Robby Mook, Annapolis, MD

I am visiting with my friend Robby Mook who works here in Annapolis. We have visited both Washington DC and Baltimore to give me, as Robby says, a "real American experience". We went to a baseball game and ate hotdogs last night - it was amazing. I was impressed with the beauty and the condition of the pitch and the stadium, it all looked very new (the Baltimore Orioles are a relatively new team so that makes sense); the turf was well manicured and the building clean and tidy, except for the piles of discarded peanut shells and hot dog containers. The Orioles are a member of the American League so they play with a designated pitcher, meaning he never has to bat, wheras pitchers in the National League (including teams The Mets and The Dodgers) all have to take a turn batting. During the World Series the top team from both leagues play each other in a series of games to determine the overall winner. Sides take turns to host the games and when the game is played at a National League stadium the pitchers bat, at an American League stadium they don't. I guess Robby's ruse actually worked. Taking me to a game has got me thinking more about baseball, at least I know it's not simply rounders.

Washington DC is incredible. Citizens there protest "No taxation without representation", because the District is controlled by the Federal Government and has no State Legislature. The original DC was a 10 mile square diamond created in 1790, but the South Western area of Alexandria was retroceded to Virginia in 1846 because the District had no need of land South of the Potomac River. This location is steeped in American history and Nationalist pride. Walking the streets we certainly passed hundreds of political analysts, lobbyists and civil servants, along with thousands of tourists enjoying a beautiful Easter weekend. On Sunday we walked across Capitol Hill to see the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and, ofcourse, the Capitol. Robby suggested that the Supreme Court looks like the Parthenon might have during its younger days, it is indeed a marvellous building. We also visited a number of bars where we met with friends of Robby from the Dean Campaign of 2003/4. A fun bunch of people, and wow, can they ever dance.


Annapolis could be a European fishing village, if it wasn't for the US Naval Academy and the State Legislature here. The narrow streets and brick-built boutique shops are straight out of a postcard from your Somerset holiday, but the midshipmen with their immaculate uniforms and perfect posture are definitely not. There is great coffee here too, and I think it's the best place I have yet visited on the American continent (OK, it's only the sixth place in total, it has to be said). We're driving to DC next, so I can take the train back to Boston.

Passing Manhattan on the train was unreal, breathtaking. I was glad I was in a train, hiding from a great city of giants who might eat me, with their iron bridges like drawbridges leading to their stony castles in the sky. I can't wait to go there!