OK, time to add an update. Moved on from Orlando to New York via Atlanta and Buffalo.

Final day in Orlando meant more time spent in an Irish pub (different one this time). Seem to be more Irish pubs over here than there are in Dublin. Also went to Magical Midway "fairground". Must say you get a great but brief view of Orlando, Universal, Disney, etc. from the top of the slingshot. View on the way down is not quite so good, mostly consisting of the ground that you're heading rapidly down towards. Also had dodgems, go-karts, various other "thrill" rides.

So that was it for Orlando as we caught the overnight Greyhound bus to Atlanta ready for the flight up to Buffalo. Yes, I know: why go to Atlanta to fly to Buffalo? Well the flight was already booked and non-refundable. If it hadn't been for that idiot Elliot Eastno then we've have got to see Blondie play in Chastain Park in Atlanta. Instead of that we just had to get into town to get a flight out. I did manage to spend the afternoon in downtown Atlanta. Best was probably the Georgia Aquarium. Had whale sharks, beluga whales, sea otter, penguins, hammerheads, rays, .... Not actually too sure about having whale sharks - they are the biggest fish in the sea, so enclosing them in an aquarium tank (however large) is maybe not good. Old centre of town is cool where the street level has been raised by one floor over the years, and you can still walk down the "old" streets that are now underground (But have been turned into a mall!).

So on to Buffalo and my one chance to actually see Blondie play in the US. Gig was great (of course). Managed to meet up with a few US Blondie fans too which added to the night. Also got to meet up with the band after the gig briefly. They all seemed in fine form and even Debbie was happy to stand around and sign autographs, pose for photos, and talk. Just hope that Debbie's last words as she came off stage were not quite as literal as they sounded: "Well that's it for Blondie". We all knew that this was publicized as the last US tour for the band, but had hoped for something more in Europe (or even in the US once this tour got cut short). Keeping my fingers crossed.

One night in Buffalo and then down to the Big Apple. Have been here almost a week so far. Will add a post on NY shortly. One thing of note on the trip into town: passed Giants Stadium on the way in. Wonder whether I'll get the chance to get to any pre-season games whilst I'm over here.

Aaargh what a nightmare week!!!!

So much for all the anticipation of the first Blondie gig. Arrived at Universal to find Hard Rock Live showing Blondie and New Cars show as cancelled. Info from box office showed this as being due to Cars' guitarist Elliott Easton hving broken a collar bone in a road accident. Did explain that I wasn't there to see the Cars anyway but .... At that stage only Florida shows were definetly off.
Had to txt the news to Laura who was already in the air between NY and Orlando. Bet the airport was filled with a few choice words! Managed to get some (v expensive) internet time near Universal to check TicketMaster and Blondie.net which showed Charleston gig as also being cancelled.
Then had to spend some time revising plans with Laura to see what to do. Can'd trip down to Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood to spend extra time in Orlando. Cost us the price of the non-refundable Greyhound trip to Fort Lauderdale. Still went down to Clearwater as planned (not sure why now) for one night and then came straight back to Orlando the following morning. I bet not many people have done a one-night trip to Clearwater and not even gone down to the beach. Hotel did have a nice pool though (but then that's pretty much standard in FLorida anyway).
News gradually came through of more cancellations and postponed gigs. Did have our fingers crossed that Atlanta would still be played even if only Blondie were there but finally even that got can'd. Official announcement yesterday morning was that whole tour is off except for the Albright-Knox benefit gig next week. At least I'll get to see Blondie once while I'm here.
Still in Orlando. Decided there was no point moving on until we have to and that is for the flight from Atlanta to Buffalo next Tuesday. Gives us a bit more time to explore Orlando. Tan is also building quite nicely with all the glorious sunshine now that Alberto is out of here. Had a great day in Wet 'n' Wild yesterday. Nicely situated just over the road from the hotel we're in now (my fourth different hotel in Orlando in a week). Spent all afternoon and early evening in the park. Best slide vote? Well for me that would be Storm. Don't know whether you've ever come across those charity collecting things where you drop a coin in through a slot and it then runs round and round an inverted dome-shape until finally dropping in the collecting box. Well, storm is just like it but with humans playing the part of the coin. Drop down a steep slide to build up speed and then into the dome and round and round and round and round, until finally the slide spits you out into the pool below. In my case that ended up being a head-first plummet into the water.
Have spent a bit of time on Universal's City Walk - good bars and places to eat and also live music yesterday evening (band Orange Avenue doing a good selection of covers) - and all only a short walk up from the hotel. However, found a great Irish Bar late last night so think we'll head back there tonight. Obviously has beer, but also pool, and karaoke, and allows Laura to smoke in the bar instead of being forced outside.
Spaeking of Laura, she's off shopping today - loads of outlet shops in International Drive - which gives me a bit of time to post an update here. Also had a chance to watch a bit of the World Cup at last. Haven't really caught a lot of it so far - a few half matches here and there. Watched most of Ghana's win over Czech Republic just now. May head up to Universal this afternoon. NBA bar is showing USA vs Italy on 15ft big screen.

