- Portland, a small but clean city, seems to have a large proportion of homeless people. Either that or many people walk around with sleeping bags. Still I saw more homeless people in Portland than I did in either San Fran or NY.
- Portland, a small but clean city, seems to have a large proportion of tattooed people. More so than Camden Town which is my benchmark for tattoo volume. Although Portland is whole city. Many of these tattoos where stunning, many where what I would class as 'dirty tattoos' (faded blue/black) or 'noisy canvas tattoos' (too much art clutters the canvas and reduces to noise).
- Does this mean that an environment that cultivates tattoos has a predisposition to homelessness. The empirical evidence would support this but the observational evidence is limited.
- Americans are friendly than the English. I had more random Americans talk to me in a 5 days alone than I did in the 5 month I spent after I first arrived in England, but before I had really started making friends.
- And I don't mean the nutters you get on the tube in London, but genuine people being genuine friendly. I had an orthopedic surgeon provide conversation while we shared a table at a takeout in O'hare (Big
airhellport, Chicago) and pay for my dinner without me knowing because I had had a shite day and missed my connection. Must pay that forward. - San Francisco, the city of many uphills.
- San Francisco, the city of two days. In an 8 hour period you get the London fog of old books and you get Cape Town Cricket weather.
- When going on a ferry on a foggy day, take a hat as when the fog gets off you get burnt, and look very much like an Englishman on holiday.
- San Francisco, the city of every public transport under the sun. They have normal busses, electric busses, trams, cable cars, an underground, an overground, ferries, and a few hybrids I never forget.
- The cable cars in San Francisco are ridiculously dangerous by today's modern [read litigious] standards. They are open, they are old, they have up to 12 people hanging off the side and are driven by a combination of manually controls and leavers and pulleys they would look more in place in a gothic horror. They are delightful and still running because like some traditions some things have value for their history alone. Take note Major Ken.
- I saw a man spend over 5 minutes brushing his teeth in a public
restroomtoilet. His explanation to his friend was that coffee stains your teeth. If it's that much of an issue to you, don't drink coffee. I can think of better places to brush my teeth. Like at home. - Americans public toilets now have a wide array of self flushing toilets and urinals. You can literally ablute without touching anything except your nads and the water. Is this the sum of our success, wired toilets. This is the sum of providing something we think we need but I doubt we really do. Speaking of which, toilets that self flush when you stand up are fine. But how in fecks name do you flush the bog roll once you have finished? Either I'm missing a trick, or the design is flawed.
- Those bathrooms that don't have electronic 'touchless' designs have created a new brand of gymnastics. I watched as I waited for the sole cubical as at least a dozen different blokes went through an array of gymnastics where they would push the urinal flusher with their foot and then try use the taps without touching it. Really get over it.
- I saw many loud arrogant obnoxious British tourists. You lot can now shut up and stop bitching about American tourists as you are just as bad.
- I met an Irish couple on the way to the airport in San Francisco. Less than half an hour later we where sharing a pint and a laugh. I love the irish.
- I have had an extra search three times now including getting a full body x-ray and being all but strip searched twice. Do I look particularly dodgy?
- I'm getting tired of taking off my shoes in airports. I wonder what would have happened had the 'shoe bomber' been a 'underwear bomber'
- The hotel in San Fran had single glazing (on a busy main street) and was as was noisy as hell, was a bit old, and breakfast sucked. It had free internet. I love that hotel.
- WiFi hotspots are about 12-20 times over priced. I guarantee in 5 years time everyone will be offering it for free as a those who don't will get less business. The hotspot business model is flawed and unsustainable.
- The Apple store sells out of iPods everyday and has a queue outside their doors every morning. The store was a testament to industrial design and knowing your market. The staff where friendly and their where a lot of them. The store was all about playing with their products. This is how to run a successful business.
- Although would be better if you actually had stock once in 10 days so I could buy 1 (or 2)
- I also saw the iPods Mini in a Playboy that had accidentally fallen into my hand in duty free and I had paid for before I realised that the accident had happened and accidentally fell open when I was trying to throw it away. It was attached to the belt a model (bunny?) was wearing. It was all the model (bunny?) was wearing. It was pink. You know you have made it when you are featured in Playboy.
