Baltimore

I travelled to Baltimore from Philly, early in the morning. When I arrived I got a chance to walk past the home ground of the Ravens, and took the tram uptown towards where I was staying. When I got close, I walked to my hostel which was a converted house. I dropped my stuff off and went out towards Lexington Market, because I really wanted to eat crab cakes at Faidleys. I walked to Lexington Market, which I should say is like marketed as this international style food market, and you’d assume it was full of tourist and really popular. To the contrary it was a food market but I was sure I was the only tourist there. The place is full of crackheads, homeless people and overall seedy people. Worst thing was that Faidleys was closed, so that did not make for a happy start. 

I had a back up option though so I made my way downtown towards Nick’s Seafood at the Cross St Market. Going downtown I got my first look at the harbour which I didn’t realise they had til I saw it. I was going to spend more time around that area later, so I walked down a bit further to Nicks. The area around there is a surburban housing, lots of shops and restaurant area. It was a really cool, hip local neighbourhood to explore around. I went to Nicks, which was in a nicer looking market area, and ordered my lump crab cakes. When they come out to you they are served on a bun, with chips so I assume as a burger style. But I decided to eat it as was without the bun, cause I wanted to taste the crab cake by itself. It was delicious, the whole crab cake was full of crab with no fillers. It was spiced with old bay and other herbs so really good on its on, a little kick to it. I was expecting something a bit bigger but it was still very good, and worth my trip to Baltimore. 

After that I walked around the neighbourhood more until I got to a hill on the far side of the harbour. From this hill you get a great view of Baltimore Downtown area and the harbour. 

After this I walked down and around the harbour, had a look in the visitors centre and continued around towards the aquarium. If the prices weren’t so high I would have gone had a look inside but it was to dear for my budget. I continued to walk around, towards their little Italy, which didn’t have much to it. I saw the house where the star spangled banner was made so that was cool. I then walked downtown through the buildings, in and around the city. I went back to Lexington markets to at least give the food a try. I went to what seemed to be the busiest seafood place and ordered some crab cakes from there. It was a more filler crab cake so not as good but still very decent and cheap. On the way walking back to the hostel from Lexington Market, I overheard some guy say he got mugged on the corner, so I became very alert. I walked across the street and walked fast. That area turns out is a very bad neighbourhood, lots of crime happens around there. That night I took one of their free buses in town to the harbour for a walk around and view of the city at night. 

Philly

I arrived in philly in the afternoon, the bus stop was across town from the hostel I was staying at. I chose to walk across, it was a nice day and it gave me a chance to see the town as well. This was my first experience at a hostel so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The hostel however was very nice, and the employees very friendly. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, and there were also some different event nights happening. After I settled in, I walked to South St which is a bustling street full of bars, restaurants and shops. On the way there I passed by different streets, walking inbetween the housing. It was cool to see these uniform brick houses that are very different to New York. I walked east on South St towards the river, and saw the destroyer/battleship and there were also some very nice riverfront apartments. I then walked further down and stumbled across a little Vietnam, totally out of the random. I walked around looking at the shop lots and the different restaurants. I then decided to eat Pho and Spring Rolls at the most populated restaurant, which was good and cheap.

After this I headed back to the hostel and was going to sleep but I started talking to one of the other travellers and we ended up going for a beer. It was awesome because he was also a different kind of traveller, he’d been going back and forward between different cities for sports.

Today it snowed overnight a very decent amount, that there was actually snow between my foot and the ground at every step. It was so fun, I really enjoyed just the simple fact that every step I would feel that snow under foot. My first thing to do was to see the Liberty Bell since it was so close. Whilst I’m still slightly unsure of the whole history of the Liberty Bell but it was still cool to learn its history. After this I walked south to the 9^th st Italian Markets. I assume that it was a combination of me being fairly early (10.30am) and the snow but the markets weren’t as bustling as I expected. There were a few shop fronts open but not that many. I could imagine though what to expect in the summer, with all the hustle and bustle of an outdoor market. I ended up walking down so far south I ended up at the famous crossroads of Pat and Genos Cheesesteaks. Now I thought that Pats was closed, but later found out from other people it was just not as brightly lit as Genos. So I ended up eating my first philly cheesesteak at Genos under the famous walkway with all the photos of the celebrities that have ate there. 

After I ate I sauntered up the streets all the way to I made it to the Reading Terminal Market. This place is massive and full of so many different kinds of foods. There were sweet stuff, cookies, diner food, seafood, chinese, bbq, cheese, food market, almish foods and dinics pork rolls. I walked around and ended up eating at dinics for their famous pork roll with sharp provolone and broccalirabe. Firstly I started eating this like an hour and half after the cheesesteak so I had no chance in finishing the monster roll. Secondly it turns out I don’t like sharp provolone, so I ruined the sandwich for me. Other than that the broccalirabe was something different, and the pork was tender. 

