Two Weeks in America
Over the years of running this site I've had quite a few people say things like "If ever you're in Smalltown, AZ I'll buy you a beer" - safe in the knowledge I'll never make it to Smalltown. Only one person ever offered to buy me a beer in New York city and I made sure I remembered it for the years between them offering and me finally making it there this weekend.
Not only did Vince buy me a beer (and some bourbons) he spent his whole Saturday showing me the sites, kindly taking photos of yours gormless truly as we went:
I'd never been to NYC before and had a great time. I can't wait to come back with Karen in 3 years for our 40th birthdays. Vince is a pilot and has offered to fly us round the Hudson and Staten Island. No chance of me forgetting that offer!
I was pleasantly surprised by NYC. I'd assumed it would be a crazy manic place to be. But it wasn't. It was quite relaxed and not at all that busy. We barely queued for the Top of the Rock:
Contrast that with, say, Paris where the queue for the Eifel Tower was 100s of metres long. So long that I walked away from it.
Out of all the cities in the world I've visited so far (mostly European capitals), New York is the one I'd be mostly likely to come back to. Again and again. Rome is the only other City I felt I'd go back to, but that was just for the pizzas.
On America
I've only ever been to America twice before. Once to a small up-market holiday island called Nantucket. The second time was to Disneyland in Orlando (LotusSphere). Neither of those visits really felt like I was seeing the real America. This time I'm in New Jersey and feel more like I'm getting a flavour of the place. In effect I'm living and working here, albeit only for two weeks.
The first thing I noticed was just how friendly all Americans are. Like, almost over-friendly. It's nice though and I like it. The other thing I hadn't noticed on previous trips was just how big food portions are. I'm yet to finish a meal and have started to turn down the free "sides" that come with all meals.
Overall, I really like America. Although there are things I prefer about home - like being able to walk places and better TV. I've always liked the idea of America and find the history of it fascinating. I'm glad they beat us in the War of Independence!
At some point in my life I hope to come back, hire a car and take a road trip coast to coast...
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If you do, be sure to go to Nashville or Memphis! I will be there, I live right between the two cities and both are fun towns. I like Nashville better from an adult perspective but Memphis is more touristy.
I've never been to NYC although I've had a few chances. If you like a friendly atmosphere then come down here, you'll like it!
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I'll take that as an invite and an offer of free beer!
I always try never to judge a nation after a visit to *one* big city. Although I can't imagine how much more friendly it can get than where I am now.
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I'm glad to hear your experiences are blowing my expectations of NY and NJ out of the water. I might have to reconsider my self imposed travel ban. :-)
We almost never finish all the food served in most restaurants, taking home left-overs is pretty much the rule. I look at that as justifying paying $10 for a dinner entree when it covers lunch the following day as well.
There is so much to see in America... I live here and have only seen a tiny portion of it - and that's with fairly regular broad ranging trips as a teenager.
A trip, coast to coast, taking your time to at least enjoy the cities and sights along the way, could easily take 3 weeks.
We rushed somewhat (back in 1989) to loop from Michigan to Phoenix, AZ, see Mesa Verde, petrified forest, painted desert, up the Rocky's on the million-dollar-highway to Custer's last stand, Yellow Stone, Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, and then some architectural sites in Wisconsin before coming home in about two weeks. I think we spent about a half day at each major stop and then hustled on down the road. We rented an RV so campgrounds were just as comfy as hotels along the way.
As you've probably discovered, the biggest danger in visiting different parts of the world is wanting to move there. :-)
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Yes that Coast to Coast trip is on my bucket list as well. :-)
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Ha! They didn't beat us. We just had more important things to do, at the time. Plus the french helped them.
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Good point. From my studies, it went something like this. The Parliament and the Kin just wanted the colonies to pay their fair share of the cost of protecting us from the French and Indians and started imposing direct taxes, instead of allowing the colonies to do it themselves. Then the colonies said, if the citizens paying you direct taxes, (rather than to the colonial govt's which then paid the UK), then we want representatives in Parliament.
Seems like a fair enough request. Overall, sort of like kicking a recalcitrant teenager out of the house if he won't pay his way and follow the house rules.
But, I guess we were ready to be kicked out, managed pretty well...until recently anyway.
Best always,
Gail
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That was very nice. Glad you enjoyed your visit in the NYC!
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Glad you enjoyed your slice of the USA. As a transplanted New Yorker living in New Jersey I think you really got the feel of life on this side of the pond. I'm always pointing out to disbelievers how friendly New Yorkers are compared to the urban legends. Bottom line, we're proud of our city and like helping strangers enjoy it (and also, like to show off our knowledge of the place.)
Next time pay attention to one of the under-appreciated jewels of NY - its waterline.
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Hey there Jake.
Re: Hiring a car and driving coast to coast.
Be careful with this plan. Many people don't fully grasp the enormity of this task.
There are three ways to do this:
1) The Endurance Test: the goal here being to make it from one coast to the other in a week or less. The shortest route (Ft. Lauderdale, FL to San Diego, CA) is over 2600 miles -and that route misses out on so much of our beautiful country that I would never recommend it. This is a horrible idea, you spend your entire time in the car, and you never get to enjoy yourself.
2) The Great Adventure: the goal here being to take your time and enjoy the stops. You stay off the main highways, you take the back roads, and you take many diversions. I recommend NYC to San Francisco, with stops in Miami, St. Louis, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. This trip will take AT MINIMUM of 8 weeks to truly enjoy. But it is absolutely the best.
3) The Trade-Off: This is something between 1 and 2. Most people do this, but I recommend you make it closer to #2 than #1.
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Why anybody would want to take option 1) is beyond me. I'd go for option 2). Whether it would be for 8 weeks I don't know, but I'd definitely want to take my time.
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