. We walked the freedom trail while we were there, learnt that the American's didn't win their independence because of their superior tactics, or because the British Soldiers wore Red Coats.  We walked past the balcony where MLK gave one of his key speeches and the balcony where the American Declaration of Independence was read out. Apparently Ho Chi Minh worked in one of Boston's hotels; wonder how different history would have been if he had stayed there.  We had an retired history teacher as a guide, which made me pause to think about what my next career could be.

Fenway Park

The other highlight was a visit to Fenway Park. While I couldn't do a tour (all booked out), it was worth walking around the ball-park. The slight error we made in planning the trip is that while we were in New York, the Yankees (and Mets) weren't, while we were in Boston, the Red Sox weren't, and yes, you guessed it, the Blue Jay's were in New York while we were in Toronto. 

One of the other tours you can do in Boston is in an old WWII amphibious landing vehicle, which travels on the road & on the river. The guide was seeking to bring the sixties back and filled his talk with dry humour. The brochure we got from Duck Tours is a hoot, they have an excellent range of guides all with really distinctive (quirky) personalities. 

Prudential Center

During our stay in Boston we went up the Prudential Center, which is the tallest building in Boston, which gave us opportunities to see the distinctive buildings from above, and it was also a great way to see the layout of the city. Boston is a strikingly beautiful town. The photo's of the city in this post, were taken from this building.

Salem

"I am innocent, I am wronged"
Salem Witch Trial Memorial

Salem Witch Museum

We finished our time in Boston by taking the train up to Salem. The town originally one of the key ports of the state, but made (in)famous through the Witch Trials of 1692 (and in a few episodes of Bewitched I hear).  Really enjoyed our visit to the Salem Witch Museum. There are not too may papers from the trials so the "exhibits" are an audio account of the trial, and then a guide speaks about the history of witches since then. Making the point that witches are misunderstood. Additionally making the link between fear leading the scapegoating. A really worthwhile museum. The staff of the museum are planning to put on The Crucible later this year, which reminded me I definitely need to see it.

After Boston, we headed up to Toronto, but more about that later.

New York, New York

We recently returned from a three week break in the USA and Canada, spending time in New York, Boston, Toronto (with a couple of nights in New Hampshire). We'd broken the trip up, beginning and finishing in NY, and  hitting New Hamsphire, Boston, and Toronto in the middle. the first New York section is the subject of this post.

How much has airline travel and inflight entertainment changed. Gone are the days of one screen displaying movies on a cycle, now you can chose watch you watch, and can select from new releases; Oscar winners, old favourites and 'world-movies'. The stand out two on the flight over were Hugo and the new Australian film "Any Questions for Ben?". 

It really does hit you how far away Australia is; 14 hours to LA, then another 4 to NY. Can't fault the Qantas ground-staff in LA, they really made the process of making the connecting flight seamless. Sure it took two hours to get through immigration, deal with the luggage and get to the gate, but we would have had to tried pretty hard to miss the plane.

One thing I'd love Qantas to do, is give you the opportunity to listen to the pliots speak with the Control Towers (and other planes). Fascinating.  I enjoyed "SkyCam" on the flight home, but that's getting ahead of myself.

Overall impression.. 

Filming on 50th Street.

I have now been to New York three times, and each time I have enjoyed the visit more. The first impression you get is the size of the city, and it hits all your senses, the distinctive smells, noise of the traffic, and scale of the buildings. It is true that they are filming something in New York every day, and streets will be closed. While not doing any specific tour, we ate the Soba Nippon, which is apparently one of the characters in SITC had their first date.  

The MET

The Met, NY

The highlight of the first section was going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The scale of the Museum is stunning. You will see art & displays of art from almost every continent & period of history. Even if you spend a week there, I doubt you would see everything. We saw Arms & Armour from medieval Europe, Feudal Japan & the Islamic World, visited some American Houses, glimpsed more varieties of musical instruments than you can imagine. (I almost wanted to take the Pipe organ home for Barneys).