OK, just to update progress on US tour:
Reached Orlando on Saturday (just). Had to get up at just after 5 am to get across to Miami Amtrak station from Miami Beach. Left plenty of time so made it with 30 minutes to spare. Amtrak is a cool way to travel - very comfortable with lots of space. AND also had comedy act thrown in - part way through the trip when the train braked for a station, the air conditioning unloaded all the water it had built up on a guy down the front of the carriage. Don't think he was too impressed. Just glad it wasn't me.
Reached Orlando Amtrak station 30 minutes late, which meant I missed the 1pm bus to downtown bus station. Only one bus per hour so had to wait in the heat of the day and then the next bus was 25 mins late. Aarrggh! Finally reached central bus station to find that no busses run to the hotel area north of Disney during the day - one in the morning to take you to Disney and one in the evening to take you back. Meant I had to spend extra cash on a taxi fare. Hotel was good though - just didn't have enough time to use all the facilities (fitness centre, pool).
Had to spend more money on another cab to get to the House of Blues for the Pat Benatar gig. Driver dropped me at the wrong place too (only about 5 minutes from the hotel) despite me telling him he'd got it wrong. Had time to order a beer and phone for another cab before he came back having realised his mistake. Finally got to Downtown Disney in plenty of time for the gig (GA so had to get to front of queue). Then found that being America, corporate interests again take priority over ordinary fans - if you spent $20 in the HOB shop or restaurant, then you got to go to the front of queue. To rub salt into the wounds, it then pissed down with rain on us. Fortunately we could shelter against the side of the building, which was more than the $20 crowd could. It was great watching them get soaking wet. When we finally got let into the venue, I think most of them were off trying to dry out, so got to be in second row of people from the front and not far from the middle of the stage.
Show was brilliant - Norwegian group Hangface opened and were ok. Pat and Neil were even better. Played all the classics as expected. Good to finally get to see them live having been a fan since the days of "Love is a Battlefield".
Having done the trip from the hotel to the venue in one direction, realised I could walk the distance quite easily, so had a nice stroll back. Stopped of at a pancake house. Wasn't too hungry so just ordered an omelette. Turned out to be the biggest omelette I've ever seen (4 or 5 eggs minimum I reckon). And it came with 3 free buttermilk pancakes. I tried my best but the omelette and one pancake was all I could manage. Still not used to American sized portions yet!
Spent Sunday at Disney's Epcot site. Lots of cool sciency stuff. Loved the Sea, Land and Imagination centres (despite the over the top commercialiation). How can they have an environmental exhibit sponsored by Nestle? Come to think of it, how to Disney think they can get away with the idea that they care about the environment? Did put over a good message though in their films and exhibits. Hope all those Americans there listened to all the stuff about global warming, the need to recycle, alternative energy sources, etc. Slightly ironic when you come out of a film show on recycling to have lunch, and find that everything is served on disposable plates, in disposable cups, with disposable plastic cutlery which all gets chucked straight into the trash bin. Maybe Disney's caterers should head upstairs from their location and watch the film themselves!
Change of hotel for Sunday/Monday nights - took the brave decision to use the same cab driver as on Saturday. Needed me to direct him to where I needed to go but it worked and he was cheap (probably too embarassed to overcharge).
Monday spent at Disney's Animal Kingdom - it was a coin toss between there and a trip out to the Kennedy Space Centre. Kennedy lost out 'cos of the additional $35 dollar cost of getting there and back. Anyway I love animals, so it was going to be interesting to see the Disnay take on zoos. Must say that I was impressed by most of the enclosures that Disney have set up. Plenty of space, lots of environmental enrichment, space for the animals to get away from public view, so overall was good. Still v commercial (of course). The edge of tropical storm Alberto threatened to spoil the day a bit but only really let go of its rain in one big hit. Drizzled most of the day but seeing as it is still warm, was drying out almost as quickly as I was getting wet. Didn't even need to bother with a waterproof coat. The only exception was when I was on the Kilimanjaro Safari (1st time). Really good exhibit simulating African savannah and doing a good job. Don't know exactly how big the area is but it takes a while to travel around in safari vehicle. Has various antelope, rhino (black and white), elephant, giraffe, cheetah, lion, warthog, .... In fact pretty much everything you'd hope to see on a real safari in Africa. Only problem was that half way round the storm really let go. Horizontal driving rain with visibility down to a few feet only. Expect everyone else in the park ran for shelter but we didn't have that choice. Just had to sit it out as the rain hammered in through the open sides of the vehicle.
First Blondie gig tomorrow - can't wait.
More updates to follow when I get some more computer time.

