The Plan

Last year I visited five countries on holidays: Iran, Turkey, Serbia, Hungary, Germany. In the first four I understood almost nothing of the local languages. My vocabulary was limited to the basics of politeness that I had learnt before the trip (and have since mostly forgotten): please, thank you, how was it for you? and so on.

I decided that my next holiday would be to a country where they speaka my language. So, in the immortal words of Al Jolson, California, here I come! Followed by Seattle, Chicago, New York and Toms River (New Jersey).

The itinerary is as follows:

16 July	Paris – San Francisco
16 – 20 July	California
21 – 23 July	Seattle
24 – 27 July	California
28 – 30 July	train from San Francisco to Chicago (3924 km in 51 hours, that's two nights on board)
30 July – 2 August	Chicago
2 – 8 August	New York
9 – 11 August	Toms River (New Jersey)
11 August	NY – Paris

One of the advantages of being Irish is having family in the US. My nephew and two of my cousins are hosting me, as are some (non-Irish) friends in Chicago and New York.

I'm going to see some great cities and fabulous scenery.  And I'm hoping get my ankles wet in two oceans and several lakes!

So open up that Golden Gate,
California, here I come!