Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Super storm Sandy

Storm of the year ...

Started off labeled as hurricane which of course forecast to hit on Sunday 10/28 when I was flying back from London to Cleveland.  I was one of the lucky flights that left on time and was not delayed.  Got to JFK airport plenty early and heard all the reports of the 3 NYC airports going to close sometime between 7pm and 9pm and bus lines and subway also close sometime late that night.  Thankfully my Cleveland connection was scheduled @ 4pm but we still sat on the tarmac waiting for 2 hours for the take-off.  I think by the time we took off, there were over 40 planes lining up on the tarmac.  I didn't get into Cleveland until 8:30pm which was 2hrs later than originally but nonetheless made it.

The hurricane was then re-labeled as superstorm and didn't hit Cleveland until Monday afternoon.  Lots and lots of rain and wind.  It wasn't super cold but expected for the time of year.  Power was out in a lot of places and quite a few street lights and homes did not get power back for 2-3days.  This was probably the worse I have seen personally in all the places I have lived in.

The news about NYC after was definitely devastating as my friend living in the Bronx was said "NYC was destroyed" the day after the storm hit. Definitely sad to hear that boardwalk in Atlantic City was destroyed too.  It was one of the iconic Northeast thing and the re-build is going to be different and who knows how long before everything will be back to normal.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Scotland and England

My trip of the year ... Scotland and England

The trip started with arrive in London and I was able to spend a couple of hours wandering around in London before meeting up with rest of the group. Then next day, bright and early, started the tour going north into the real England as our tour guide say.  It was really different than the London city itself.  These towns were more the English towns that were described in novels, quaint, friendly and has lots of character.  London itself was more of metropolis, high fashion and finance dominated.

We went all the way north to the Highlands.  The mountains scenery is very different from the Western states.  They definitely got the rolling hills with small towns, random ruins, small bridges interspersed.  You can feel the history with the scenes.  It was absolutely amazing.

Of course, can't miss Liverpool with the Beatles, Edinburgh with the castle and palace, Bath with Roman bath house and Jane Austen and York with the Shambles and haunted ghosts.

It was an amazing trip.  There were definitely places that I want to go back.  London (of course), Edinburgh and Liverpool.  I can dream on right?!

Photos