Pittsburgh, now Baltimore
Rather ticked off that due to a fully booked coach, I did not make it to Baltimore in time for the Orioles game, my loss I suppose. Hostel very nice, bus journey rather amusing.

Firstly, after nine days in Chicago I was ready to move on, although moving on meant spending 6 hours in the Chicago greyhound station, waiting for an 11 hour coach ride to Pittsburgh (1st Earl of Chatham I salute you). I don't know where they get it but to argue that the seats on the greyhound buses are 'comfy' is ludicrous. After two hours my back absolutely killed, but to my surprise I slept for most of the journey. Pittsburgh seemed a nice city, although I did not do much exploring because I was too pooped out in my motel room (Pittsburgh's lack of any decent hostelling is a blot against it). The motel was out of the way 10 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh, and the american transit system is stupid, but I probably needed the three nights in the motel room (firstly for a bit of privacy and a bed that wasn't covered in plastic, and two the TV (I watched some Wimbledon which I have sorely missed over the past week, having watched the tournament for the past dozen years religiously).

PNC Park has a nice feel to it, and the 4-3 loss to the Rays was entertaining enough, but for the price I got my ticket I felt that more Pittsburghians should get down there. The question is who wouldn't pay $9 to watch a giant parrot shoot hot dogs out of a bazooka? Did someone really tell me that Pittsburgh has more bridges per square mile than Venice or did I just make that up? Hmm...Anyway, having arrived two hours early I was dismayed to find the Greyhound I'd hoped to get was fully booked. Apparantly some anthrocon? or something had finished the night before and everyone was going home.

Unfortunately pestering the staff to change the tv's from TNT to ESPN to watch Andy Murray produce a STUNNING comeback against Gasquet did no good, and I had to wait out the five hours. I really think Murray has the game this week to beat Nadal, whoever he has to play in the semis' and Federer. At least the bus ride was entertaining. First we had what can only be described as 'symphony of the nerds' as they bashed their glowsticks while listening to dragonforce (before in the terminal we had been treated to a mock lightsaber fight in full view of everyone). Then we have the crazy old lady, who nearly sits next to me, but chooses the seat behind. She's a mutterer. Think of the old woman in L.A. Confidential who finds her daughter has been killed (Russell Crowe finds a body under her house), that kind of voice. But crazy, less audible, drunk and very angry. After a while she put on her radio (pretty much full blast), and was challenged by a woman next to her to turn it off (all you could hear was static), then they pretty much got into a shouting match, '(expletive)' etc. etc. was bandied about, and it was pretty obvious she had been drinking. She shut up after nearly being ejected from the bus. And here I end up in Baltimore.

Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York over the next 10 days before heading home.

The Astros have been doing well over the past three series, 7-3 now after the impressive win against the Dodgers tonight. More on them later.