Christopher Rath in New York: July 2007

Boston, MA

With time running out on my year in the US and having not even been through Connecticut (it's very close to NY!) yet it was time; time to go to the capital of Massachusetts obviously.

Despite being the most populous city in the state it still very much has the feel of a small town. Easy to walk around and full of students it reminded me of Edinburgh. I can imagine it is a very nice place to go to university, if only I was smart enough to go to Havard. With the obligatory trip to Cheers, both the original and replica of the famous bar, for a pint and a walk up to Fenway Park to see the old stadium home to the Boston Red Sox.

The highlight however had to be the only thing I wasn't able/allowed to photo, the Mapparium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapparium). A one-of-a-kind, 3 story, stainless glass globe, which you can walk through. Awesome! Then add the perfect acoustics and you have a reason, if you needed one, to visit Boston.

The gates to Harvard

Boston Common

Mass Av

"Where everybody knows your name"

Massholes...!

Cheers

Andrew and Una

On Friday evening I met up with the world famous Andrew Page and Una Mangus as the former accompanied the latter as she moved to the wonder of NYC! Was awesome to catch up but unfortunately no photos to go with as I forgot to bring my camera.

More visitors coming soon...

Where's George now?

While in East Vegas aka Atlantic City this weekend I was handed another dollar bill marked with Where's George? Much to my excitement I ran to the computer (a day later) and typed in the serial number...

http://www.wheresgeorge.com/report.php?key=93dbf4ad5281476273ed1e7a870e53f3808f2c0a1f1b8e34

...a slightly more travelled $1 but still not enough entries!!

Beach Party

The week after I arrived back from Hawaii it was time for two of the Visa Section's finest to depart for brighter shores. Study in the UK? Madness! So to say goodbye to Jenna and Kev we had a beach party in the BCG's recreation room. The mild mannered affair lasted for a mere 10 hours. Oops! Good thing we weren't paying for the drinks!!

Kev and Jenna - gone!

Lauren, Me and Jenna

The deserted island where we kept the beers!

Jeremy and Kev

Sarah waves bye bye!

Maximo Park

Saw them at Webster Hall tonight. Quality!

The Aloha State

The 50th, and last, state but by more than no means the least. Just beautiful!

The Glorious Fourth

I was also lucky enough to be there on American Independence Day on the 4th of July. Cheryl and Pete had heard about an event being held at Schofield Army Barracks so we headed along to that. As evening fell, we ate pizza and drank 32oz beers - yes! (Miss Dunlop was the designated driver). There was an orchestra accompanied by canons and as they read a list of all 50 states....."Delaware, The First State"....."New Jersey, The Garden State".....New York, "The Empire State".....each was name was marked with another shot from a canon. And then came the fireworks! Happy July 4th boys and girls!

32oz beers, 32 glorious ounces!

USA!

The Red, the White and the Boom

GW

Some on you may have heard of a Web site called Where's George? It is a way of trace the whereabouts of particular dollar bills. They are stamped with the Web address and if you enter the unique serial number you can see where you buck has travelled. So imagine my excitement when I find one of these.

http://www.wheresgeorge.com/report.php?key=d21d4cdb5b958bf97eb35bf4610ebfc502973d9cc30586b2

Only to be sorely disappointed at my unadventurous $1. Still fun though!

The 6th day of the 30th month

Moving to the US presents some interesting cultural problems but none more so than the blantantly incorrect date formatting that's used here (hint of sarcasm here, although the Americans might not get it so nevermind).

Anyway, when it comes to your birthday, or mine for that matter it is could be rather confusing if the date has to change. Thankfully, my birthday doesn't exist in the American calendar so I was able to go ahead and celebrate it on the 30th of June like normal!

Friday night after work I went out for a few drinks - see the censored photographic evidence below - was followed by singing on the train home. Allegedly I was attempting to have everyone on the train sing Happy Birthday to me. If I can't remember it can't have happened!

Saturday was a necessarily leisurely day in Central Park followed by dinner in Alphabet City (Avenues A,B,C and D for the uneducated) and a quieter beer or two. A great birthday.