After my stupid decision, I was so full I could barely walk, but I stumbled around the market buying a cupcake, cookie and doughnut for later on. I somehow made it to the visitor centre where I stayed for a little bit to warm up and check out a little movie on the Philadelphia history. I then went to the Independance Hall, where they signed the declaration of independence and the other famous stuff. Again not 100% on the history but was cool to go there and see all the old rooms and learn from the people talking. After this I chilled at the hostel and sorted some stuff out for my future travels, then went to eat another cheesesteak at Jims that night. Now Jims minces their meat, whereas the Geno steak I had earlier had big thin slices. Both were good in their own way, I think I like it inbetween sliced but smaller pieces (how I make my cheesesteaks). After that I went to the $2 ghost tour that the hostel offered, which was alright but nothing that great. Free beer after which was good and finished watching hangover 3.

My last day in Philly, so I decided to walk around the rest of the city. I had no particular focus just to walk to the Rocky Steps. I made my way up to the north, walking through China Town. Not as big as New York but still a decent size, and looked very chinese in the sense that it was a bit dirty and the shops looked scruffy and not all nice and clean. Walking the north part of the city you see some of the now common transformation of warehouses into loft apartments. I then walked across and through the town towards the big square with the Library and Science center. This is where all the flags of the nations are as well, just alongside the road. I made a pit stop at the library cause I was freezing from negative degree temperatures. From here I proceeded up the road towards the rocky steps. Saw the rocky statue at the front, a guy doing the rocky steps as excerise and pretty much every tourist running up to the top and jumping up like in the movie. Its funny to note that this is actually an art museum but no one seems to go there for the art. The other great thing about that location is that you get a great view of the town. 

From this I walked down town, I was after some food, so ended up following some office people around hoping they would lead me somewhere. They didn’t so I ended up finding a place for a burger on Yelp. It was good but nothing to rave about, but it was my second choice behind another place that looked great but wasn’t open yet. I then walked through the lower part of the city in and around the streets. I saw the mix of shops, offices and housing in the city. Later that night I went to eat a traditional meatball sub at Primos Hoagies (a recommendation from a guy I met at Standings). It was awesome, the meatballs were massive but so moist and the sauce was really good. 

Later that night I met up with Stephen the friend I had met at the airport. He was doing the same trip but the other direction, so it was good to catch up with him and get some suggestions for some of the cities he had already been to. Id catch up with him again later on in DC as well.

Day 26, 27 and 28

Day 26

So today I planned to meet with one of the guys from the forum to go see the a Broadway play/musical. We went to the tkts booth at Times Square and ended up choosing phantom of the opera. We paid $90 for bottom level tickets, so pretty expensive but good seats. The show itself was amazing, the performers are so talented and the production is top quality. When you think about it you pay $90 for a near 3 hour legendary musical. I personally loved it, really enjoyed it. After the musical we went to eat some cheap dumplings and duck pancake in Chinatown.

Day 27 

Today I thought I'd go check out the highline and Chelsea again. So I caught the train over that side. I firstly wanted to go to the empire diner, where they've shot some movie scenes (mib). I ended up choosing to eat there once I got there. It think It was renovated but it looked a bit different. I chose to eat buttermilk pancakes really good, three cakes with loads of syrup.

Once I finished eating it was actually snowing again which was awesome. It was actually decent sleet so made for an awesome walk along the highline. It did though eventually stop snowing and started lightly raining. I walked around Chelsea and the west a bit before catching the train to three blocks south of  Rockefeller. I visited the nba store to get a jersey for one of my friends back home. Then I was suppose to meet a friend in Greenwich village  so caught the train back to the west (another great reason to have an unlimited subway card). Met her at the top of Greenwich, and we walked down and around the area. When ended up going to soho and the dominique ansel bakery. We ended up going in to get a cookie shot each and I got a raspberry pavlova slice. The cookie shot was amazing, great cookie cup with melted chocolate in the inside of the cookie and filled with milk. The the raspberry pavlova was amazing soft and not overly sweet with amazing raspberry flavour. 

After this we decided to go up to try our luck at the Book of Mormon lottery and standing tickets. It's crazy to think so many people line up just for a chance to win some of those tickets every single session they have. We unfortunately did not get the lottery and came to late for standing tickets. By that time we were both both pretty soaked from the rain so she headed home, and I stopped by standings for a couple beers and to catch some of the playoff game.

Day 28

Today I woke up a bit earlier so I could walk around the east village a bit more. when I got hungry I hoped on yelp and found a place to eat. I found brindle room, good lord what a place this was. The burger I got here was one of the most memorable burgers I've eaten all trip. Crunchy exterior, soft medium inside, the perfect cheese onion sauce party ratio. It didn't look all fancy but it was delicious. And added bonus great home cut fries.

After the amazing burger I went to standings to watch the playoffs. Was a bit quieter cause it was midday but still awesome to watch it there. I really will miss this place seeing as it had all the elements of what a great sports bar is to me. Friendly people, nice bartenders, great beer and most importantly sport on 8 tv with sport sound not music. After watching a game and a half I met up with my friend from yesterday and another one that was also travelling the states. We met at Ninja, which was a ninja themed restaurant. The atmosphere was cool, the food was also pretty good but obviously the main attraction are the ninja waiters. After this we all headed home, I had to pack my bags and just chilled for the rest of the night with my bushwick roomies.