Viva Las Vegas

Sunday was such a hung over day and we didn't realise that Southwest air has no set seating or tv's, the definition of no frills travel. So after rushing to get to the flight after we ate we couldn't get 2 seats together and I put my bag in storage so I didn't have anything to do and I was suffering, so I created a game called KTB. I used to suffer with pressure pains and they came back for our stop off landing in Phoenix, not good. Anyway when we got back in the air felt good again and shortly we were in Vegas. We met my boy Kevin 'the Great White Shark' Winders immediately as we walked through the door at the Imperial Palace at the craps tables, in short he was wasted as he had been at the table and drinking since 8am and it was now 9.30pm, the degenerate (btw Kevin will refute this, apparently you're only a degenerate if you're losing). So we checked in and joined Kevin at the tables, and soon were joined by Rapp, Superhans, Barri and Josh before they all disappeared for their own gambling or food related reasons. Kevin gave me about $30 in chips to play for him and I slowly learned how to play craps, and due to an amazing hot streak by a yummy mummy we got paid, and I made Kevin around $150. We then went for a Pizza dinner and went and met the boys in Barri and Superhans' room where Kevin passed out, then tried to make it out but was violently ill, very hilarious, and as we couldn't get Josh awake Penny, Barri, Superhans, Rapp and myself did a lap of the strip and I parted my wisdom from previous trips as only Superhans had been there before.

On Monday we toured the Venetian and Treasure Island, where there was a place called Gilley bar.

We then went to the Mirage and played craps (we lost, but not by alot) while Josh joined the poker tables and at one stage was a few hundred dollars up before a sneaky French guy beat him then cashed out and back in at another table (you can't do that, but the pit boss let it play), so needless to say Josh was pissed. So Rapp, Winders, Penny and myself went back to the Imperial and played more craps at was very quickly becoming our table and after a little while we all left significantly up. After some down time (and drunkenly writing my Austin blog) Penny and I met Rapp and went on the New York New York roller coaster which was a good laugh but the queue and service from the ride staff was awful. In the meantime a one KW had organised a limo to a strip club, which adds to the true Vegas experience.

All I will say is Rapp, my new hero, spent the entire time picking fights with strippers, which included the lines I'm better than you, and you're racist, hilarious. I managed to get the waitress' number as she was from Essex and appreciated Brits, I only note this as this was probably the smoothest feats of my life, because if you know me you know I can't talk to women. After returning (via limo again) we crashed out.

Tuesday morning Rapp, Kevin and I had Bloody Mary's before hitting the Palace buffet which was so so but all you can eat, which was definitely a nice change to fast food. After lunch we hit up Caesers Palace Venus pool, a European topless pool, where we got a booth chilled in the sun and drank intensely. The Great White Shark then went and started chatting to 2 girls from Chicago (Mackenzie and Carly), and then tagged me in to wing for him (great call). After a few beers we played beach ball and then I got to chill out with Mackenzie on there pool side bed, her dad is minted so she whips out a cigar and suggests we smoke it as she never has before. We had a long chat and share some deep truths like the reasons I am on this trip and they are not as clear cut as I thought. She says I have a nice arse, we exchange numbers and they leave for a cocktail party. Winders and the boys hit the Blue Man Group and afterwards we met him and Rapp at Pure, where once again the Great White had sorted us out, this time with guest list (free entry, kaching). We got our dance on and had a few drinks, we were supposed to meet the pool girls here but couldn't find them (unfortunately after I passed out at around 4am, they called us, balls!). Anyway we got some cool pics, my favourite is the one with the girls as Rapp took it, and they had a really fat mate who Rapp cut out.

Also Rapp had a dance off with a 5ft 6 Guido who did a terrible mix between break dancing and Irish jig, it was embarrassing so Rapp tried to out dance him.....and failed. However I did capture this suggestive photo.

