Philadelphia to Boston

Today is Wednesday I think! And Chuck Martel came to pick us up and deliver us to the bus. He drove past Westminster Seminary and Calvary Church where we worshipped in 2001. Well we've not seen much of Philly on this trip but we've sure seen a lot of the road where the buses pick up...Bus Station would be too grand a description; it is just a length of footpath. When we first arrived it was raining and we had an hour and a half wait, and today the sun was very hot and we also again waited an hour and a half. The bus was a half hour late, but then they boarded us and we just sat on the bus for another hour before telling us we had to change buses. Then we sat for another while before setting off with no explanation...so not sure what it was all about but we will be into Boston about 9pm I would think. Thankfully we've been able to contact our BnB host and he's cool with it all.

The countryside is very lush and green. We have the very front seats on the top deck of the bus so are getting a lovely view. It does make me feel a bit like I did in the helicopter - right 'on the edge,' and a bit vulnerable I might add. We tend to duck when going under bridges- not too far from the top!  We'll be going through the outskirts of New York soon so that will be interesting.

We drove through the Bronx where we saw masses of huge apartment buildings and little else. Sad really. The BIG roads and many bridges were amazing. 

Interlude...

America - a land of many different things. The obvious - driving on the other side of the road! Roundabouts are horrendous, as is crossing the roads on foot; you have to keep thinking about which way to look. Then there's the toilets full up with water and the self flushing ones. All showers seem to be over the bath; operating them can be a challenge as previously mentioned!! The upside down light switches (well, it is the northern hemisphere). And every time you try to buy food they ask you incomprehensible questions - most have been cheerful and patient but there are those who are on autopilot and when you don't understand their rapid mumblings they just repeat it in the same monotone. Just as well we've had minders. At present we're on a 12 lane highway coming into New York. The spaghetti interchanges are incredible with multiple levels, but the traffic is also very heavy. We've been in about 8 different states now and the traffic is heavy everywhere except out in the more rural areas of course. Distance is measured in miles, and 'gas' is about $3.60 per gallon so cheaper than Oz. The classic school buses are the same all over the country - yellow and look like something that I went to school in in the 50's.

Well, we were about an hour late into Boston South Station, but caught a train to Harvard in good time. Then the fun began... Bill the BnB guy had given us directions to catch an 86 bus to near his place. We emerged from the subway station, and began looking for the bus stop. Up and down the street we went, until we finally found the stop, and waited for a bus. When one finally arrived, we asked the driver for fares to Union Square. "No sir, you need to go in the opposite direction." Well, we finally found the right stop, down the subway... Then we had to wait another half hour for a bus, and finally toil up a hill, dragging our cases behind. It was hot and muggy, as were we. Bill, our host welcomed us and led us up two more flights of stairs to our room. This was about 10:30pm. We were tired after travelling for 12 hours.