United Nations

I also went to the UN the last time I was there. We were both struck, by the disconnect between the ideals of the UN, the Declaration of Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals and how you see them in the real world.  The UN displays gifts the member countries give them. The exhibit pictured, was from Colombia, where confiscated firearms have been modified into guitars.

Once

I am a huge fan of Glen Hansard, so the opportunity to see the musical version was too good to pass up.  The musical was held in the Jacobs Theatre. One of the highlights was the bar was on the stage (the bar is part of the set, but was operational too.. so yes, you did go up on stage to get your drinks).

What was really cool about the show was while people were getting their drinks, the cast came out on stage and started playing songs. All of the cast not only sang, but played an instrument.  It really captured the feel of busking. The musical captured the film quite well. If you have seen the film you'll know most of the songs. The cast do an a-capella version of  'Gold' which is beaut.  Cristin Milioti & Steve Kazee where great as the guy & the girl.  Once deserves to do well in the Tony Awards (held Sunday in the US). I do hope that Australia gets to see Once

Empire State Building

Looking Downtown from the ESB

I think to really see New York you have to get to the top of the Empire State Building. We went up a dusk, and basically went straight up to the top.  Such a magical view.

Greenwich 

Another of the highlights was doing one of the Food Tours (by Foods of NY), where we got the eat some of the real great NY food - original NY Pizza, a variety of cheeses, some beaut Arancini. We also got to taste some awesome Olive Oil. The tour guide also talked a little bit of the history of New York and the area which was great. Adding to the feeling that you were walking through a movie set, we saw the apartment building used for the external shots in FRIENDS.

That, I think, sums up the first few days in NY.

New Day Dawning

Well it doesn’t seem to long ago that I was sitting in Wollongong writing about 2005, and we have now welcomed in 2007.

2006 was a very memorable year. I started settling in to St Barnabas on Broadway. I have enjoyed working on the Network team (ministering to workers). During May last year Barneys burnt down, and since then we have been meeting in the lecture halls of Moore College. It has been a change for us all, but we are slowly adjusting. The church held a conference to look into options for rebuilding. It has been since decided that we are going to redevelop the site. It will be a great opportunity for us.

The highlight of the year is a little bit of a no-brainer. On December 2^nd this year Fiona and I were married. The eight months of our engagement disappeared quickly. We got married at St Matthias Paddington, and spent three weeks honeymooning in New Zealand.

During the first two weeks, we spent three days in Christchurch, before heading to Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Queenstown. A few highlights of the trip were our time in Aoraki (Cloud-piercer in Maori); our visit to Doubtful Sound (The Maori name Patea means Shadowlands (if you look at our pictures you will know why), jetboating on the Dart River, and a meal we had in Wellington (at Kai in the City – who served what Lonely Planet calls Maori Fusion. Loosely translated the meat was cooked traditionally and made into European styled meals.

The last week in NZ we spent catching up with my extended family; in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland. It has been quite a busy year for our family – three of my cousins also got married, while we were in NZ we were able to attend Sharyn’s wedding.

Since being back in Australia, we spent one night in our home before having Christmas in Canberra, and we celebrated New Years in Wollongong (before returning to the nasty reality called w—k).

Postscript: Since we have been back, we (read Fiona) has spent a lot of time putting up photos that our family and friends took at our wedding. They can be found here.

Into the Arms of America...

Late last year, I spent a lovely few weeks with my sister travelling around the United States. I really love Washington D.C. While I walked around the city, I could not help but think that I was walking around a movie set, and its rich history and heritage just leap out at you. As I sat there, I saw and heard the sounds of protestors marching, singing and letting their voice be heard.

More thoughts from my trip will follow.

A Sort of Homecoming

Well its hard to believe how fast the last four weeks has gone, and I am now home.

The trip in Brief:

• It was beautiful, wonderful, delightful to be met by my sister at Dublin Airport, staying with here there, and travelling around the States with her.
  