We went back to our casino and I watched Rapp, the Great White and Penny lose at craps whilst repeatedly being told to behave as I was too drunk, was very funny, then bed!

Wednesday was a very hung over day, we woke up just before check out (fortunately packed the night before) and met the boys in the lobby to taxi to the airport for our next adventure in San Diego a WV!

Good trip boys, let me know about the next adventure!

Austin, not exactly the Lone star state of mind.

We met the wonderful Maggie Mcgrath at the airport and went to Trudy’s and I got to try a Mexican Martini (so potent you’re only allowed 2 and no other booze before or after). Maggie also gave us a Mexican food 101 course, as Austin is all about the Tex-mex and BBQ. We followed this up by trying to see the bats under one of the bridges go into a feeding frenzy but we just missed it so went to a hipster place called spider house for some pitchers, Maggie (the best and worst vegetarian ever, she thinks meet looks and smells awesome but morally won’t eat any except fish and duckling, disclaimer, duckling is a lie) had a veggie burrito and insisted I try it (it’s ok, I’m sure the burrito truck killed an animal on its way, so I could morally eat it). We stayed in a hotel the first night which was nice for a while, except for Penny’s snoring.

Wednesday we slept late then had some fantastic tacos before hitting Barton Springs water hole, an outdoor spring with seaweed and salamanders, which was superb. 

Cold water swimming combined with some beautiful people, including probably the greatest pair of fake tits I may have ever seen, apparently quite common for Texan chicks to get for birthdays or graduation. Maggie didn’t like the cold water but managed to get in after some persuasion. I’m not sure why I have to mention this but the changing rooms were outdoors and so got to get bare assed under the hot sun, which as I have yet to skinny dip, streak or base jump naked, was awesome. We followed this up by going to Chueys retro 50’s place with cheap Margaritas and free nachos. Whilst queuing at the nacho bar a guy came up to me and asked how I was doing, to which I gave my usual no eye contact shrug and general answer, he carried on saying about  how lovely the day was, so I said how we were struggling in the heat. He replied ‘but it’s a beautiful day to be alive’ and walked off. I looked up and it was a homeless guy that we had seen under the freeway earlier, it was quite humbling. We followed Chueys with a free gig in the park meeting a few of Maggies (gorgeous) friends, including Bogan (it’s some sort of flower). I don’t know why but in my blog notebook I have written Penny is from Afghanistan, so there you go. We closed out the night with a trip to a Microbrewery and stayed at Maggies boyfriend TJ’s place.

In the morning Mags dropped us off at the drag and we went to the Ransom Centre and saw the first ever photo, an original Picasso (Picasso drew a Daschund a plate for a friend), the Gutenberg bible and a Tennessee Williams display. We followed this with the Texas state history museum, which was interesting in the early parts but Texas pretty much writes its own history, and nobody loves Texas more than the Texans (why it’s also known as the reach around state). We followed this up by going to Maggies Art Gallery, featuring a rare non-pop art Warhol of an electric chair. Maggie also sorted us out with a tour of the Texas Capitol building with Bogan who works there.

 To put it simply Texas is the only state that feels they need their own senate building and decided to build it to a similar design as the US congress building in Washington DC, except typically building it a little bigger, as everything is bigger in Texas. That evening we went to the original Salt Lick, another man versus food site, and ate a pound of meat, and felt I could do more.

It was one of the best BBQ meals I’ve had, and we finished up by hitting a few hipster bars like ulstre pearl and bar 97 for hula hooping, giant jenga and fussball. We stayed at TJ’s again and Maggie walked into the mesh door out to the balcony, which was hilarious.

On Friday we went to Rudys BBQ for more meat by the pound, then went to the Real Ale brewery in Blanco, Texas for a tour and tasting. Then an old school airport where you could walk on the runway and check out the planes (*this is not advice to terrorists, terrorism is bad, maybe look at going back to school or get a less explosive hobby), and they had also converted a hangar into a hotel. 

