January 2017 Web
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We travelled by public transport throughout our holiday and it was<br />
during our journeys that we were able to learn what the locals felt<br />
about the then forthcoming presidential election. One man told<br />
us, “Americans are stupid, but they are not that stupid (to vote for<br />
Trump)”. Little did he know what would happen three weeks<br />
later...<br />
On then, by train to New York, a four-hour journey taking us along<br />
the coast, through the countryside, and then near the city of<br />
Philadelphia. The colours of the trees test one’s vocabulary to try<br />
to do justice to the various shades of yellow, gold, pink, orange,<br />
red and brown.<br />
New York, of course, is a city of skyscrapers. Central Park is an<br />
oasis in Manhattan where one can take a carriage ride, cycle, roller<br />
skate, or simply walk and enjoy the views and the autumn foliage.<br />
In the area known as Strawberry Fields, there is a memorial stone<br />
dedicated to John Lennon, who was shot nearby as he left his<br />
home in the Dakota Building in December 1980. Often there will<br />
be a Beatles’ fan, sitting on one of the benches there, strumming<br />
a guitar and singing one of the fab four’s many hits.<br />
Four days later and it was time to move on to Washington. The<br />
train journey was not as interesting as the previous one, mainly<br />
travelling through towns and built up areas. After several hours,<br />
we arrived at the splendid Union Station with its imposing<br />
entrance and magnificent roof. The weather was unseasonably<br />
warm and touching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, apparently beating all<br />
previous records for an October day.<br />
Washington is, of course, the capital of the United States so there<br />
was plenty to see; the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln<br />
Memorial, Washington Monument and Arlington National<br />
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