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By train across America’s iconic Eastern Cities

4th January 20254th January 2025 funtime65

It’s taken us four decades and several transatlantic jaunts when we could easily have gone by train across America’s iconic Eastern Cities.

Public transport is much pilloried in the Land of the Car and that extends to travelling between states.

With travel providers assuming that visitors will automatically prefer a self-drive option.

Now, of course, that is not for all of us although I nervously was prepared to go that route in the Florida Keys when Covid struck.

I have, of course, been back to the States many times since and criss-crossed too through New England.

Sitting back in a buffet car, talking to fellow passengers and taking in the world outside your window is the way to go.

Try Freedom

And don’t Freedom Destinations know it as evidenced by their Eastern Cities By Rail package.

You will cover the Big Four, Boston, New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia on your FD tour.

And the beauty of the FD experience is that they will customise your trip with extra nights or destinations.

And the news from the Capitol: In Washington

You will fly into Logan Airport in Bean City, Boston and out of John Dulles which remember is in Virginia.

By train across America’s iconic Eastern CitiesAnd enjoy 11 nights hotel accommodation along the way south.

Pass marks

Now we’d always recommend a city travel pass to get around America’s cities.

And FD agree which is why they include a Boston All-Inclusive Pass and New York CityPass for their customers.

And Boston and Washington D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours.

Now they’re not the Big Four for nothing and we’d advise too to walk the cities.

Of course, the Freedom Trail and Harbour in Boston, Greenwich Village and Central Park in NY.

And South Street and any street with a letter or state name intersecting it which is all of them in DC.

Train takes the train

The FD package retails at from £1590 or with flights from £2,190.

So that’ll allay your anxiety about jet lag, driving on the other side of the road and getting the vehicle back as you found it.

It’s better by train across America’s iconic Eastern Cities with Freedom Destinations.

America, Countries

A big Maryland Tea Party too

30th August 202430th August 2024 funtime65

There’s a reason why the English sip tea and Americans cwaffee, and having thrown the leaf into Boston Harbour I see that 250 years ago they held a big Maryland Tea Party too.

While up and down the east coast some 16 others which centred not around higher taxes but lower taxes.

All designed by King George III to bail out the struggling East India Company and stop the universal smuggling the colonists favoured.

Which brings us to the subject of the tea itself which is far from your favourite morning cuppa today.

Abigail’s party

The focus of the sujet de jour, Annapolis in Maryland, is the dozenth such party over the year between December 1773 and 1774.

And we confess that we didn’t get the cups out for the ten others.

Mainly because the tea of that time is a bit more bitter.

Bruce almighty: Tea blender Bruce Richardson

Which we discovered in Abigail’s Tea Room. named for the rebel Abigail Adams, in Boston.

And created and updated by Kentuckian tea blender Bruce Richardson.

His tea being made from a blend of Chinese black tea, Nilgiri India tea, and Kenyan and Assam India teas.

Drone ranger

The Annapolis Tea Party surrounded the Burning of the Peggy Stewart on October 19, 1774.

And marks the moment colonists in Annapolis formally ushered Maryland into the revolt against Britain.

A drone show surrounding a replica of a colonial-era brig will provide a living history reenactment beginning at 7pm.

All of which be seen from locations with a view of Annapolis City Dock.

Our pals at Capital Region USA, which promotes Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, have flagged up too a trip that suits us down to a tea.

Drive on

Honest Jim: And Honest Abe in Washington

With Journeyscape offering a 15-day Classic Capital Region fly-drive from £3690pps.

And that includes highlights such as Washington DC, George Washington’s estate Mount Vernon, colonial time capsule Williamsburg and awesome Annapolis.

With the price including return international flights, 14-nights accommodation and car rental throughout.

Of course, those of us who have an inside in Maryland in Chevy Chase and Chesapeake Bay have our own stopping-off point.

Where we’re guaranteed the best beers, and for the year that’s in it, a big Maryland Tea Party too.

America, Countries, Deals, Europe, Food & Wine, UK

Czech Pilsner is the first among Urquells

14th August 202414th August 2024 funtime65

A toast to Scottish lager Innis & Gunn on winning gold in the Olympics of Beer, but patriotism aside Czech Pilsner is the first among Urquells for us.

Innis & Gunn’s successes in the Country and Taste Categories and silver in the Taste category at the World Beer Awards is deserved for a fuller lager.

With Scotland not known for its lager, whisky yes, but amber nectar.

With the electric fizzy Tennent’s the template for the less sophisticated Scottish palate.

Until, of course, you get out to see what proper lager is all about at the Nirvana of Nectar, Oktoberfest in Munich.

Not that any amount of Tennent’s can prepare you for steins of the finest Hofbrau, Lowenbrau or Paulaner.

Thing is though that once savoured you’ll never go back to electric fizzy beer.

And so began a life mission to road test as many different lagers.

Across the world’s great lager-drinking nations of the world to find out which is best.

So here are my alternative podium, my 1-2-3, or top of the froths if you will.

Czechs mate

Look at the head on that: Zatec, Czech Republuc

Pilsner Urquell: And any reason to flag up the oft-repeated claim that the Czechs drink more lager than any other country in the world per head of population.

And that Czech Pilsner is the first among Urquells.

Our Bohemian friends don’t just drink it, they also bathe in it.

And dedicate astronomical clocks to it and have competitions measuring the girth of their beer bellies, as they do in Zatec.

And if you want to try something more left-field then the Loket Ruby beer was so good I took as much of it back with me in my luggage as I could.

Best of the Fest

Hofbrau: And a big-up to the classic Bavarian beer in an attempt to get my ban lifted from 1986.

For trying to split up Bayern and Nuremberg female football fans from fighting, for which I copped a broken nose.

Hofbrau, which is protected under the German Purity Law, is the quintessential Bavarian beer.

But don’t take the word of a tipsy Scot coralled by Aussies and Kiwis. Ask, of all people the Swedes.

During the Thirty Years’ War in 1632, Munich was besieged by Swedish troops but they came up with a wizard wheeze to get them to stop.

They offered the Swedes 23,168 litres from the Hofbräuhaus to spare their city.

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby: And a 24-hour bar in Munich

These days the celebrated Hofbrauhuis is the best place to clink your steins and sing Ein Prosit.

While your own award-winning Travel Editor is clearly being seen in a different light.

With Ruby Lilly and Ruby Rosi dropping me what they’re offering which is a 24-hour bar service for residents.

With rates from €331 per room per night during Oktoberfest, or from €123 at other times.

Check the Ruby Hotels website for rates, booking and the Oktoberfest Guide.

Beers to American IPA

Avery day’s a school day: With Travis in Colorado

American IPA: OK, I’m cheating here because every time I find a favourite American lager I go to another state and am knocked out by a new one.

I’ve been knocked over by lagers from Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, perfect prep.

For your La La Land trip to see Los Angeles Angels baseball game.

Through Denver, which bills itself as the beer capital of the US.

And where because it’s the Mile High City you get twice as drunk for half as much.

And Colorado and Avery Brewing Company where Travis works as a beerologist.

Tracing ancient booze from the Biblical times… and I still want his job.

Down to Texas and its Shiner Bock which will salve even the salsaiest Tex-Mex food.

Popping into Mississippi and sopping up your soul food and grits.

Before paying tribute to Old Sam himself, Samuel Adams in Boston, the birthplace of the American Revolution and the American story at Samuel Adams Tap Rooms.