We went to an old German town called Fredericksburg (don’t mention the war) and window shopped before getting dinner at Hondos, where Penny got a Port-o-bellend sandwich. On the way back Mags insisted on going to a small town called Luckenbach which is an old cowboy/country  village filled with reall cowboys, country music and chickens in trees, and was really good, Willie Nelson loves it, they have a saying that ‘Everybody is Somebody in Luckenbach’.

Saturday we met two other friends from my second camp, Wade and Obesa and we floated the river in San Marcos. This basically means renting an inner tube and floating down the river with outrageous amounts of booze and testosterone. We went on tree swings, tried a jungle beer bong and tried everclear soaked strawberries. 

Mags then took us to the Rollerderby, a massive deal in Austin, it was interesting but like most American sports goes on way to long, fortunately they had a bar. 

We then met Steve Washer, a guy Mags and I know from my first camp and found out that he is getting married in like 6 days, so the drinks flowed freely from  there which was pretty intense as we had been drinking all day. After getting even more intoxicated we hit dirty 6, a famous area of Austin that can only described as Magaluf, Newquay and Cardiff on a night out. I thought I would really enjoy this part but a combination of being wasted and beginning to dislike the dirty club and bar scene I struggled to like this place although I had an awesome night, especially as the beautiful Bogan was our host for most of the night. 

Mags picked us up and we crashed at her friends gaff with Steve, good luck to you man.

Sunday we brunched then spent the day very hung over before heading to Vegas. Thanks to TJ and Mags for being such awesome hosts.                                           

Miami, South beach bringing the heat, uh!

So a touch misleading, we're actually staying in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, the cheaper and cleaner younger brother of Miami. So my good friend Adam Williams picked us up from the airport and took us to Duffys a sports bar but our pricing issue with the Northern cities seems to be non-existent down here....its cheap to drink and relatively cheap to eat, so more money for fun and games. We are staying in Williams' and his wife's penthouse and they took us out in down town Fort Lauderdale where we ended up going to Capone's for 3 for 1 drinks and KY Jelly wrestling. Most bars had similar shenanigans but needless to say this was awesome!

The next day we played 'soccer' at midday in Miami heat.....it was my first run out since tearing my PCL and despite my lack of fitness and suffering in the heat, and lack of skills my knee held out pretty well. We then spent the late afternoon and evening at the beach before returning to Williams' gaff for some Beer Pong, I sucked until I got intoxicated for being rubbish and then cost Penny the title by whooping him in the last game, then drunkenly rubbed his nose in it.

Friday we went out to the Everglades and went fan boating looking for gators, something I have wanted to do for a very long time. It was very very hot and humid but a good laugh, and then we went on to see loads of reptiles at a sort of redneck petting zoo. I held a gator and then fed the chickens, birds, rabbits and ducks, and then witnessed a gator trying to eat a racoon drinking from the water (it failed). We followed this up by playing with puppies (dogs) at the pet store, and then ice cream and a quick trip to the beach, where we saw Sea Turtles nests and some super yachts before...more drinks and the first Introduction of International drinking rules.

Saturday we went to the big mall, it was huge but would have been better if we had some money or space in the bags to shop. Then we hit up the Hard Rock hotel and Casino and went to an alcohol slushy place called Wet Willies, and its not just a little booze, they are packed full of intoxicating goodness. Then for dinner we went to a Mexican chain called Azteca, it's not all you can eat but it might as well be, Penny and I shared a $12 platter, which literally is death by chimichanga,

Sunday was Mrs Williams birthday so we made breakfast and although the egg, cheese and bacon bagels were a roaring success my first attempt at french toast was a little bit of a disaster. Alishia said it tasted like french toast but aesthetically it looked worse than Colonel Gaddafi's holiday home on the Med. We then hit up Miami (bitch), it was oddly alluring which turned into nausea when you stayed longer than a few minutes. South beach was very sexy but also very superficial, basically if you want to pretend you are the business go to South beach, if you are the business take your boat to the Bahamas, simples! We then watched the USA women lose to Japan in the women's world cup (huge over here) and then went for a late swim. As a thunderstorm rolled in we decided to get out and go for a drink, walking back to the car a giant chunk of palm tree fell off and landed inches behind me. After this brush with death we decided to drink away the evening at the quarterdeck and get an early night because Monday, we're on a boat mf!

