Right now I am sitting on the Acela Express. I think somewhere near Albany, the capital of New York. I think most people think New York City is the capital, but they would be wrong. Albany is the capital of this state.

The journey from New York has so far been 3 hours and 15 minutes long. Yeah, only 6 more hours to go….. hopefully writing this will be able to kill a few more.

I must say, the train is reasonably comfortable. You have ample leg room and there are not many passengers so everyone gets a double to themselves. However I have spent the past 2 hours attempting to drown out the buy two rows behind who is telling his neighbours across the aisle his life story (whether they wanted to know or not) and the sister in front of my who is blaring her Beyonce out of her speakers.This particular girl is also afflicted with the same fashion sense as many of her friends. There is a brand here called "Baby Phat". So far all I can tell that they sell is very very puffy black parkas with 'Baby Phat' embroidered on them in gold. As most of the are "phat", however you want to spell it, it is an unfortunate image. Other than that I am finding the train reasonably pleasant. Although it is a very long trip. And I still have to come back. The plane is looking more and more appealing.

The journey so far has had some interesting, beautiful and sad scenery. From New York to Albany the train follows the mighty Hudson River. So on one side of the train you see a big river and the right bank which is mainly sharp cliffs. On my side of the train I have journeyed through town after town. These towns would once have been bustling river port cities, helping very goods up to New England and upstate New York. However, the river has been abandoned and so have these towns. Huge brick factories stand empty, with broken windows, falling in roofs and the fluorescent swipe of graffiti on the side from some of the few teenagers left in these towns. There will be a series of houses, some small weatherboard cottages, others reminiscent of a time where the towns boomed. Huge stone and wooden houses which look absolutely beautiful lightly frosted in snow. Inevitably you will also see a white steeple and a general store.

Some of the towns have clearly been reclaimed as 'resort towns'. There were many new developments of beautiful wooden houses, with large balconies and smoke drifting out of their chimneys. Other towns, despite losing the business of the port have seemingly managed to survive and give glimpses of 'main street' America. With rows of shop fronts and traffic lights dangling in the middle of intersections.

It has just turned 5pm and we have just left Schenectady station. It has started to turn dark and the endless forests now seem ghostly but at the same time so pure and beautiful. Coming from the city it is so nice to see snow without footprints, or dog pee for that matter, soiling it.

Occasionally through the trees you see the twinkle of lights and smoke from chimneys and you realize people live here. They live for months under this constant white blanket and short days. These people must watch a lot of television because what else could you do for 4 months of the year? Other than a monopoly tournament of course.

The amount of snow has made me incredibly afraid of what I am going to find in Niagara Falls which is even further inland and north than where we are now. I wonder, do the falls freeze over? Is there ever not water running? Saying this they must great pretty called because I have already discovered that the Maid of the Mist boats only run May - October so clearly it is nota pleasant place to be.

Well it is now the next day. In the end the train ride was not overly pleasant. For some strange reason the train kept mysteriously stopping for ten minutes at a time and just sitting there. In the end it meant that I arrived in Niagara Falls 50 minutes later than expected.

The conductor on the train had assured me that there would be taxis waiting at the station. However when me and two other guys disembarked there was not a taxi in sight. So I ended up waiting about ½ an hour before a taxi appeared. Checking in to the hotel was also an ordeal, service around here is, well, leisurely.

The hotel itself was pretty average. But do-able for 2 nights.

Now, Niagara Falls itself. This morning I got up, dressed and ventured out. It is absolutely totally freezing. The snow is about 2 feet deep and is still falling. The wind chill off the snow and the falls means that this place is well below freezing, and you feel every drop below zero.

The falls itself were barely visible. Like everything else here the best viewing platforms were closed so you couldn't get particularly close. But they are still pretty spectacular. The roar is amazing and there were big chunks of ice floating over and smashing below.

But looking at the falls took all of ½ an hour. What to do for the next 26 hours??? Most everything here is closed for "The Season" as the signs read. So basically after a very hearty breakfast at the local Denny's, one of the few local restaurants which remain open I am back in my hotel room as there is nothing else to do. A bit disappointing. So a bit of advice to you, if you are here in winter, give Niagara Falls a miss.