I've been invited to a wedding - in Cincinnati

[Frank Hagan]

I'll have to look at Stephen Fry's documentary; it sounds interesting.  We have an American writer, Bill Bryson, who wrote "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" about coming back to America after living in London for 20 years, and his best book, "A Walk in the Woods".  Both are extremely funny looks at America from someone who went away as a very young man and then came back as an adult.

German-Americans are about 17% of the population, and Irish Americans are about 12% according to Wikipedia.  But I think that's the "self-identified" population, following their surname.  I would tell people I'm Irish now because the earliest Hagan ancestor I have on these shores was Irish.  But, on my mother's side, I have German, Scottish, Welsh and Irish ancestors.  On my father's maternal line, I have English and French blood.  Even my father's paternal line, where my Y chromosome got it's "Irish markers", I have well documented German lines through my great-great grandmother.  Most of us are mutts here.  (James Hagan, a dual citizen of America and Ireland and a very close match to my DNA that I have corresponded with, wryly comments that we may have some of that Spanish Armada blood also.)

With just a week, you'll probably want to explore the mid-west a bit, so I would vote for a Chicago - to - Cincinnati trek.  At under 300 miles, it might call for a rental of the quintessential American motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson, for the ride down to Ohio. 

[Craig]

Oh my God, another Irish/German, the horror.....  Comeon over Fintan, you'll fit right in me lad.  You could live a year just visiting all of us.  BEER cruise is first week of June ya know.  8) 8)

[Bud_Wilson]

Frank  A man that would send a vistor 300 mi. on a Harley would rob a tumble bug of his bounty and send him on the wrong road home. Shame Shame on you. On the other hand he would get to see a lot of the mid west stoping in every little town to put something back on. Tell him to bring cresent wrench wire pliars sand rock. Not metric tools. Question If Harley Davison made a airplain would you fly on it? Bud

[Frank Hagan]

Fintan took a motocycle tour of Spain, IIRC, so the distance is not much of a problem for him.  As to the relative quality of a HD over a rice-burner, well, HD is the American motorcycle, warts and all.

Besides, rentals come with a road-side assistance plan.  He may need it, but where else is he going to find out what AAA is like in Indiana?

[Greg Luckett]

When people ask my heritage, I tell them I am an American Mutt and a Heinz 57.  German, English, French, Scott, Welsh, Irish, Delaware Indian, and only God and a DNA test know what else.  We are mostly German, Irish, Scott, and English, but there are lots of folks mixed in the heritage.  Most Americans whose families have been here for a couple of hundred years or more have similar mixes.  Four of my five children are red heads (2 look like fire red) with blue eyes, from two different mothers, and one who has brown hair and green eyes, who looks like pictures of our Irish ancestors.

[Fintan Murphy]

I was thinking about the motorcycle tour, and a harley was an option (would like to ride one, but not own one).  But my mate or his wife doesn't ride (he doesn't have a car licence either) , so it would have to be a car.  But one of those wide, heavy, open-topped 'merician cars is tempting.

The Harley would be good practice (what is it they say, the best way of converting petrol to noise, without any horsepower or forward momentum  ;D )  because of my committments in July.........

My brother lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is the captain of the Australian Indian Motorcycle Club.  He has about 7 of them last count,  (lucky bastard).  The International Indian Rally is in Scotland next year and the Oz club are shipping about 22 bikes, with 34 Ozzies to London. From there they are coming to Ireland and I am leading them on a 12 day tour,  ending up in Belfast for the ferry to Scotland.

So, you think bits will fall off a new Harley,  wait till you see 22 Pre-war Indians going around Irish roads   

(Needless to say, I am either riding my new Honda Transalp, or BMW K100RS, both of which shouldn't miss a beat).

[lbrewer]

So, you think bits will fall off a new Harley,  wait till you see 22 Pre-war Indians going around Irish roads  Shocked  Shocked

Riding a Harley seems to have its own perks though ;D

[Frank Hagan]

Indian was the only other major motorcycle manufacturer in the pre-war era; Wikipedia has a quote attributed to an "old Indian [owner] saying" ... "You can't wear out an Indian Scout, or its brother the Indian Chief. They are built like rocks to take hard knocks; it's the Harleys that cause grief."  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_(motorcycle)

I haven't seen one "in the wild" in a long time; I used to see them every now and then here in Southern California.  There's a local motorcycle shop that has pictures of quite a few in their collection at http://www.cycleshop.com/museum/

The wildest looking one was the 1928 Four:

[Ken_Potts]

Frank - How about the V8 Glen Curtiss rode for the speed record in 1907 - 136mph! (not an Indian or a Harley, though)

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/oneimage.asp?id=348

[Frank Hagan]

Hey, I'd like to see Fintan convince his mate to ride with him on that a couple hundred miles!  It looks like a cross between a car and a bicycle!

[Greg Luckett]

Hey, I'd like to see Fintan convince his mate to ride with him on that a couple hundred miles!  It looks like a cross between a car and a bicycle!

Yeah, where would she sit?  Maybe a side car?

[Ken_Potts]

She'd sit in the gondola.  He was "testing" an engine for a dirigible.  He mounted the engine on what looks like a bicycle frame and ran it at Daytona to get the speed record.  They had to push-start it because there was only one gear and no clutch.  The brake was a metal flap that pressed on the rear tire.  He had to run several miles to get up to speed for the measured mile and who knows how long it took to stop on that beach.  The speed record he set in 1907 stood until sometime in the 30's.

