The path that leads to Mt. Davidson, the highest point in San Francisco.

The largest cross in the world, made entirely of cement. Located at the top of Mt. Davidson. My all time favourite movie moment took place here, where at the end of the 'bag chase' scene in Dirty Harry, Callaghan is instructed to go to the cross at the top of Mt. Davidson. He's met by a balaclaved Andy Robinson who tells him to stick his nose against the cement of the cross with his hands in the air, the killer then proceeds to bash Harry to near death, not before the attempted murder is intervened by Harry's partner, Chico, Chico is shot and wounded in the gunfire, but it's time enough for Harry to pull out his concealed flickknife and stab the killer in the leg with it. Again his cowardly screams are echoed through the night as he grabs his bag of money and flees whilst Harry lies there near unconscious. It took me 3 days to find this bloody cross, but by Christ it was well worth it, there was a spotty youth reading a book next to it, who was kind enough to take my picture with the cross.

As you can see, this guy at the Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco was doing a 'roaring trade', right now he's impersonating a pet rock.

Pier 41 or Fishermans wharf is a God-awful tourist haven, reeking of *gulp, chowder. But if there was one fascinating occurance, it was the enclave of sea lions and seals which had converged on the boats wharves and made them their own. I'd never seen anything like it.

The Golden Gate bridge, very impressive, very windy and very worthwhile seeing. Sadly I was unable to find the time to walk across it but did sail underneath it on a cruise on my way to Alcatraz.

Seattle, Washington

Key Arena, Seattle, Seattle probably my favourite of the cities I visisted. I'm told this game versus Houston was a sell out. Only two-thirds of the crowd didn't show up due to President Bush announcing the war on Iraq that night. Personally I think they all stayed away at the thought of a 7'6" Chinese boy named Yau Ming treading on them. I love my Sonics.

I met this guy in the back row where I was seated, incidently Yau was still towering over us. Corey from Tacoma, Tacoma i'm told is the nemisis of Seattle, Tom to his Jerry, Seinfeld to his Newman, Dave Grohl to his Courtney, Tonya to her... well I think you get the idea.

New York / New Jersey

The Guggenheim, New York, slightly overated, definately overpriced, but worth saying you've been there. Whilst there I was lucky enough to see an exhibition dedicated to the myth of Charles Manson and Johnny Cash, did he or didn't he grant Manson's last request of receiving a phone call from the 60's & 70's rocker the night before Manson's execution. The artwork created over such conjecture was bloody clever.

Central Park, New York, hey just cos it's not snowing doesn't mean you can't ski!

The Naked Cowboy, New York 42nd Street. No doubt you've seen him before, he's in at least 2 music video clips and is constantly appearing in the papers. He's got guts I'll give him that!

Now my mate who got a photo with the Cowboy said he was a rude mother, but judging by this shot and a few other observations I made, I'd say he's anything but rude. Someone told me the other week he pulls in $400,000 US a year! Busking pays eh?

42nd Street at night, ok so my team the Devils had won and my cousin (driving) and I got a little carried away with the celebrations, I hung out the car window and just snapped away at whatever looked bright and/or colourful. By Christ we were sh*%faced.

New Jersey Vs Pittsburgh at the Meadowlands, we won 3-1 that night and I got to see Hall of Famer Mario Lemeux. I also got front row tickets just behind the players thanks to my cousin being a long time member and all. My God the Fosters (beer) was going down well by this stage.

Washington D.C.

Washington! I did a tour consisting of 6 others, they were kind enough not to rib me about the shirt, I'll ask that you do likewise......bloody ex-girlfriends........

Abraham Lincoln memorial, these kinda things are all over Washington, but it's good they have them.

By now you can probably tell I was gifted with glorious weather from start to finish. This photo of the Washington monument was taken from JFK's burial site.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, one truly awesome city. Got to see the Bulls play. Actually I should reword that cos the Bulls are so embarressing, I got to see Chris Webber single handedly demolish Chicago. What a gun.

A slightly revised McDonalds at The Navy Pier on Chicago Beach.

Bugger childrens playgrounds, hey lets go all out and build a fricken McDonalds ferriswheel next to the restaurant, each carriage fitted with the well known golden 'M' on either side.

