In December 2013/January 2014 my wife and I did a three week trip to the USA, with the aim of experiencing a proper North American winter. Well, we definitely got one - 'Polar Vortex' and all! The trip included Chicago, New Hampshire, Miami Beach and New York City.

I finally finished off the blog entries and photos for each leg of this trip on TravelPod. If anyone is interested you can check it out at the following link:

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...u/11/tpod.html

Can't wait to read this a bit later Dominic - I looked at some of the Chicago photos, and that deep dish pizza looks kinda gross.

Great blog!! Glad you got to see a white day after Christmas and yes the side effects mentioned in the drug ads are daunting they often include "may cause death", that's got to make you run out and buy the drug.

Thanks for the report.

The FDA determine what information about risks must be listed about each drug. Manufacturers have no control over it.

And if I were going to take a medication I would want to know the common side effects (your MD should be telling you this when you get your Rx).

Thanks everybody for the comments - nytraveler I accept what you say and understand that the FDA applies these rules for the benefit of the consumer. The point is that at home (Australia) and in most other places, the drug companies are not permitted to advertise direct to the public like they do on TV in the States so the situation does not arise in the same way. The prevalence of these ads on TV is something that foreign tourists really notice, especially the first time they visit the US!

I notice it too Dominic, everytime I return to the US for a home visit.

Great report !
As an Aussie who moved to the US 23 years ago, it's always great to read the thoughts and impressions of Aussie visitors.
And even after all this time in the US, I am still amazed at the number of prescription drugs advertised on TV.

Hello again Dominic -

Fabulous report, thanks so much for posting. Always interesting to see my country through the eyes of others, especially Aussies, since I currently live in Australia. You sure packed a lot in to a short visit.

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Windshield washer fluid in cold climates has anti-freeze for this very reason. I'd never thought about it before, but I reckon it's not used in Australia

What a disappointment with Hertz - I sure hope you got your money back. We've been renting with Enterprise for years and years - never had a problem and we never, ever pre-pay.

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You were brave to even attempt it IMO. The crowds alone would have scared me off!

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Wallace Stegner

PS - If you ever find yourself in the US again suffering from cold or flu you might try Nyquil - it's a wonder drug as far as I'm concerned. I always bring a supply back to AUS as I haven't found any OTC cold meds here that do the trick.

Hello again Dominic -

Fabulous report, thanks so much for posting. Always interesting to see my country through the eyes of others, especially Aussies, since I currently live in Australia. You sure packed a lot in to a short visit.

>

Windshield washer fluid in cold climates has anti-freeze for this very reason. I'd never thought about it before, but I reckon it's not used in Australia

What a disappointment with Hertz - I sure hope you got your money back. We've been renting with Enterprise for years and years - never had a problem and we never, ever pre-pay.

>

You were brave to even attempt it IMO. The crowds alone would have scared me off!

>

Wallace Stegner

PS - If you ever find yourself in the US again suffering from cold or flu you might try Nyquil - it's a wonder drug as far as I'm concerned. I always bring a supply back to AUS as I haven't found any OTC cold meds here that do the trick.

Sorry for the double post.

The adverts for drugs are clustered during times when old people will be watching, like during the news.

At 4 AM, when are the geezers are up and watching, you get adverts from lawyers wanting to sue for all those side effects!

I am a geezer.

Enjoyed your review, especially the Miami connection. Will be visiting Down Under soon. Best travels to you

I especially enjoyed your notes about Chicago and NYC, two of my hometowns. You have such a positive outlook on what you experienced. Glad you had a great trip even if it was during one of the coldest winters in most of the USA.

I enjoyed your blog Dom. It's always interesting to see your country through another's eyes. We spent 4 weeks in Australia this year, including NYE in Sydney. Sydney really now's how to celeberate!

Loved your report, have a daughter and son-in-law that live in New York city. We are from New Zealand, I don't think we will visit on New Year's Eve or if we do we will give the ball drop a miss!!

Don't EVEN get me started on drug ads. I think they should be banned from TV. I'm sick of all of them. They drive some folks to TRY all sorts of "miracle" remedies and the drug companies get rich (so do the lawyers who sue after those nasty side effects start happening).

So glad you included Chicago in your travels. I live in fly over country (downstate Illinois) and so many times visitors skip the midwest, a big mistake IMO.

Enjoyed your blog. Couple of things:

-- It's my understanding that more expensive US hotels do still charge for wi-fi. Also, they have been adding extra fees (sometimes "resort fees"), just like the airlines.

-- All that development you saw from the plane flying down to Miami is along the coast. If you had driven I-95 through South Carolina you would have experienced many boring miles of nothing but sand and pine trees.

Thanks for all the comments:

Thanks everyone,

melnq8 - yes we got our money back from Hertz - within a week or so of their major screw-up. One of their staff called me about two days later, as I was gassing up a Mustang from another company somewhere between Miami and West Palm Beach. Told him their offer of a Camaro was far too late.

Will remember the Nyquil recommendation. Amazing some of the stuff they sell there OTC - such as Banana Boat after-sun lotion with Lidocaine in it!

thursdaysd - yes you are right. In something of a paradox, the upmarket US hotels still charge for Wi-Fi while Comfort Inn etc provide it for free.

Gilbert56 - I came pretty close to being an expat myself. Some of my dad's colleagues back in the 60s and 70s settled in the US, married American women etc. I know my dad was tempted by these offers, although the civil rights issues and other turmoil at the time probably helped him decide in favor of returning to Australia. We visited one of these families during our big 11 week trip in 2004. I still have memories of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school, though we ultimately returned home to Australia.