Authentic Halloween Experience

Was going to stop blogging here for a few weeks since I was getting pissed that my RL friends weren't bothering to comment on it since they're the only reason I'm keeping this. I've got my own personal journal so it didn't bother me giving this up. But since I was asked for an update and this was just too awesome to pass up, I will give you this post. Shaun and Katherine, this is for you.

Arrived safely in Seattle, well away from Sandy, late on Monday night. Got up early on Tuesday to catch a train to Tacoma where I met up with Marissa and Jesse. After a delicious yet giant (read: American) breakfast, we decided it would be epic fun to explore the lava tube/cave of Mt St Helens. The website mentioned we needed to bring the "10 Essential Items", but forgot to include the minor detail of what they were. So we went home and prepared the best we could - thank goodness I always always manage to pack a torch with me. I trace that back to my Nancy Drew days.

The lava tube was SO COOL. Omg. So it was pouring down raining and we bought some umbrellas at Kmart on the way, and it's a good thing we did because it was still raining on us, despite being underground. Marissa, Jesse and I descended into the black depths of despair pitch dark cave and had a torch each and walked for a kilometre or so? Or two? I can't remember distances here anymore since it's all said in miles. But it was a long trek. And wet. Very wet, with the stream on the ground and the slime on the cave walls and the chilly breeze breathing down our necks. And the rain, don't forget the rain.

Then I had my very first Blizzard at the DQ and it was like a McFlurry (the old kind, before they got all shit last year) but made with sunshine and magic and happiness. Omg. I loved it.

After all this, we cruised around looking for good pumpkins to carve and hit the motherload where the pumpkins were over 30 pounds so the scale stopped being able to weigh them. AND THEN WE MASSACRED THEM INTO HALLOWEEN GOODNESS. And had pumpkin pie (YUUUUUUM!).

 
To avoid having to train it and back, I stayed the night on a couch more comfortable than my hostel bed and woke up in the middle of the night to one of the cats sleeping in the crook of my knees! ILY, KITTY. God, I miss my two babies. But it sure helps when you can cuddle with someone else’s pet.

For breakfast on Wednesday, I had biscuits and gravy, checking that off my To Eat list (Aunty Yvonne, there’ll be a postcard heading your way). Feeling very full as I had been THIS CLOSE to finishing my first full American-sized meal, we went to the museum of glass which was very interesting and had so many pretty things! But I was also scared to death I’d knock over something worth like, $200k or more. Which I didn’t (yay!). Banana cream pie (finally something triumphs over mozzarella sticks for my new favourite American food. And much easier to make once home, I imagine) and a rented movie followed. Has anyone seen Ruby Sparks? It’s fantastic. You should.

We met up with some of Marissa and Jesse’s friends who were really cool and went to the Fright Factory (a haunted house experience). Now I wish we’d taken a Before and After picture of us because it was scary, man. I was screaming and jumping all over the place most of the time. Picture me as that annoying character in any horror film who is first to die because no one can stand their whimpering. Mmm. Click here for an idea of what one section (the very end) was like.

And after two wonderful days of Pure Awesome, I returned to regular Emerica life of hostelling and vending machine food.

 

Interesting pit stops I have

Alrighty then, so I'm in Detroittttt. I had to googlemaps it when I got here coz I had no idea where it is, other than west of Boston. The flight was good, I had complimentary cookies (the best kind) for breakfast. And then Taco Bell for lunch. YAY TACO BELL! Another item crossed off my To Do/To Eat lists.

I still have like an hour and a half until I start boarding but so far my gate hasn't changed so I am thankful for that. I'm sitting here at the gate next to the charger stand with my devices all charging around me like an electric octopus, and I'm about to crack open the kindle.

The reason I am here and not in Seattle where I am supposed to be, despite my swearing that I will never ever again catch a connecting flight here in America - because the airports are RIDICULOUS - is that Alaska Airways cancelled my flight and then had no one at their check in, so I went to Delta to ask what's going on and they booked me on a flight I was not supposed to be able to get a seat on. Yes, some sneakiness went on but only because I am so charming. Also I may have been trembling a bit because let's face it, no one wants to get stuck at the airport during a Hurricane. They spent about 30 minutes getting me my ticket and then I had about 10 to run all the way to my gate before it took off without me. I got to bypass most of the security line and everything. YAY VIP!


But still. Damn you, Sandy. Ruining my plans.

HURRICANE SANDY, GET AWAY FROM ME. YOU EVIL WITCH

Are you a good witch?

Or a bad witch?

That's right, I spent my Saturday in Salem! Witch-town! It was really fun, although I wish somewhere in the brochures/guide books/websites they would mention that 90% of the place accepts cash only. I only brought $70 with me because I usually use my card for most things and I ended up SAVING MONEY because I couldn't BUY THINGS. What rubbish. I tell you, I rewarded those market stalls/shops that accepted Visa.


