Phileas Blog

If anyone out there's still reading this and we're not just writing about our adventures for our sake, then HELLO, we hope you are all well. I only mention this because we haven't had any messages - so get writing. So, after a brief all inclusive luxury break at Mill Field, CSG (it was lovely to see the families, we're glad to hear you're okay now Nan Little), we flew off to our mate Smudger's in Philadelphia, USA. Dave writes - We flew from the UK with US Airways now dubbed by us as US crapways. Bloody awful airline! We may have been spoiled with emirates. This was more like a budget no thrills airline. We had to wait in a queue of hundreds with only 3 staff serving. We turned up early when heading to Guatemala and it still took over 2hrs to make it to the gate. With US crapways you have to pay for your whiskeys! You also have to pay for the headphones which is a cheek as the films are rubbish and few. We were most disappointed and will never fly US crapways again, unless of course we need to see Smudge and they're the cheapest... Thanks Dave, so I was saying... America is paranoid if you didn't already know. We noticed this immediately on disembarking... help I'm being hijacked by Dave again... guns everywhere, strict routines and even the agriculture section were loaded, just in case we bought in gun toting cows. Huh hum, anyway, we were finger printed and photographed (Dave thinks he was DNA swabbed in the loos) and luckily not questioned as to why we were continuing onto Central America, and Mark was waiting for us, well prepared and on time as always. We were taken back to Mark's lovely new pad to drop our bags and were whisked out to an Irish bar. We managed to meet Terra, Mark's new Doris (as he describes her. And no her surname isn't Ist, Ferma, Cotta or Dactyl)) and quaff a few shandies and gobble down a huge 'appetiser' sized portion of tacos before the jet lag kicked in. During the night I think I must have contracted some kind of bug as I blew chunks down the loo. Most distressing, but luckily felt fine the next morning. We awoke to find that Smudger had left us 'the Smudger challenge', a list of free tours, excursions and museums that had to be visited by the time he returned from work. So on a gloriously sunny, but absolutely freezing day, we left for Washington Square, with a memorial to the soldiers who fought for independence, where lots of soldiers are still buried (basically Philly seems to be one big burial ground) and took pictures as evidence that we weren't just pretending to have been there. Then onto the liberty bell museum which was interesting, describing how and why the bell was made and it's importance as a symbol of liberty to America (it has a bloody big crack in it which could also be of significance now - Dave). Independence Hall was next on the agenda, being the place where the constitution and declaration of independence were signed. After our history lesson we walked to the much more convivial Reading Market where we ate falafel and huge ice cream and browsed the stalls. We came to realise America does not do small portions. Wednesday, again Mark had to work so we decided to walk to the old town and visit the Quaker Meeting House. William Penn, a famous Quaker who named Pennsylvania, was given Philadelphia by the king as his Dad was owed lots of money, and moved there setting up the town much as it is now with lots of squares intended to provide the people with wide open spaces, these have now shrunk but the streets are still in a grid. Penn preached religious tolerance and was very liberal for his day. This is still reflected in Philadelphia, known for it's gay community. We were shown the meeting room by an old quaker who explained what Quakers were all about and a bit of history, including the fact that hundreds of bodies were buried under the building. That evening Mark dropped us at the Body Worlds exhibition, we missed it when it was in London, which was really good. Loads of plasticated bodies (a new method in preserving organic material using some kind of plastic) cut up to display various body systems and put into different positions. One exhibit showed a family, Mum, Dad and young boy who had donated their bodies (everyone in the exhibition had, you'll be pleased to hear, for educational purposes) and they had been named the 'Blood Family' as only their blood vessels remained. Absolutely incredible how they had managed to remove all other tissues to leave the heart, arteries, veins and tiny capillaries in tact. Some were in active postures such as riding a bike to display muscle functions. Dave came away terrified by thoughts of all the awful ways he could die, particularly considering the number of grey lungs on display to remind us of the horrors of smoking. The next day we raced to the station to catch a train to Mark's work where he picked us up and drove us to the Amish country. We enjoyed seeing the horse pulled buggies they use to get