On Monday we rented a 21foot deck boat from just north of West Palm and had to race a bad shower down the inter-coastal.

Penny's Wallmart shorts ran and stained the seats so when asked to change he got naked. We decided to wait out the storm at a quayside restaurant and took in an early fish lunch, a bit pricey but was really good. As the storm was heading South we decided to turn back North and moored up at West Palm and had a look around. It was less pretentious than Miami but just as expensive, however a pro was less Jersey shore wannabes. We headed North again and anchored just off of Peanut Island and swam to the shore, it was a really nice small island where you can camp, picnic or party.

We did a lap of the island and saw a Black Chaser, no not a car chase in Croydon, it's a really fast snake, so (like Croydon) we got out of there sharpish. After some lunch and a few beers we headed North again and Captain Williams went over some rollers and my sunglasses are now making a Marlin look dashing at the bottom of the Atlantic. Williams then found a tiny deserted island with two really long sand bars and a beautiful white sand beach, where we spent the rest of the afternoon. We found a coconut that we named Willie Wilson Will Smith and played 'football' with, and then smashed. We had some cigars, some more food and beer and decided to name the site Penny Island turn the Island into a Tikki bar, Williams is still waiting on the bank loan to come through for this. Penny Island rules:-


1st RULE: You do not talk about PENNY ISLAND.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about PENNY ISLAND.
3rd RULE: If someone says "stop" or goes limp, taps out their night is over.
4th RULE: Partying will go on as long as it has to.
5th RULE: If this is your first night at PENNY ISLAND, you HAVE to drink.


When we left Penny Island we gave Willie Wilson Will Smith a burial at sea and returned the boat, and hit the bar where Penny was threatened by a local, very funny!

Penny Island

Tuesday we prepared to fly to Austin, Texas, and dicked around playing table tennis and making high alcohol milkshakes, Penny's first taste of Taco Bell and a few Beers at Duffy's before flying out.

Thank you to the Williams' for such amazing hospitality and for looking after us, Bluebirds!

DC and the end of my love affair with the Eastern USA tourist trail

From the title you may notice I am disgruntled, a little. Well we got up at 5am to get a flight to DC, we had a really zoned out taxi driver whose car was way to hot and complained the tip wasn't good enough, when it was one of the better tips we have been able to provide. We then found out that we were booked onto the 7.30 and 9.30 flight, thank you Jetblue, and as a result they couldnt confirm us on the early flight (that we had to get up for), and put us on standby. We made the flight and got to a very hot and humid DC, we put the bags in a locker and did the Smithsonian museums on the mall, until check in.

A few hours after check in I realised that we were surrounded by very few people of our age (mostly schoolkids or oldies, stoney would be thrilled) and families, and so many French (quick invade now, I swear they're all here). And the Dalai Lama is in town doing a conference on Buddhism at $42 a day.

So I am currently reading the motorcycle diaries, and although I will never be a revolutionary like Che, I am enjoying the depiction of his journey and makes me look at my trip from a different perspective. Sunday evening we made a large steak dinner and went on an evening tour of the sites to see them all lit up.

I feel that after visiting DC, again, I am losing my love affair with places I have been in the USA and as such feel that I probably won't return to these locations again, unless I do a nostalgic tour in my twilight. Fortunately the remaining USA stops are all new to me and I am very excited to explore and ruin them for others.

