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America, Countries

Washington deserves a guided tour

28th February 202628th February 2026 funtime65

And because Washington deserves a guided tour instead of a dangerous midwinter barge Crossing of the Delaware.

We’d like to take him on a hop-on, hop-off bus around the city which bears his name.

Which, of course, we can do because we have the right connections.

Having bumped into George on the National Mall.

And then having been tour guided around the capital of the US by no less a figure than DC mayor Muriel Bower.

Hot in the City

Good luck on topping that but you’ve got more than a fighting chance this USA 250 year on board with City Experiences.

The 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket gives visitors the chance to take in the capital at your leisure.

All the Smithsonians, the Capitol, your must-do selfie in front of the White House, and the monuments, memorials, and parks.

While, DC being the great cycling city that it is City Experiences are giving us a complimentary one-hour bike rental. And all starting from £44pp.

Now to borrow from Aleta Adams a minute.

We really should get there how we can for America 250 and when we do hop on the range of modes of transport and entertainment CE are offering.

New York, New York

Now one of the best ways to take in New York is on the Hudson and East Rivers.

And CE will take you on a signature dinner and dance cruise.

Where you can take in views of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Trade Centre.

The two-and-a-half-hour cruise features a chef-prepared buffet, live DJ entertainment, a fully stocked bar, and open-air rooftop decks. Prices start from £63pp.

Out on the Great Lakes

Chicago-go-go: Taking in the Second City

If that whets your appetite, and you are in some of these other great American cities, be our guests and go cruising.

On Lake Michigan, with a chef-prepared buffet on a two-and-a-half-hour cruise taking in panoramic views.

Of the orginal American Skyscraper City, or the Second City Chicago, including the Willis Tower and Adler Planetarium. Prices start from £47pp.

Frisco dancing

Or wine, dine and cruise for two and a half hours in Frisco.

In San Francisco Bay in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Prices start from £99pp.

San Diego chargers

While if you want to enjoy too those who live in the seas, then City Experiences put on a San Diego Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure.

Where your three-and-a-half to four-hour adventure will give you the chance to spot Grey, Blue, Minke, and Fin Whales, along with dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds.

Expert narrators from the San Diego Natural History Museum provide live commentary. Prices start from £50pp.

And again we say Washington deserves a guided tour and so do you, and particularly this America 250 year.

America, Countries

San Francisco, what’s in a name?

31st July 202331st July 2023 funtime65

San Francisco, what’s in a name? Well, the good folk of… well, they helpfully tell us what to call them.

Easy, you think… San Fran, right?

But no, wait, our friends in San Fran tell us, no, they hate that.

Fair, having just returned from San Antonio in Texas I knew right off the bat that not to call them San Ants.

Even worse is the F-word ‘Frisco’ which the Pulitzer-winning San Francisco columnist Herb Caen railed against.

When he wrote: ‘Caress each Spanish syllable, salute our Italian saint. Don’t say Frisco and don’t say San-Fran-Cis-Co.

‘That’s the way Easterners, like Larry King, pronounce it.’

City on rock’n’roll

Marconi plays the mambo: Jefferson Airplane

Of course we’re loath to criticise our most-loved musicians who are keen to promote the city.

Particularly when they’re prepared to leave their home in Georgia when they’ve got nothing to live for.

Which gets us to the one San Franciscans like best ‘City by the Bay.

Something’s going to come my way: Otis Redding

And putting aside past monikers Caen’s ‘Baghdad by the Bay’, a Babylon reference.

Or ‘Paris by the West’ when everyone wanted to reference themselves to the French.

Grace Slick perhaps had it best when she sang about ‘building this city on rock’n’roll’.

Gateway to excess

Hippy shake: San Francisco’s Janis Joplin

As well as Jefferson Airplane, the world knows the City by the Bay as the spiritual home of hippies.

With Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana and Steve Miller and their flower-wearing fans down by Haight-Ashbury.

Of course, as much as every tourist to San Francisco checks out Haight-Ashbury.

We’re advised by Green Day’s biggest fan, my little post-punk rocker, that Billie Joe Armstrong is from across the Golden Gate Bridge in Oakland

All of which is prep work for when we finally get ourselves out to San Francisco.

Which has, of course, been on the radar for ever and certainly since our Aer Lingus trip to Dublin, San Francisco, which Covid stalled.

So, San Francisco, what’s in a name? And now we know, thanks for sharing.

America, Countries, Food & Wine

California Drying

5th January 20235th January 2023 funtime65

The perception of the image -conscious Golden State is that if you take two glasses of wine you’re an alcoholic which is why we’re focusing today on California Drying.