around and to work their land. They don't like to have anything that will make life easier, or you could say more complicated and stressful. It looks like a very nice way to live, but I think I'd miss the electricity in winter and the men have silly beards. They only grow them once they're married so you can have hours of fun guessing how long they've been married for, either that or how much testosterone they produce. For another example of American sized portions, Dave bought a 'large' coke which was 44oz. Next stop a wine tasting session at a local winery and all for free. Very nice. We tried lots of wines, then were taken to their small cellar to try other wines in various stages of production. Mark bought lots of bottles giving the excuse that wine was far too expensive to buy in liqor stores a bottle at a time for his new habit of bulk buying. By this point I had perked up (I'd been feeling very groggy- Dave and Mark had started to call me 'narco' as I kept falling asleep) having thought that the bilharzia was starting to show itself. Friday. Hooray Mark has managed to get the day off so off to the seaside. We drove to Stone Harbour, New Jersey to fly Mark's power kite, but not before stuffing our faces with wonderful chocolate and vanilla fudge, nut clusters and candy sticks from a Willy Wonkeresque candy store. The beach was fantastic, lovely in the refreshingly cold wind, I was glad to have several layers on. Dave and Mark had a great time flying the kite while I took pictures and videos and collected shells as the wind looked too much like hard work to me. I had lots of laughs watching the other two getting dragged around by the kite, and only joined in to hang onto Dave to act as ballast (see photo). We then drove around looking at all the lovely houses backing onto beach or lagoon wishing we could win the lottery, before deciding to try our luck in the casinos of Atlantic City up the coast. We went to Donald Trump's casino where we wandered around cautiously eyeing up black jack and craps tables before Mark plucked up the courage to play a fruity. He dispatched with a few dollars then Dave decided to brave it on a black jack table. We then circled the tables for another ten minutes while the boys looked for an empty table so they wouldn't completely embarrass themselves in front of the other punters. There was no way I was going to play, far too risky, so eventually they joined two other harmless looking gamblers. Needless to say, I was the only one who came out a winner, doubling my money on the slots. It was loads of fun, I kept getting the ' wheel of fortune' ringing up and making loads of noise. After this we collected Terra from Mark's and went out for a few bevvies and grub. Phoned Gem the next day to wish her a belated Happy Birthday and soaked upt he rays on the roof garden as it was a scorcher of a morning. The 4 of us wandered into the old town past the old ships in the harbour and after a relaxed stroll headed to the shops for a few provisions and delicious fruit smoothies which we drank sitting in Brittan Square. Terra dropped us at a great Irish bar with diddly music where we sank a few local ales, while she went home to collect Sam, her lovely black labrador. Philadelphia is full of very friendly people and everyone who sat next to us we got chatting to. This could be partly down to Mark being unable to resist talking to anyone given the chance! On Terra's way back she picked us up from where about ten fire trucks had gathered for nothing that was obvious, which was quite exciting. We went off to Mark's local Italian restaurant for a yummy dinner, taking our own wine from the winery. Feeling more than a little delicate we headed off to another Irish bar from some early rugby action (we are 5 hours behind). It cost us $20 each to get in as there are only 2 bars in the whole of Philly that can show the games and they are charged by satellite TV. Appalling game (England were thrashed by France) but the great atmosphere, Guinness and a large brekkie afterwards helped. Home to Mark's for plenty of relaxation before being fed a huge and delicious sunday lunch and then being driven into town for the honorable task of running up the 'Rocky' steps that lead up to Art Museum. This was really good fun and a few other people were doing the same thing, most out for fitness runs, which was quite surprising considering it was pretty late and dark. We admired the lovely animal statues opposite the museum and then drove back to bed. While in Philly we have eaten and drunk more than during the whole of Africa put together due to the wonderful hopsitality of Mark and America's huge portions so have put on about a stone each. Thanks Mark and Terra for a wonderful time and for looking after some poor travellers so well. Alas, the next morning we had to leave fair Philly and of course our Smudge and head to the airport. Massive queues and another flight on US crapways, but we made it Guatemala safely.