Monday we did the remaining Smithsonian museums, Jeffereson monument (my favourite) and Arlington Cemetery. It was very very hot and it was uncomfortable to be walking everywhere, so we treated ourselves to Asian happy hour down the road. In the evening after a pasta dinner the hostel put on there was extreme thunder and lightening and Penny and I went to Adams Morgan Madams Organ (finally) and got our drink on.

Once again it was too hot so I slept in the TV instead of my bed. Its weird my pet peeves are sleeping in too late and tardiness but in this weather I have reverted to this state as I can't seem to function in this heat. So went for lunch at Ben's Chilli Bowl, an all black owned and run diner since the 1950's with world famous Chilli Dogs.

There is a sign on the wall saying people who eat for free: Bill Crosby, the Obama family, and nobody else. Sarkozy and Carla Bruni along with Obama all have pictures on the wall of them eating there. Hot Dog may very well be the best I have ever had.

After lunch we went to the Pentagon (not alot to see) where they have a moving Sept 11th memorial but you can't take pictures, so I can't show you. Then we finished up the monuments in the day time and sweated a lot, so got shirtless.

Had Tacos at the hostel then Beer and Thai sandwiches at a restaurant where we have become infamous in under 24hrs.

Miami tomorrow!

The end of Boston

So to finish off with Boston we had a delicious lunch at BOLLOCO (Boston Local Company) burito bar, and spent time in the JFK Library (a must if you ever visit Boston), and then Penny wanted to take pictures of famous peoples graves. Not Michael Jackson or Elizabeth Taylor, more founding fathers (yawn), so we saw John Handpenis (Hancock) and Samual Adams (always a good decision) graves.

Then came four loco, we decided to have one each before a night out, *disclaimer, don't! We met Hiro in a bar and after 2 or 3 more drinks I blacked out and next thing I know I'm awake in my bed with possibly the worst hang over to date.

Penny however had a much greater adventure, the bar Dillans is 300 yards up the road and you can see it from our hostel. Penny couldn't remember where the hostel was (I blame four loco) and ended up getting a taxi to Fenway (half a mile passed our hostel and proceeded to walk back, and get more lost. Four loco is evil and has now been banned from my body!

Saturday we attempted Harvard in the heat while hung over and we proceeded to give up quite quickly, which is a shame as I have such fond memories. I then slept away most of my hang over and went for drinks and dinner at the North Market at Quincy, and Winders joined us for food and 'Chowda'!

Sunday we left for DC.

The Golden Beaches of the Cape

Thursday we were meant to get up at 6.30am to get a train out to the airport to collect a car, and in true fashion neither of us slept well and were awake long before this. The journey out to collect our car was frustrating and as such when collecting the car I decided to get on the road and failed to adjust my mirrors or assess the car for damage(did so later, all was fine).  We had a pale green ford focus that was a reliable drive but looked like an item of clothing your ageing style-less Aunt has bought you for your birthday and insists on you wearing (Disclaimer: my Aunts are neither ageing nor style-less, and in fact do buy nice clothes).

On our first toll the guy asked if 'your plates are regular', if anyone knows what this means please put it on a stamped address envelope to the usual address. On the way to the very end of the Cape we pulled off 3 times to get coffee for the weary driver (me), but first we found K-Mart, which I imagined would be Asda's retarded gay niece, and two roads that promised fast food chains that after miles of driving never appeared, so we cracked on.

For those of you who don't know, Provincetown is where the gay pilgrims landed and immediately set up flashy boutiques and luxury food stores, bought very small dogs (presumably off some very confused Native American Indians, which I assume was the birth of the Village People) and donned their uniform of tank tops and short shorts very proudly. In short we arrived in glorious sunshine, had a look around, which was nice but decided to leave when we were offered a pedicure from a very openly homosexual man who I imagine was called Xavier or Hensel. I have nothing against homosexuals, their food is excellent, their style to some extent is very good and they are a very clean type of person, however this wasn't Brighton's very subtle gay undertone, this was Big Gay Al's village and everything was 'Super, thanks for asking!' and had a vibe of 'we work hard, we play hard!'