• London - "I've got a Shed that's bigger than this" - Loved seeing their Football, and The Woman in White. The biggest improver, quite liked it this time.
  
• I loved Washington, it feels very much like a film set in my mind, vivid recollections of West Wing, and the 1960s entailed while I was walking around the City.
• Miami, showed you the best and worse of America – poverty, riches, an enduring example of Rotisserie Evangelism and the classic tanning booth simply a block from the beach~!
• New York, instantly amazing, frustrating, yet strangely appealing
• Sigur Ros – a brilliant gig, in an amazing venue.
• U2, with my expectations it was always a danger I’d be disappointed, but the band seldom disappoint, and with two amazing sets, didn’t this time either. (the full band cover of Instant Karma, case and point)
  

And the amazing surprise when I got back was that I will be having Christmas with ALL of my family together in Australia.

Borrowing wings..

Later today, I get on a plane and fly over to Ireland and the US for holiday with my sister. I do hope to sproadically post while I'm away. In spite of all this it doesn't yet really feel that I'm going.

So God's Blessings on you all, and I look forward to catching up with you all upon my return.

Saturday July 24 2004 AD

Well, am in transit from Sydney to Brisbane at the moment its been a smooth flight. We are due to land in 20ish minutes. I’m going to try and find a church tonight, and also head to the AFL as well. I’ve been reading The Market Driven Church, which has been a fascinating read – definitely worth a second read, and will blog more on it later. The chapter I just finished reading was on Sport, and I was wondering if there was much difference between Australia, America, and Europe in relation to sport. I don’t really think so.

Southbank – July 25th

Found everything alright yesterday. I did get to the AFL last night. Am not really going to talk about the game, I think it was either in the Half-Time break, or just before, I looked down, and a message flashed up onto the big screen – it was something like; ‘KS, I love you so much' and then the words 'Will You Marry Me' flashed up, it was beaut. I’ve never seen an event like that before (oh, discounting all the romantic comedies). For the first few moments of the next quarter I was wondering, did she say yes. I hope she said yes. Personally, I’d have to be pretty sure before I’d do something like that, then again my idea of romantic isn't that really.

At the bounce of the third quarter, my suspense was ended, as the words ‘KS has accepted the proposal’ flashed up. It was a beaut moment.

As I have wondered around the city so far, I enjoyed the open feel to the city. Brisbane is dominated by the river which winds its way through the city. It has been a fairly mild day, at the moment, I’m sitting down listening to a Brass Band comp, the music has been special the highlights, What A Wonderful World (which always brings back Good Morning Vietnam), How Great Thou Art, and Penny Lane.

The city is growing; I have seen four or five cranes while I was wondering around Southbank. Southbank wasn’t too bad, but I think what I enjoyed about it was to be able to wonder along the river, looking across at the CBD, while watching people, ride, blade, or run past enjoying the day. It also seems to be a very green city, with a number of open spaces, and trees along the streets.

Thanks to some advice from Deb I went to Ann St. Presbyterian Church. The evening church was relatively small, roughly 20-30 people, but it was also very warm, and friendly. One of the highlights was the number of conversations I had about God and the Christian life after the service. It was beautiful. The text for the evening was 1 Cor 15. During the welcome the service leader read this poem, and one of the things that stood out was the comment that our in Christ our Past is redeemed, our present makes sense, and our future secure. Continuing on, she read a poem which talked about the difference between the Western Church, and Christians under persecution in China, by in large, down here, we talk the walk, we talk about the Christian life, we talk about what it should look like, while they often walk the talk.

The sermon talked of the pillars of the Gospel. The death, burial, resurrection, and appearing of Christ. How these four pillars are testified to in both Scripture and history.

