Got a taxi from our hostel to the bus stop this morning with all our gear to avoid peak hour on the subway. I attempted to get in the taxi driver's seat instead of the passenger seat. Also still getting used to walking on the right-hand side of the sidewalk and stairs and doors that open on the opposite side.

Took a 4-hour bus ride from NYC to Washington DC. Carted our gear to our hostel. I want to throw away some stuff to make my suitcase lighter! On the walk to the hostel couldn't help but feel very white. A man joked with Sam if his snowboard bag contained a keyboard. A man in NY had asked him if he was carrying a gun. Noticed on the walk that groups of men were making a sound as I passed them like they had just seen a delicious sandwich....figure they must be hungry.

Arrived at Hostel and get told we've been upgraded from the 14 person mixed dorm to a room of our own.....winning! Except it's not really a room, it's a hallway with no door between the stairs and the shared bathroom which they have put two bunk beds in. What do you except for $20 a night? Drop off our bags & head out for a belated lunch/early dinner.

On the walk through town we pass a huge group demonstrating that Jesus wasn't white, get death stared....probably should have picked a different street to walk down! A block down an angry looking man says as we pass "look white boys in town". Culture shock!

Stumble upon a sports bar called Green Turtle at about 4pm and grab a seat at the bar. I order a Woodchuck Hard Cider and Sam orders a Samuel Adams beer. The cider is delicious! Also, order a couple of burgers which come with their signature kettle chips. People start piling in wearing red ice hockey jerseys for the local team the Capitals who have a home game at 7pm. We decide to stick around to watch it. Make friends with a man called Neal who's also sitting at the bar who's got lots of recommendations and stories.

Neal left shortly before the game started as he had season tickets to the game. Others start dispersing through some doors and I ask the barman if they are all going to the toilet before the game starts? He laughs and replies that it's an entry point to Verizon centre where the games being played. We had no idea that we were right where the game was and unfortunately the games sold out.

We start ordering vodkas which are ridiculously strong, sip it slow to avoid making a spectacle of myself. The lady to our right Hillary notices our accent and grills us on New Zealand and Australia as she is planning to honeymoon in either place. Sam sells her the South Island and I sell her the North Island, she didn't realise NZ was separate islands.

We order a warm brownie to share, it's huge as expected! This is probably the best thing I've tasted since arriving, especially the warm peanut butter sauce drizzled over the ice cream and cream.

The Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-4. Pay the bill which totals $110 including tip, pretty insane for dinner, sweet potato fries, two beers, two ciders, desert & six vodkas.

Return to our luxury accommodation to discover we have no bedding. Sam immediately falls asleep, he can sleep under any circumstances! While I wait for blankets I have guests ask me questions about where the bathroom is etc. Finally get blankets and put in my ear plugs to read but keep having to take them out as people ask me questions like, what's the Wi-Fi password…..I don't work here! Give up on reading & lay down on the super comfy paper thin mattress.