- You really don't need to wear sunglasses on the subway. (This applies to London as well as NYC)
- Please don't put your make up on, whilst on the subway. You don't see me shaving on the public transport, I don't want to see you putting your makeup on. It's a bathroom activity and like taking a piss should remain in the bathroom. (Also applies equally to London)
- Everyone should go see Blue Man Group, it's brilliant. Think Stomp and add some paint. Awesome. Performing arts at it's best.
- People in Manhattan say BnT (bridge and tunnel) as an insult. People outside Manhattan say BnT as a point of pride.
- If you can go to war over Iraq and what not can't you go to war with Britain over their lack of beef hotdogs. The single most bestest thing about America is beef hotdogs.
- The worst thing about guys though is shorts. You wear shorts. And I'm not talking about normal shorts that sit somewhere around your knee, but short shorts. Very short shorts. Over a certain age short shorts should not be worn by anyone who isn't classed as Supermodel. Especially not guys. It's just wrong on so many levels. i would ask what you people are thinking but I'm afraid to find out.
- I only got asked for ID once in 10 days. What the hell is up with that? At what point did I start looking old enough not to be carded. Sheesh. Give a guy a break.
- Your cocktails are nice and all, but would it kill you not to make them 98.7% alcohol and 1.3% mixer? Just saying that it would be nice to taste a drink every once in a while that's all.
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1. krissa
2. Adrian
Don’t harrumph me. This was a generic post about observations whilst travelling.
The Krissa and her friends are amazing would come with the photos which is far more personal or perhaps a post on girls clothing.
However in case anyone doesn’t know, Krissa and her friends are amazing. Sevitz’s stamp of approval amazing. Even if they did loose lose my skirt :-)
3. Green Fairy
Do I look particularly dodgy?
That is rhetoric, right?
4. Lori
That was all the bunny was wearing? A pink mini iPod? Cool :)
5. Adrian
No, she was wearing a belt type thing too, to which the pink mini ipod was clipped.
6. shift+e
now you know what I go through I every time I travel through north america - bloody yanks, if you can’t trust a pom who can you trust?
7. Adrian
Green Fairy, you saying I’m dodgy?
Simon, I’m not a pomm!
8. Tot
Adrian, why were you wearing a skirt, and why were Krissa and friends loosening it? It appears as though the night took such an interesting turn after we left(-:
You must actually look quite young….I have only been asked for ID here about 4 times in over a year!
9. Adrian
I have fixed the spelling mistake. Wouldn’t want people thinking I wore womens clothing or anything. Which obviously would not be true.
10. Sara
I thought the comment about the shoes in the airport was hysterical. I was stuck in the Chicago airport for 6 hours, due to the Philadelphia airport picked up a guy with steel tips in his boots. I have now learned to wear flip flops in every airport.
11. Jeffrey
On the touchless flushing bowls of water, wearing black and other dark colors will often fool the stupid machine into thinking you were never there, despite evidence left to the contrary. Most all of them also have an unobtrusive button for these, and cleaning, occassions. Sometimes you really have to hunt to find the button. Sometimes, in older models, it’s not there.
But I’m glad you had a pleasant visit. Come back again.
12. Destructor
I had more random Americans talk to me in a 5 days
Dude, you were in San Fransisco, wearing a skirt, and you were suprised that a lot of random folks wanted to strike up conversations with you?
d
13. Francesca
Very amusing :)
I love Blue Man Group.
And I agree entirely about the damn drinks. Sheesh. If I ask for a vodka martini, I do not want a glassfull of vodka, no martini and a token olive.
14. Adrian
I never wore the skirt. I can’t fit into it.
15. Alli
What do you think a martini is? It’s mainly vodka or gin with a drop or two of vermouth….so you’re mainly going to taste alcohol. Have worked behind many bars before - hate the martini.
16. Destructor
It’s mainly vodka or gin with a drop or two of vermouth….
And the vermouth is frankly a waste of precious space….
17. melly
You need a mixer for your drink?
18. RENEE
Full body x-ray…where the heck was that airport?
19. Adrian
London actually. But at least I could keep my shoes on.
20. Kevin De Laere
Nice drinkin with ya, in both Portland and SF!