The other recollection I have about the service, was the mission spot in which the speaker showed a video containing an Audio Adrenaline song in a presentation. I’ve included the words below. It was quite challenging, bringing to my mind words from Isaiah. [Isaiah’s Call in Chapter 6]

Hands and Feet

An image flashed across my TV screen
Another broken heart comes in to view
I saw the pain and I turned my back
Why can't I do the things I want to?
I'm willing yet I'm so afraid
You give me strength
When I say

CHORUS:

I want to be your hands
I want to be your feet
I'll go where you send me
I'II go where you send me

REPEAT

And l try, yeah I try
To touch the world like
You touched my life
And I find my way
To be your hands

I've abandoned every selfish thought
I've surrendered every thing I've got
You can have everything I am
And perfect everything
I'm not I'm willing,
I'm not afraid
You give me strength When I say

This is the lifetime I turned my back on you
From now on, I'll go so
Send me where You want me to
I finally have a mission
I promise I'll complete
I don't need excuses
When I am your hands and feet

Words & Music by Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Tyler Burkum & Charlie Peacock Up in The Mix Music/ Andi Beat Goes On – BMI Flicker U.S.A.
Publishing - BMI

Dublin … Ireland ..

Last night was a novel experience. I was in the pub watching a game of soccer between Ireland and Australia. It was the first time in my life that I have been completely gutted by watching Australia lose. For those who may be curious Ireland won 2-1. Australia could well have been three goals up by half time. Anyway, back to Dublin. I had a quick look around the Temple Bar district today. The last few days have been kind of quiet as I am winding down preparing to endure, sorry, enjoy the flight back home. I’ve spent the day out at Killmanian Goal (if you are a U2 fan from way back, it was used in the filmclip of A Celebration [in 1982 or 1983], but probably better known for being used in the Daniel Day Lewis film In the Name of the Father.)

30 000 ft, above the North West Australian Coast

Well there you go, apparently I’m home. Its been a great trip. Thinking back over it, I have learnt a great deal. The idea of going away on a working holiday is somewhat appealing.

It has been a revealing trip, challenges I think I need to work on is self-image. I need to embrace who God has made me to be. I find it far easier to own the weaknesses, own my sinfulness. God has made me the way I am. I am God’s workmanship. He has determined the boundaries of my life and that is something for which, to be thankful.

Parts of travelling alone are good. I found that through staying in Hostels you do meet interesting people, and you are able to share little bits and pieces of both the yourself and the experience of travelling.

Postscript:

That is a run through of my reflections while on Holiday. One of the lessons I think I learnt while I was away was how valuable Christian community is. I deeply missed my church, and did not really think through what I'd do about fellowship with other Christians before I left. Sure I brought tapes and a book of studies to do while I was away, but it was community I missed. I value the love, encouragement, and rebukes of a Christian family seeking to be more like Christ. I missed being able to pray with each other, and talk about God’s will for our life, wrestling with the Word together during and after the sermon. Sure I may have found that had I got to church, but I think that was the problem for me, it was harder to get to church, you not always sure where they are, and what they are going to be like, (and I’d always seem to be on the road on Sundays as well). If I was to go again, I’d flesh out in my mind where to church before I left.

+++

[...] but if the path set before her feet was to be narrow she knew the flowers of quiet happiness would bloom along it. The joys of sincere work and worthy aspiration and congenial friendship were to be hers; nothing could rob her of her birthright of fancy or her ideal world of dreams. And there was always the bend in the road!
“'God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world'” whispered Anne softly.

Belfast - August 17

Decided that I was going to go to the Tattoo while in Edinburgh, [Ed – who’d of thought that it would follow me – and be in Sydney Feb 2005 – the second time its been out of Scotland – the other it went to Wellington]

Anyway, in the morning I lined up for tickets, wearing my All Blacks jumper, as I knew that it was about the same time the All Blacks took the field in Auckland. Quite a fun experience, I was across the road from a pub or café that was showing the game live. Every so often I would hear cheers, or groans of disbelief, unfortunately for my poor heart, they weren’t obviously pro Kiwi, or pro Aussie. And finding out was not worth sacrificing my place in the ever-growing queue.

