Back - and a little summary

To everyone who's interested:
here’s a little part of my adventure

New York – view from the Empire State Building at night was great, I drove the car in the city, this was an adventure itself, and I drove past New Jersey But NY is a hectic city; Central Park is nice (went there on an Saturday and it was cute watching families play baseball or hanging around with the kids)

Niagara Falls – definitely one of the highlights, walking over a bridge to get to Canada, view from the Skylon Tower, fantastic

San Francisco – driving over Golden Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge felt really cool Very very chilly, but almost no fog, so great views! Enjoyed our sightseeing tour, especially Twin Peaks, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Cable Cars (still think they’re dangerous!)

Yosemite National Park – beautiful. Drove up the Tioga Pass, saw lots of snow, drove down, felt lots of heat

Some park with huge trees in it, can’t remember the name

Bodie, an old ghost town, the effect wasn’t very big due to hundreds of tourists walking around

Lake Tahoe

San Simeon, Hearst Castle

Santa Barbara, Malibu (yes, they did record something there, but no chance to get any closer to the set Probably Baywatch?

Los Angeles – driving wasn’t easy, but fun for me :8 A real challenge!
Universal Studios – never seen anything like this, Americans are crazy (but really very nice and helpful!)
LA sightseeing tour in a limo – those tourists at the walk of fame took pictures of us Yeah I’m famous (now) Hollywood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills…amazing
Venice Beach (I missed those muscle men – it was rather bad weather)

Grand Canyon – helicopter flight Probably the best 30 minutes of my life.
Driving through Grand Canyon National Park and standing close at the edge – can’t describe this feeling. Walk a little down the canyon. Sitting on a rock and watching the sunset. Unforgettable.

Joshua Tree National Part – dry and hot, but nice to drive through, scary loneliness

Sedona – red rocks, great landscape

Monument Valley National Park – known from TV, unbelievable to see it all in real – car covered in red sand No roads, only driving on sand, our rented car did the best he could Met some redskins :8 Most of them wanted to sell jewellery though

Tombstone: Just when we arrived there: Wyatt Earp Momorial Days , interesting Western performances, real Western village, people in Western clothes , talked to the sheriff

Arizona itself: Driving for hours, endless roads, no cars but ours, indescribable heat! Lots of cactus (flowers), but that wasn’t really a surprise

Las Vegas – no words do describe that! Super highlights: The Blue Man Group and The Chippendales (I talked to one of them and even TOUCHED him… ). Great hotels and casinos, but no luck in gambling Best place to meet people Entertainment 24/7. I’m sure I’ll get married there one day

Seeing the hype when Ronald Reagan had died – interesting for a girl coming from a little village like me


Phff, oh I’m sure I’ve forgotten half of it
I want to go there again – tomorrow! It was the most exhausting trip of my life, but worth it.

What I really want to point out is that American people are sooo nice and helpful, for example you only have to stand in NYC with a map in your hand and the first one to walk by will stop and ask if he could help Also very friendly people in shops and restaurants, and in most of the hotels and motels And they were pretty interested in Germany, it was a pleasure to talk to them. AMERICANS ROCK!

Wow!!! Sounds like you got a lot packed in!!! Sounds amazing!!!

Did you fly from east coast to west coast? Also, did you rent cars there? And how much did the helicopter thing cost? Must've been big buck$.

Truly sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing!!! Any pictures maybe... ?

Yeah simone where are the pictures??????

cool!!

makes me looking forward to this summer even more, whereas I'll make a similar trip to yours ! Instead of NY & Niagara I'll start in Seattle & the Rockies / Yellowstone NP !

Good to know you had a great trip! Any pictures? :P

sounds great I'd love to do somethign like that

Jim Bon Jovi's nit picking trivia: Cactus is actually plural. Cacti is singular.

Cacti is the plural! I spent three years studying Latin and that I know!

Simone - your trip sounds awesome. I'd love to do something like that some day! I join the others asking for pics!!

I was just about to say the same... apparently those 6 years Latin haven't been a complete waste

Yeah... who would have thought...? But six years?! I was already up to here with "only" three But see, I learned something after all. I can correct Jim, which is always a pleasure :P

you drove ok in Manhattan, but driving in LA was a challenge? I've never driven in Manhattan - taking a taxi is a scary enough.

I got my sneakers all red from the sand and didn't wash them for the longest time I thought it was ultra-cool.

hehehehe


You really did see a heck of a lot!! I am glad you enjoyed it - sounds like a terrific trip.

Wow - you really covered a LOT of territory. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip here. As I said when you left - we are all not as awful as Goose makes us out to be

Kathleen