My around the world adventure officially started on Sunday in New York! Until I return to the US, whenever that may be, I’ll be blogging both archived U.S. roadside attractions and whatever weird things I find while I travel abroad! But first, here’s how I spent my time in New York!

It’s become a tradition for me, to spend the Fourth of July baking in the sun of Coney Island, defending against the crowds and thunder sticks to watch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship.
Once you experience such a thing live it’s hard to go back to watching it on TV. So, ever since my first time in 2008, I’ve returned every summer.
There’s always a variety of acts to bide the time. Everything from performances by competitive eater/rapper Badlands Booker to high-flying trampolinists.

It’s best to get to the contest site by 9am. That insures that you’ll get a good view. This year I was running a little late and was further back than I normally was. I still could see the contest fine but they were further away than I like for photos.
I was, however, right next to where the honorary grill master of the day, actor Nick Cannon (best known in my mind for the movie Drumline…or maybe being married to one Miss Mariah Carey.)

This year the contest was different then in years past. Instead of one contest there were two, with separate divisions for men and women.
The women’s contest was up first, and it was just as fast paced as the men’s. It was close for a while between first, second, and third place, but in the end Sonya Thomas won with 40 dogs, Juliet Lee came in second with 29.5 and newcomer Stephanie Torres came in third with an impressive 28.5.

And then the attention turned to the men.

The contest was off and for 10 minutes the men ate quickly and ferociously. Although reigning champion Joey Chestnut had a lead from the start, Patrick Bertoletti was close behind for much of the contest.

But Joey Chestnut easily secured his fifth straight win, demolishing 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Pat Bertoletti took home second with 53. And Tim “Eater X” Janus ate 45 for third.

So the day was hot and I came home with a horrendous sunburn on my shoulders and a heat-induced, lack-of-caffeine-because-I-didn’t-want-to-drink-coffee-because-there-was-no-where-to-pee induced headache. But I can’t wait to return. Because, really, there is no more American way to spend the Fourth of July than watching a table full of people stuff their mouths with hot dogs.




























