Memphis, Tennessee

Peabody place, the main shopping drag in the city of Memphis itself. The 'Peabody Place Dress code plaque' which sits at the front door reads: No excessively revealing clothes, no excessively baggy clothes, no clothing with profanity, no headbands, stocking like caps, no baseball caps worn backwards, sideways, upside down (what the?!?!) or slantways (ok I made the slantways one up, ala Wonkervator) and no brimless caps. Gee not too difficult to figure which particular demographic they're trying the worst to keep out is it? I ate at Isaac Hayes' restaurant here also, super dooper.

One of the first jazz clubs I stumbled across in Beale street, the main drag of Memphis. This guy was really good.

Beale street on a barmy evening, magnificant. Picture taken just outside John L. Hooker's jazz kitchen.

The front of Graceland, had I have known it was going to be so moving I would've dressed up for the occasion!

Elvis' living room, he loved to bash out a tune on that piano, and the couch on the right, he would elongate his 6'2" torso to either end, no one else was allowed on it. Mind you who'd want to, the word is he liked to trim his toenails on it.

They say in Lonely Planet that Elvis is 'buried in the swimming pool'. Not quite right. He's buried next to his mother and twin brother at a shrine built next to his custom designed meditation pond. Initially he was buried in the nearby cemetry, only one night a policeman and a farmer were caught trying to dig him up prompting Elvis' father to move him 'back home'.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Apparantly if the city of New Orleans wasn't there, this is what would be there, swamp. So naturally you can't visit New Orleans without doing a Swamp Tour, unfortunately I was a little pressed for time and unable to ride one of these Air boats.

Southern America's own, alligators. The very stereotypical tour guide ie - 5ft tall 9ft wide, decked out in camouflage junglewear culminating in a bandana and Ray Bans, taught me a few things I was completely oblivious to, one being that Alligators will swim away from you, they will not attack you like crocodiles would. Therefore he let us get as close as we wanted to them, he even handfed them marshmallows (true!)

Bourbon Street New Orleans, home of many a fine jazz club, and what I was unaware of 'the big ass beer'. 32 ounces of the brew you desire for just $6US, brilliant.

Bourbon Street 'the morning after', what amazed me and blew me away, is that you can drink on the street, you can walk into any club or shop with your beer, you can go anyway, it's irresponsible, it's madness, it's fantastic!!!! Here's a tip though, don't walk down Bourbon street before midday, it ssstttiiiiinnnnkkkkkkkssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let the street cleaners have their way first.

The Calypso Tumblers of New Orleans, these guys were unbelievable, how they're not Olympic athletes baffles me. They have a website (www.calypsotumblers.com), well worth a look. Their final stunt was one of these dudes somersaulting over 8 spectators lined up. Scary stuff.

Horse and carriage up the 'Market' end of New Orleans, apparently this is how it was always done!

Las Vegas, Nevada

Deep Fried Twinkies anyone? 24/7 aswell, where else but Las Vegas.

Another one of the many tacky casino conglomerates housed in Vegas, this one aptly named 'The Manhattan' or 'New York, New York'. One of the two!

The one and only Harley Davidson Cafe south of 'the strip' in Vegas. Including 3 levels of murchandise and i'm told an inhouse Harley dealership.

A veiw of the strip from a pretty good vantage point. You know you're in Vegas when those two fifty something flamboyant Tiger tamers appear on every second poster. Incidently they've been performing that for nearly 17 years and have only Christmas day and a couple of other Public Holidays off, poor tigers.....

Yep, it's true, you get married in Las Vegas 'shotgun' style. $600 US to tie the knot in full public view. Personally I'd save the money and put it toward a decent caterer at my proper wedding.

Memphis, the true definition of bringing the city to the country. Though surely the tourism board could've thought of a better landmark to place the Memphis sign than on a cornflour mill. One for marketing to think about perhaps. The pyramid in the background is the main entertainment complex. Doubtful it was in operation during Elvis' days, but that particular night the Dixie Chicks were playing. The town was a 'buzz' with Dixiemania, as you can no doubt imagine.

Thanks Tim for the first submitted Slice of America!