Trip through the USA
From the time I came to the USA in 1979, I had a dream: hop into a car and drive through United States.
Thanks to the pandemic and unused miles on a leased car, we were able to do just that this year. We drove through:
Florida, Georgia, Tennessy, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho (for 45 seconds), Arizona,
New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Western Florida. 18 states, 7051 miles. Making stops, talking to people, sightseeing, foodie expereinces.
This was a very educational trip which exceeded our very high expectations.
This museum was not part of our designated nature trip, but when Virginia Flores suggests, we listen!
Reminded me of Thyssen museum in Madrid. It has lots of secondary works of major artists, but there are also few top notch works of the prime artists.
The sculpture garden was a big disappointment, the one in Mexico City is still number one!
One of the blessings of the internet business is to have friends all over the world. Thanks Russ Lownie and Jen for a wonderful evening, we enjoyed it tremendously!
Illinois
Importance of geography. When plotting our trip, I missed one state that we passed through, Illinois. Illinois happens to be the one and only state on our journey which doesn't have reciprocal gun laws with Florida. Learning the laws of transporting firearms through non reciprocal states while driving 5 miles under speed limit, just in case, was not fun!
Our first stop, Mt. Rushmore. Presidents haven't changed much in 5 years since I have been here.
The Crazy Horse Monument will take forever to carve out of the mountain. I doubt I'll see it finished in my lifetime.
The Devil's Tower.
For reference, this is where "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" was filmed.
What a magnificent sight and nature's creations.
I wanted to see this place forever and it always was out of the way. We saw similar hexagons, octagons, pentagons in Mexico, but neither this size nor in tower formation.
I'll take what we saw with me to the other side, it is that impressive!
I didn't feel my legs after 15,000 up and down steps but...
Lower and Upper falls,
Lower and Upper Mammoth springs,
Norris Geiser, Artist point,
Mud Volcano, and then some - CHECK!
Provo, a modern quaint town. Definitely the city where I'd look for Angie's sister wives!
What a wonderful full day of exploration in Canyonland National Park.
We started off early in the morning @ Island In The Sky portion of the park and then headed to Needles, where we had, basically,
the entire broadness of the land to ourselves and that's just the way we like it.
Stargazing was a disappointment. Too many cars with headlights coming back and forth out of the darkness of the park.
Angelina Dembo , though, she had a ball pointing her phone with a special app identifying every star and planet in the sky.
We were able to take a picture of Mars!
We went through Goblin Valley State Park. Amazing place! I highly recommend the drive on UT 24 road,
extremely diverse views of geological formations. Just like going through millions of years and all continents.
Bryce Canyon has a very special place in my life.
First I got here with my last ex wife.
Last time I was here with my last ex girlfriend.
Now I am here with my present and hopefully last wife.
Walking the canyons up and down is getting harder and harder every year.
I know one thing, I am not looking forward to the fourth visit!
White Pocket was one of the best scenery places of this trip. Due to COVID closures of Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell boat rides,
we explored other attractions not often visited by others.
White Pocket and Painted Dessert. It took our breath away. Don't attempt try on exploring on your own, even with big 4x4,
get yourself a guide. We found perfect one! Contact info saved for future references!
Finally! The family reunion!!! Angelina Dembo found her relatives first seen in the area in 1947!
Texas
I didn't see any crazies with guns. As a matter of fact, I didn't see ANYONE with a gun neither in rural nor in the Dallas area.
I thought I'd be wear mine proudly outside to pass for a local...alas, I'd look like a fucking tourist!
When we saw the border with New Mexico, we saw lots of oil pumps....further down East they were replaced by Wind Generator farms, BIG ones.
In another 50 miles we saw something real odd...Wind towers and oil pumps installed on the same field!!!!
And at the end ...there was a sign:
Resit Wind Towers!!!!
Oh Texas! as Melissa Neely would say!
So far, people are friendly, drive with respect, giving you room to pass and courteous.
This is not the way I was envisioning modern Texas...
Remember the movie Animal House, the scene when they realized they were the only white people in the night club?
We were the only white people, besides a Mormon family of 9, 7 of them were children.
This was the BEST meal of the trip!
Craw fish was the size of small lobsters, crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, sausages, corn, all served in the plastic bag in a sauce one can sell his MIL for!
We crossed the famous bridge, John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. put on the world map. The church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached.