We spent the afternoon at Nauset Beach, just up from Orleans, it was amazing. Beautiful weather, beautiful people, the beach was stunning and the water was warmer than Lake Michigan. 

We bought lunch from Provincetown so needless to say the pasta pot was fantastic. Then after a few hours of converting our backs into back-bacon we decided to drive the long way around the Cape via Falmouth back to Boston. It was in short a wonderful view of all the creeks and boatyards the Cape is famous with, and every town we went through you could smell the seafood restaurants pumping out the fumes of baked clams and other seafood to entice weary travelling in like sirens and wreck their back accounts.

If you know me a little, you will know I am a huge follower (can't say fan all the time) of the Kennedy's and these little creaks made my mind wander to what the cars they would drive up the routes and what spoilt or philanderous antics they would get up to on the tiny off roads.

On the way back we managed to take a wrong turn for the airport (which avoided the toll) and I ended up driving around downtown Boston's financial district which was at the time intimidating but immediately after very funny. We capped the night off with some beers in the room (don't tell the hostel) and a looooooooooooooooong sleep. 

*Dedicated to the steal workers of America, Keep reaching for that rainbow!

Boston for Chowda

So we flew to Boston on Tuesday, and traditionally American airports are farcical but this was a joke. They made only men go through the full body scanner, and women didn't have to. After spying on my junk the security guard gave me a solitary nod and a thumbs up. Unfortunately when Penny went through the guard burst into hysterics and got other members of staff to come over to point and laugh, either Penny has spent to much time in Asia and it has effected his anatomy or it could be the sandwich he keeps in his armpit 'for later'! They should have given him some lipstick, because he likes to look pretty when he is being screwed. Anyway they stopped my knee brace and rescanned it as it could be dangerous but allowed Penny's Chinese walking stick through that could easily be used to bludgeon someone. We got in late and had a quiet one with pizza and beer.

Wednesday we took a trolley tour around Boston which was good fun, we had New England Clam Chowda (I'm going to enjoy this!) at Quincey Market, visited Faneuil hall, briefly saw the USS Constitution known as 'Old Ironside', the state house and all the historical sites. It was very clear that Boston loves to hold a grudge against the British and pump out plenty of one-sided history about the build up to and the start of the 'American' revolution. I like Boston as a city but it very much tries to be a one track town in terms of history.

We also went to the Bruins Stadium fresh from their Stanley Cup win, and Penny as a huge Ice Hockey fan (he was involved in the Vancouver riots, I will testify for a reduced sentence off my future crimes) wanted to see the cup and shop but it was closed for stock take, they should have taken him to dinner, because he likes to be wined and dined before he is screwed.

So after this we had a drink at the Cheers bar, where everybody is a tourist and nobody knows your name, that inspired and then was renamed after the hit 80's series.

We followed this with a harbour (or harbar in a Bostonian accent) tour which once again reiterated Boston and America great, UK bad. If you haven't got that yet!

By the time this had all finished we had been in the sun all day and needed to chill, so more Pizza and Beer. We met a lovely (loosely used) couple from Watford who proceeded to talk to us regardless of me constantly reminding them we just took their manager. Earlyish night for a 6am start to rent our car and drive to the Cape.

Chicago 4th July 'I thought this was America'

So Saturday we went to Navy Pier and saw the fireworks which were a happy medium between Disney Illumination show and children on the street in Grangetown throwing fireworks at your car, entertaining but missing that real exhilaration.

Sunday we went to the Photography Museum, where there was a photo of a Welsh Minor wedding in Port Talbot, which was random. Then we checked out Wrigley Field block party which finished by 1pm and was crap, so we went to the beach. In the night we created a beverage that I strongly recommend that you try. Its Gatorade  Lemon and Lime, and Mountain Dew with vodka, its luminous green and therefore we called it the Atomic Hulk.

