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.