And, yes it is me speaking here, extolling the virtues of non-alcoholic wine.

And all for Dry January California.

Lorra LA bottle

Or Less Angeles if you will with several non-alcoholic bottle shops opening recently.

With a selection of non-alcoholic spirits, aperitifs, mixers and more.

Soft Spirits opened in Silver Lake in October 2021 and Venice’s The New Bar opened in July.

San Fransisc-low

And yes, you lose none of the fun from not imbibing.

With non-alcoholic craft mocktails and booze-free craft beer all flowing at the Ocean Beach Cafe in Outer Richmond.

We have Joshua James to thank for building a San Fran community art cafe to house the largest non-alcoholic beverage selection in the country.

And to conduct regular beach clean-ups.

And just because it’s boozeless doesn’t mean you can’t have a speakeasy.

The Temperance Bar, which is open by reservation can be found by visiting Ocean Beach Cafe.

Faux show

And it’s not just us saying it…

When the Faux Real Bottle Shop opened in Los Gatos The City of Los Gatos in Santa Clara County Faux Real Bottle Shop in February 2022…

They reminded customers that “zero-proof doesn’t mean zero fun.”

The bottle shop carries dozens of zero-proof spirits like gin, tequila and rum, non-alcoholic wine and beer, aperitifs and more.

Faux Real hosts a “sober hour” from 1 to 3 p.m. every Saturday to encourage sober socialising.

Sacre blowout

Now this may very well be your cup of teetotal…

Sacramento is expected to welcome a zero-proof bar concept called The Teetotalist in 2023, where people can gather, socialise and enjoy a night out.

In a setting that feels like a bar, but with an alternate beverage menu.

And who knows after California Drying you may decide like Joshua to give it a year and see how it goes.

Me, I did two days after a 24-hour bug from a fellow passenger.

Before entering the good fight in LA…

And I more than made up for it then.

America, Countries, Flying

Aer Lingus in a golden state

23rd August 202223rd August 2022 funtime65

Not that it’ll silence the flygskammers but airlines are addressing clean skies, and Ireland’s national carrier are leading the way with Aer Lingus in a golden state.

Renewables Aemetis, Inc and International Airlines Group are supplying sustainable aviation fuel.

To power Aer Lingus and British Airways flights from San Francisco Airport from 2025.

Over to Aer Lingus Chief Exec Lynne Embleton.

“As we work towards our commitment of powering 10% of flights using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030…

“This agreement with Aemetis will see aircraft on our San Francisco route using low carbon biofuels from sustainable wastes.”

Now, I’ll leave the science to the engineers (best).

And Aer Lingus report that this summer they have signed two SAF deals.

And a lease agreement for two new Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Now for the science bit

And Lynne says: “These are all key steps in achieving our lower-carbon future and net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

IAG, parent company of Aer Lingus and British Airways will purchase a total of 78,400 tonnes of SAF over seven years.

And that is enough to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 248,000 tonnes (the equivalent of taking over 16,000 cars off the road) across the same time period.

While in July, Aer Lingus signed another SAF agreement with Gevo, Inc., a US-based renewable fuels producer.

The agreement will see the purchase of 19,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel per year for five years, powering flights from Los Angeles.

Aer Lingus is also investing in new generation and more fuel-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo and A32l neo LR.

In June, Aer Lingus signed a lease agreement for two new Airbus A320neo aircraft.

And that will see this new generation aircraft joining Aer Lingus’ fleet for the first time.

The Airbus A320neo delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions.

Shamrocks in my hair

And close to 50% reduction in noise footprint.

When compared to the previous generation aircraft, A320ceo.

Of course we don’t have to wait until 2025 to get to Frisco.

And it is an itch waiting to be scratched with Covid putting paid to my plans to get to Dublin in the Tri-Valley region.

When I was, of course, going to channel my inner hippy by going to San Francisco wearing shamrocks in my hair.

Fare play

Greetin’ Greta: Thumberg, queen of the flight shamers

Now with my Irish history, Aer Lingus was naturally my go-to airline.

When I returned Stateside this year for my rail trip around New England.

And when, not if, I go to San Francisco I’ll be hopping on their deals from Scotland.

So that’ll be either Glasgow through Dublin to San Fran from £249.25, each way fare as part of a return trip including taxes and charges.

Or £252.52 from Edinburgh.

So, yes, despite what Grouchy Greta and her flygskammers will have you believe the airlines are fighting back.

With Aer Lingus in a golden state.