Monday was 4th July aka Independence Day and we went up to the Wrigley Field area and ended up in a bar called Lucky's where they filmed an episode of Man vs Food in which they tried to eat 3 meat sandwiches in 60 mins, I managed 1 in around 20-25mins but it was very very difficult.

Then we spent the rest of the day drinking at the beach and  watching some very drunk teenager have to be rescued by the lifeguards we decided to go and jump off the quay, very fun.

We then watched the fireworks at Navy Pier for Fourth of July celebrations and Penny drank a can of Four Loko, which is like red bull and high concentration booze, and tastes terrible.

We have had a laid back day as we're flying out to Boston later today.

Chicago: Pizza and Beer

So Wednesday was an interesting day. We did a walking tour of 'the loop', which is down town Chicago, where there are loads of cool buildings ranging from very old to very new and quirky. Needless to say this was educational and I quickly got bored so found signs that could be misconstrued as rude things.

Also the guide got shat on by a pigeon, which was very funny! Then Penny insisted on walking miles to the only Hooters in down town Chicago, this was with a bad knee and as lunch was OK verging on mediocre, it wasn't the best (Lie Disclaimer; Hooters was actually my idea to walk).

We then went to Navy Pier which is like a nice version of Barry Island where everything is really expensive and no one stabs you or gets Aids from the log flume. Following that we went to 'Taste of Chicago', a food festival, which was very expensive and filled with loud and crass people (us). I saw a police officer eating a BBQ Turkey leg and asked him where he got it from , he directed us to it and gave us food and drinks vouchers on the condition we only use it on food and not beer. So we immediately went to the Budweiser tent and drank them away. And to make things better the guy serving didn't care how many tickets we gave him, and ended up giving us loads of freebies, so we got very intoxicated. I then drunkly went up to a cop in my 'its all fun and games until the cops show up' t-shirt and asked him about his piece(gun) and fortunately he found it funny and asked where he could order one.

This was followed by Pizza Pie at Lou's which was excellent.

Now I have to mention Seb the shagging Chilean, he changed bunks with me on the first night for some reason I have forgotten then proceeded to stop women on the street to try and get in their bunk, and wound up being successful. He then for the next two nights stayed on peoples floors in the hostel as he didn't want to pay the fee.

Thursday we went to Millenium Park followed by the beach and got burnt but it was very hot in all meanings of the word. Following that we went to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play (they suck) but won.

Then we had a sandwich at Potbellys and went to a bar called Exchequers where some English nob proceeded to tell anyone who would listen about bloody pints, and his mate drank Strongbow from a bottle but kept his white van mouth shut. There was a pretty cool lightening storm at night, I will post the video somewhere but a few harsh comments are made whilst filming and do need to be uttered again on here.

Friday it rained so we watched Tsonga and Murray lose there Semi Finals, and England Women's come from behind to beat New Zealand. It was genuine hilarity as the standard of the players, referees and commentary was just awful (note to Josh Alcock, it will be easy to get that gig). One of the commentators used the phrase 'there is no such thing as bad press' to which Penny zinged with 'I think they should ask Strauss-Kahn about that. After the sport Penny wanted to go and see a U-Boat, we didn't, and then we were taken to a Blues night by Chuck (a hostel volunteer who just so happened to be in charge of all transport in Illinois, no BS, we have his card) and saw where John Dillinger was gunned down by the Chicago Police.

Dillenger' met his demise outside this theatre, which was playing 'The Homosexuals' when we saw it.

 Was very boozey, and had a great time with a bunch of Europeans, and one Aussie (there is always one).

Today we went to the beach again which was really nice but packed for July 4th weekend, then watched Haye embaress himself in a cool underground sports bar called Timothy O'Tooles. Tonight we are going to see the fireworks at Navy Pier and maybe have a late swim in Lake Michigan.