An update on temperature in Miami Beach: still 30C. Doesn't seem to change much day or night. Now have a pair of slightly pink feet having spent a little bit too long on the beach yesterday morning. Water was lovely to swim in though.

Managed to fit in a trip to the Everglades this morning. Only touched the very edge of the glades and spent more time in the coach getting there and back than we actually did at Gator Park. However that is one more thing ticked off the list of things to do and see. Would have liked to have spent a bit more time there but without a car that would have been tricky.

Had a short trip on an air boat - dry season out here, so the water outside of the main channels is too shallow to get the boat down. Did get to see a few alligators as well a great egrets, and vultures.

Spent yesterday afternoon in downtown Miami. Metromover is a bargain - free monorail ride around the downtown area. Gave a good opportunity to travel around and stop off if I saw anything interesting. Didn't make too many stops - Miami is a very modern city with nothing too much for the tourist to explore. From the sound of it, it is getting even more modern by the day. Thought there was a lot of building work going on in Moscow when I was out there in January. However Miami beats that hands down. Apparently there are 100 new skyscrapers under construction at the moment.

Anyway, that about wraps it up for Miami. One more night here and then I get the Amtrak up to Orlando tomorrow morning. Think I'll spend the rest of the afternoon back on the beach - need to chill just a little bit more.

Needn't have worried about whether the weather in Florida was going to match up to the hot spell we were having in SE England. Temperature in Miami Beach was still 30C even at 7pm this evening. V grateful for air conditioned buildings if only to escape from the temperature and humidity outside. As usual though, air conditioning has its downside - streaming nose, and v dry mouth already (and that was just the plane). Hopefully that'll wear off soon.

BA flight was average as usual. For some reason they served lunch at just after 10 am UK time (5am EST!) and then tea an hour before landing in Miami at 1pm EST. There was me trying to get my body clock adjusted to the time difference, and I kept getting woken up to eat a meal that was being served at totally the wrong time of day. Also had the usual BA problem with requesting a veggie meal. Now that they bring special meals round before serving everyone else, you never get a drink with your food (unless you let the food go cold). This morning was prob worst so far. Got woken up to be presented with a very bland vegetable tagini. Before the drinks trolley and coffee arrived, I'd had time to eat the meal and fall asleep again, so missed out on free alcohol (!) - b*stards didn't wake me up for that.

Staying in a reasonable hostel just a couple of blocks from the sea. Was quite pleasant sitting down on the beach earlier - there was a wonderful cooling breeze coming in off the sea.

Enough for now - need to go and book at least one trip out from here. Can't come to Florida without going and visiting the Gators in the Everglades.

Last day in sunny England for a while. Hope the weather is as good in Florida. Packing well under way, online check-in for flight completed, hotel bookings almost complete for first three weeks' travel. Look out America, I'm on my way.

OK, maybe this post is not particularly linked to my world travel tour but you have to start a blog somewhere, so why not Arsenal Stadium?

Just spent a rather splendid day up at Highbury football stadium with a friend from my old work place. The lucky sod won the chance to take part in a 5-a-side football competition at the ground as one of the activities set up to mark the move to Arsenal's new home. As one guest was allowed, he took me along (just as well or he wouldn't have got a loan of my season ticket next year!).
Anyway, having got there, been shown to the upper tier of the stand with the other guests and watched everyone below warm up (with envy), the announcement came that some people hadn't turned up. What the f*ck! Why? Are these people insane? Therefore would any of the spectators like to play? Would they? Hell, yeah. Slight problem of having no sports kit with me, but the Arsenal shop is on the same side of the stadium. Quick sprint down there, purchase of trainers, shorts and socks, and then down to the main entrance to shout "me, me, me". So Jon and me both got to play. ;-)))))
5-a-side went ok - at least my team (veterans/old gits) managed to win one of our matches. Jon had no such luck in the young mens' team. Then they ran two full 11-a-side football matches on the full Highbury pitch. Vets/ladies combined, and then young men. Just wish I wasn't so kind and generous. Got the chance to score a goal with just one defender and the keeper to beat, and noticed that one of the girls was unmarked in the middle of the penalty area so I passed the ball to her. And then to make it worse, not only did I not get to score a goal at Highbury but she hit the ball over the top of the bar!!!! Aaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhhh. Apparently Jon was screaming "shoot, hit it, shoot" at me from the touchline. Playing was brilliant enough - if I'd scored too, then I'd have been intolerable for months to come. We did manage to win 1-0 though which was cool.
Watched a bit of Jon's 11-a-side match too - he lost that one as well - and then showered and changed in the Arsenal 1st XI changing rooms. And then we got treated to lunch in the main hospitality suite, with Charlie George making the presentations of winners' trophies and medals for everyone who played. Now have a medal saying "I played at Highbury 1st June 2006". Reckon there were only about 64 players in total, so that will be a fairly unique memento.
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