It's 10am UK time and I've been back for a little over an hour now. I'm still fairly dazed from the journey. Still moving. I guess it will just be a day of unpacking, washing stuff... oh, and discovering more stuff that was stolen in the burglary. Like a bunch of computer CDs. Grr...

I probably wont write much in the next week or so, although I'll upload lots more pictures soon.

Nice to be back.

I'm afraid to say that I don't have anything remarkable to say about New York this time round. Maybe I'll think of something...

It seems obvious now, but I hadn't fully realised that Washington, DC literally is the ten square miles around the Capitol with the sole purpose of housing and facilitating representation, government departments, memorials, museums and a huge security presence.

I spent time in the National Archives viewing the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. I toured the inside of the Capitol Building in all its palacial grandeur. I visited the Washington and Lincoln Memorials along with War Memorials for the Second World War and for Vietnam. The latter consists of the names of the dead inscribed onto a black marble wall. It was galling to see how long this list was and to know that even more died in WWII. The names were also on display in printed books, thicker than any telephone directory I have ever seen.

Last night I saw the Dutch Apple Holiday Show again and I honestly felt that it was 100 times sharper and more energetic this time. Both Sonny and Sarah maintain that it was because everyone was so happy to have a day off the next day! Afterwards we adjourned to a bar, sang some karaoke (including a dire rendition of Rainbow's "Since You've Been Gone" on my part) and generally had a great evening chilling out.

Americans are experts at dining out, it's something that they do far more than Brits and the American speciality has to be breakfast. I started the day having breakfast with Sarah, her mum and Sonny at a small family owned breakfast restaurant called the Pantry Deli - or the Shanty - where the food (sweet, savory and every combination thereof) was excellent. I love American breakfast.

With Sarah and Sonny off to another performance I headed to downtown Lancaster with Sarah's mum, to see the sights. I imagine it's a fairly sleepy little city at the best of times - so on a late November Sunday afternoon there really wasn't much going on. That said, there are a great number of original brick buildings - unusual fo the US.

I feel I should try to make some wise summary remarks about Philadelphia is the same way that I have tried to do about my other destinations. But since it's Thanksgiving I've only seen a very small part of the city at a very unusual time. However I can say that what I have seen was very friendly, well presented, modern and yet steeping in history. Certainly, in term of "attractions" there is far more to see here than I've wanted to see anywhere else.

This morning was make or break time for catching up with Sarah. I'd been trying to arrange my visit to Lancaster for the past week but, since she had lost her cell phone and I had no internet access for five days due to trains and holidays, it had been extremely difficult. But I'm pleased to say that it all came good in the nick of time - even Amtrak's finest singalling problems could stop me. I arrived in Lancaster station to the smell of the countryside, Sarah picked me up and we headed straight for my first Dinner Theatre experience at the "Dutch Apple".

Following my visit to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia I was left with a great deal of respect for the creators of this nation and its Constitution... and full of opinion. Here are some thoughts.

Perhaps it is the fact that most Americans don't generally understand the spirit in which the Constitution was written or perhaps its the effect of partisan politics or the result of the advanced capitalism which dominates today that causes the problems people have with America today. I can't help feeling that America really could be a role model state if it stuck more closely to its founding principals.

If yesterday felt like Christmas Day then today was certainly Boxing Day. The sales began in force and the shops were mobbed. Families were out together enjoying the sites of Philadelphia.

I had visited the Liberty Bell and Indpendence Hall yesterday when they were the only buildings open. Then they were quiet and thoroughly enjoyable. The numerous historic buildings clustered in central Philadelphia were all open and extremely busy today.

Arriving into Philadeplhia last night had felt odd. It felt like Christmas Eve. Everyone was leaving the city early to go home and be with family. Roads were snarled; stations jam-packed. It was a cold, dark evening, Christmas decorations hung everywhere and people had that Christmas Eve look about them. Every conversation ended with that same sentiments: "Now, you have a great holiday, ok?".

It was odd firstly because it felt like Christmas and I was being left out of it. But secondly, more odd because it wasn't actually Christmas at all!

When I arrived at Chicago's Union Station it was as if all hell had broken loose. Hundreds of Americans were beginning their annual pilgrimage home for Thanksgiving (Caitlin amongst them) and I had put myself in the middle of it. It made for trains packed with families, young people and old people - none of whom were interested in travelling, only in getting to their destination.

One minor exception came in the form of Leo, and ex-Naval offiver turned Paralegal now training in Theology with a view to counselling teenagers. Now that's a career path.

I had to change trains on Day 23 and take the fast commuter line from Washington, DC to Philadelphia. Washington station was easily as busy as Chicago had been, but there was a notably high incidence of attractive, business-like, incredibly well dressed, young American women. Know that this would be a full train I felt sure my chances of a conversation with at least one of them!