CRAZY AWESOME DOUBLE RAINBOW I SAW IN SALEM

Yes, so I bought some sailor necklaces, had a psychic reading, ate some Ben and Jerry's, went to the Witch Cottage show as well as the Witch Hysteria Museum and whatnot. Heaps of stuff! I really wanted to try the Haunted House, but Americans take Halloween so seriously and I can't even play Snap! properly without hyperventilating so I had to give that a miss. But I absolutely loved the whole hysteria thing (aka the history). It was so crazy and awesome and slightly spooky but just wicked cool. Makes me want to write something around it.

OHOHOH OH and I met this guy who looks IDENTICAL to Johnny Depp's Captain Jack from POTC. LOOK AT THE PHOTO! Although photos never truly capture what reality displays. But trust me, in person, you could not even tell the difference. He even had the voice! "'ello love" he said to me, which caused severe internal giggles.

And as for personal growth lesson of the day, I caught 6 trains (3 each way). SIX! That's more than I catch in Sydney in a year. I got the red line to the green line, the green line to the purple which is a commuter rail and incredibly scary, and then stampeded with the crowd to get myself a good seat. Thank goodness for years of St Andrews, where one of the qualifications you recieve is how to cram yourself into a tiny space such as a lift or a train carriage. Although this one guy took that as an opportunity to stare at my boobs, so I had to level him a really pissed off look. My sunglasses came off for it and everything.

Got excited thinking I'd found a Poker machine at the train station but alas :(

SO MUCH PRETTY ALL IN ONE DAY

Today had it's ups and downs. It started with a 7 AM ALARM. WUT? This week I hadn't left the house till 11ish... But I needed to send my package home and had to do it during quiet hours of the post office... Anyway, so I caught a bus up the street so I'd only have to walk a few minutes with the 11kg box. I caught the wrong bus however and ended up having to carry it further than I would have, had I just walked from the house.

Spent the morning in Downtown Boston again because yesterday's shopping was so much fun. I discovered some fantabulous products and Bath and Body Works that I intend to go back for, found a skirt I was practically drooling over at Macy's (if I find it again in L.A., it's mine), and bought two reeaaally pretty dresses at H&M. WITH TULLE!

Then I wandered over to Boston Common and walked through and around that for a while. I also went on the historical carousel! Only thing is, there was about 10 people on it when I bought my ticket and then when it was my go, it was just me.... So for like 2 minutes, I just sat sidesaddle smiling awkwardly at people who walked past and noticed I was the only one on the ride. When I finished the Common I wound up at Boston's Public Garden. AND OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN. If I've ever called any place in the world 'beautiful' before, I was young and naive. Boston's Public Garden is the single most beautiful place on Earth. I sat on a bench facing the lake and went through a whole playlist before I got up and started walking around. It may not be very large but it's just so amaaaaaazing.

 

If you're ever homeless, use the last of your money to get to Boston's Public Gardens and live your life out there.

And then I bought a pint of ice cream on my way home and came home to a GORGEOUS LITTLE BUBBA JUJU PUPPY DOG! HER NAME IS MAGGIE AND SHE IS SO CUUUUUUUUTEEEE

 

Oh yeah, and then I watched The Little Vampire, which is a movie I've been dying to rewatch for a couple of months now. YAY HALLOWEEN MARATHONS, ALL OCTOBER LONG!

Boston - Emma's next home

Today I caught the T to Boston where I had a tour guide take me the first 1/3 of the Freedom Trail. I loved my guide, so for once I tipped becaue I wanted to, rather than because it's what you have to do here. Anyway, I plan to walk the entire Freedom Trail sometime before I leave, but if I run out of time, I'll just catch the T to Bunker Hill (the end) so I can walk up the monument. 294 steps, bro. I can do it. America has made me fit. Also, I eat carbs like, every day.

Old City Hall.... Now a Steak House

Then at the end, while I was feeling pretty rad about having only spent $12 today, I wandered into a market. Watched a street performer. Had broccoli and penne for lunch, after discovering PEACH ICED TEA (what I thought was fruit juice is actually iced tea here. SNAPPLE). Bought three beautiful necklaces that I'm so stoked about. One is a silver prism that reminded me of Sailor Moon, one is all red roses that reminded me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and one is just this hectic statement necklace that I want to wear everyday for the rest of my life. Because I myself am just one big statement.

Then I found my first Claire's, which I've been in love with since the wee days of Hannah Montana (I discovered them since they were the only store to sell HM-esque wigs that weren't a trillion $). They had a buy 2, get a 3rd pair free! deal on earrings, so I bought all the below. Can't wait to wear them all (but saving that for when I get home).

I'm obsessed with teeny tiny studs, which I have yet to find in Aus

Then I lounged around in the late arvo sun in Boston Common which was so pretty and peaceful and when the bells started tolling.... Dude, I was in heaven.


JETTED OFF TO ROME FOR THE ARVO, DID I?

Just your everyday, portable (and FREE!) library in the park

 Such a fantastic day.

ATTN

Can Beth, Valesca, Claire B and Lily F please facebook PM me their addresses? Ta