I'd rather have an Indian (or even a Harley if I have a full face helmet so my friends don't recognize me) any day of the week

Fintan - I think you've got the right idea with the gas guzzling drop-top.  I saw a BBC America show a while back that mentioned that a liter of gas was cheaper than a liter of bottled water over here (I had never thought about it but it was true, I did the math).  After our brief Katrina hiccup the gas prices have suddenly dropped again so I say "go for it".  You can tell your kids and grandkids about blasting across the heart of America in two tons of dinosaur-devouring steel.  They'll never believe you.  If I were you I'd try hard to beg, borrow or steal a 1958 Chrysler Imperial convertible - Nobody road-trips like that any more   You'll be my hero.

On the other hand you can stay in Cincinatti and travel deep rather than wide.  Mix with the locals and find out what makes them stay.  Locals will almost certainly find the place boring but you might find it a delightful change.

If you're going to roam I've heard good things about Chicago (though I haven't been there except to pass through at 70 mph) but Manhattan's another planet entirely.  Really.  A totally different planet.  I mean that in a complimentary context.

[adla]

I am going to New York on the 1st of January until the 6th....it is a fun city once you get over the smell.

a.

[Ken_Potts]

I agree totally - Adla.  I've only been in Manhattan in the summertime.

[Fintan Murphy]

Well, looks like it's all set.

We are flying from Dublin to Chicago, arriving Sunday 21st June.  Staying in chicago until Wednesday, then driving down to Cincinnati.  The wedding is on Friday 26th.  Driving back to Chicago on the Sunday to fly back to Dublin.

Irene asked if we should fly from Chicago to Cincinnati, but I fancy the idea of a leisurely drive down the 300 miles.  It will have to be by car, as there are four of us.  A big, open-topped 'merican car methinks!

Has anybody any recommendations of "must sees" in Chicago or Cincinnati, or between the two?

[Randy C.]

Frank  A man that would send a vistor 300 mi. on a Harley would rob a tumble bug of his bounty and send him on the wrong road home. Shame Shame on you. On the other hand he would get to see a lot of the mid west stoping in every little town to put something back on. Tell him to bring cresent wrench wire pliars sand rock. Not metric tools. Question If Harley Davison made a airplain would you fly on it? Bud

I've logged over 47,000 miles on mine. Only left my wife and me on the side of the road once.....flat tire. So far, just regular maintenance. In my book, the best way to see the country.

[Frank Hagan]

Chicago is famous for architecture, the arts, and food.

Chicago has a great river boat tour that points out the architecture.  Chicago's engineers reversed the flow of the river some years ago; I've forgotten the story behind it, but its one of those "invisible" engineering marvels. There are some incredible buildings, like the Tribune building, that have a lot of character (in the American Art Deco sense).  If you stay downtown near the "miracle mile" you can walk to many of the architectural sights.  (The "miracle mile" is home to some upscale shopping ... Prada, Coach, Chanel ... and I've determined its named for the way it miraculously separates husbands from their money). 

You can get into the John Hancock building.  It has a restaurant on the 95th floor that provides a spectacular view of the city lights.  I was there once but don't remember too much of it (other than the view).  I've never been able to make it to the Sears Tower in time for a tour; they don't have that many (I think they only allow visitors  in between 9 and 5).  The Hancock building restaurant is probably your best bet to get up into one of the top floors of those buildings.

If you like comedy, Chicago is home to The Second City, the venue that launched the careers of many of the people on our "Saturday Night Live" program ... John Belushi, Mike Myers, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner from the original cast.  And more since then.  Their website is at http://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicago  They often have local talent, a hit or miss affair, but it is a historic venue for American comedy.

There's a great art museum, the Chicago Institute of Art (I think), but it isn't on a par with the ones in LA or New York.

The real art of Chicago is jazz.  Its true that jazz was invented in New Orleans, but a big fan base in Chicago encouraged immigration of some of the early jazz greats to the city.  Jazz clubs' fortunes wax and wane frequently, so ask the concierge at the hotel or a local for his recommendation.

The Chicago Chop House has great mid-western USDA prime beef ... worth a visit if you like steak.  Last time I was there was a few years ago, and if I recall, dinner was $25 to $30 a person. 

Chicago "deep dish pizza" is pretty unique, and there are three places usually called "the best" at providing it ... Lou Malnati's, Gino's and Uno/Duo's (I've eaten at Lou Malnati's and Uno/Duo's ... and I preferred the former).  These places also serve "regular" pizza that's pretty good too. "Chicago hot dogs" are famous in the States, with a snappy casing you don't find in many other American cities ... places like Portillo

[Fintan Murphy]

Frank,

Thanks for the post.  Sorry I haven't replied before but things are a bit busy.  I have forwarded it onto the guys that are going and they thank you too. We must definitly get to the chop house and attractions mentioned.

Now that we've made up our minds, and booked the flights, I am really looking forwards to it.  All his brothers are coming from Cork, and there will be a pre wedding bar-b-que the night before. 

Some secrets and tales will come out of the closet that night I can tell you.  Like the time he investigated the whistling toilet at the port in the Canarys. It was whistling due to the fact that the wind was blowing up a very long sewer pipe that ended in said toilet. The rest I'll leave to your imagination.