It all ended well for the displaced Kiwi – I bought a ticket for the Tattoo, and the Kiwi’s won 21-17 in a tense close game.

To borrow from The Whitlims – I love this city. It’s a beautiful city, a mixture of the Georgian Architecture of the Town, and the medieval buildings of the old town, with the famous castle as the centrepiece. I was really swept away in Edinburgh. I can't quite put it into words, but its just such a romantic, enchanting, city.

The Tattoo was amazing. I love the sound of the bagpipes, it was moving hearing the Lone-piper play ‘The Last Post’. The absolute highlight was the Swiss Drum corp who were amazing. It was high speed precision drumming, combined with throwing their drumsticks to each other, while maintaining the beat. Amazing!

I had an uneventful flight over to Belfast. On my way in to the City I had a great conversation with the Cabby, who talked to me a little about ‘the troubles’, and how it had settled down a touch over the last 10 or so years.

I spent my first full day on the Northern Coast heading around to the Giant’s Causeway. The Giant’s Causeway was beautiful. It’s a natural wonder of the modern world. Formed if you believe the Irish, by a Giant who wanted to visit Scotland, or if you believe the Scientists it is a cooled Lavaflow from ages past.

I haven’t felt awkward about being in Belfast. You do see, and hear reminders of the troubles, such has the 20 metre high fence, and the thousand of flags which, line the streets, which are painted on the gutters, but on the whole its simply a city filled with people who are going about there day to day lives.

One of the things I felt, and I’m not sure where I got this from, but its not mine: Until those in Ireland, love their children, more than they hate each other this city will be filled, like Palestine with strife, and the cycle of hate will continue. Lasting peace though is only found in Christ.

Untitled
- written in Belfast

Generation to generation
Stories past down
Prejudices formed, as legs learn to walk

The cycle continues,
The hate will grow
Unchallenged by all
Its for the ages

Future hope,
In love giving birth
Stories changed
Hope in an innocent heart
An unstained life
A peace from the future, that will endure.

Princes St Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland - August 15

The Tour of the Highlands was amazing. Being on the surface of Loch Ness and seeing some of those sonar displays was amazing. Being on the Isle of Skye, walking up the range on a brisk day was remarkable. The view was brilliant, it was so clear, so natural, (then one of my fellow-travellers pulls out a cigarette… go figure)

The Highlands themselves remind me somewhat of New Zealand, Central Otago, mainly because of the ruggedness. The guides who led the tour were also wonderful. They brought the rich Scottish History to life, with their passion and humour.

After spending the first two and a bit weeks of my trip as an independent traveller it was great to travel with people. As an independent traveller you do have a little more control over where you go, how long you stay, but for that freedom, what you sacrifice is the opportunity to sit down over a hot-chocolate, coffee, and discuss your day, talk about what you’ve seen.

[Ed. I think that’s parts of my personality coming out, I do love to share, love to hear what other people think, what others liked, and as I travelled by myself, there’s often so much that inspires me, and then without the ability to share it simply disappears. I often said to myself, for that reason, the first time that I’d go to Europe, would be after I am married. So as I (re)discovered Europe, felt the richness of the History flow through my veins, I would be able to share that, with the rest of my life.

Though, before I left for my trip the first time, I said I can’t keep putting it of. I need to redeem the time that I have. And hopefully I am a better man of God for it].

Bath, August 10

Had a lovely train ride through the countryside and out to Bath, home of Jane Austen. I did a great tour of Bath, and found out that I wasn’t going to be able to see the Royal Crescent, as there was a Three Tenors concert in Bath, and once I left Bath, I went on to Stratford upon Avon. (Which during my holiday I discovered simply means River).

I did find Bath inspiring, while I was there; I went to the Jane Austen museum, which I found quite interesting, looking at the women behind many of the great works of literature.

The Georgian Architecture of Bath was also beautiful, the Royal Circus, and Crescent were standouts. (Ed – I’ll try to scan the postcard I bought). The other highlight in Bath was looking crossing Putney Bridge, one of the few bridges that has shops on both sides of the bridge.

One of the things that struck me was that both Shakespeare and Austen wrote from the same inspiration that we all have, the people and experiences and tales of their times, albeit that they both had a great deal more talent. They crafted there stories so finely, creating rich and real characters that transcended their age. (I did wonder then, and still kind of do, does our age have an author who has the same ability. What are the cultural relics our age will leave behind).

August 10

The platform is a buzz with nervous optimism, the optimism holds for the train trip, it’s the optimism that comes with the first day of the season, the inks barely dried on the transfers, and we see them in the flesh, on the field.

The journey home, slightly more subdued, the optimism of the morning dented by defeat, yes defeat on penalties, but still defeat. Maybe a little oppressed by the weather (Ed. I found out later the warmest day in England, in recorded history, 40 C).

Since then, I’ve noticed a few differences between Australian, and English crowds. In England, opposing fans sit on opposite sides of the stadium, in Australia, highlighted last Saturday, you can support the home team, and be completely surrounded by fans of the other team. The rivalry is much more obvious in England, and it does not take on the same light-heartedness you get in Australia – though maybe a Victorian reader could confirm, AFL in Victoria, would be far closer to the English crowd, the many passionate spectators I’ve seen on television berating the umpires, and even the players is evidence for me.

+ + +

Read this beaut article tying Sport and Shakespeare together, from The Australian this weekend, (unfortunately, you now need to pay to read the article - if your interested let me know, and I'll send a photocopy to you).

The article Where there's a will - Brush up on your Shakespeare and start improving your life points to a new book, Shakespeare: The Coach by Ric Charlesworth, known to many people as the coach of the Gold Medal winning Australian women's Hockey team.

Here's a few quotes he uses:

Be great in act, as you
have been in thought [King John]

The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones [Julius Caeser]

This above all - to thine own self be true,
and it must follow, as the night
the day, thou canst not then be false
to any man [Hamlet]

Things without all remedy
Should be without regard
What's done is done [Macbeth]

I found it a very interesting article, the article also talks a little about the sort of life Shakespeare lived.

Red Bridge (Tube Station) London, UK. (August 5)

New York was an awesome experience. I meet a lovely guy from England in my room, and we spent the next day getting to know New York. It is one of the great things about hostelling, you do meet people, and are able to enjoy exploring the city together. I didn’t have much time, as I was flying out that evening so we had to pick a few things to do.

On the list, before I got to New York, I had a desire to visit the Museums and the Art Galleries. The way my day fell, we ended up catching the Subway to Ground Zero, and walking from there through lower Manhattan to Battery Park, were we lined up, and took a cruise past the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, before coming back to Battery Park, and walking back down Broadway, through Time Square [One of my favourite crazy things I saw was here - a counter, measuring the US national debt, increasing rapidly every second ... ], and ending up at Central Park. Where we experience one of the best drenchings I’ve had in a long time, (I had an umbrella but it wasn’t very useful), by a storm (which would prove to later delay my departure from the US).

My impressions of New York - staring back towards Manhattan, was the empty hole in the Skyline where the World Trade Centre was. Another thing that surprised me was the friendliness of the locals as they saw tourists looking in bewilderment at the skyline, street signs, and then their maps.

As I write, I’m tubing back into my Hostel in London. Its been one of the more frustrating days, London has not made that much of an impression on me, its been too hot, and I don’t think the flight agreed with me.

One of the things that I’ve found most concerning during my time away, has been how little time I’ve spent in the Word. I brought a lot with me to look at, but I’ve just been tired. Its not helpful.

Tomorrow, though I’m looking forward to visiting LORDs, (seeing the Ashes – yes I am a sports tragic), and then in the Evening I’ve got a performance of Les Miserables to look forward to.