Top 30 or so: (not in any order)
1. Best Swimming Pool: Jazzy's in New Jersey
2. Best Backpackers: Sacramento
3. Best Coffee: Monterey - Mexican Latte
4. Best Weather: Hawaii
5. Best Roomate: Kim from Seattle
6. Best Breakfast: Steven's Porridge
7. Best Dessert: Key Lime cheesecake from Stacy
8. Best Restaurant: Peregrino's Italian in San Francisco - Lobster Lasagne
9. Best Pub: Kiwi pub in San Diego and an Evening with Linda
10.Best Wildlife: San Diego Zoo
11.Best Tour: Hearst Castle
12.Best Food: Diana & David's in San Luis Obispo
13.Best Shopping: Sports Authority in San Luis Obispo and REI in San Bruno
14.Best Bargain: Guess Sunglasses Sacramento $8.57 (down from $40), & Hawaii Pearls
15.Best Service: San Francisco Police - Seargeant Scott Warnke
16.Best Street: South Street Philadelphia
17.Best People: Say What Club Convention in Philly
18.Best Highlight: Capturing on camera a wild Sea Otter in Monterey
19.Best Laugh: Mike getting drenched in beer in Philly
20.Best View: Empire State Building in NYC
21.Best Squirrels: Madison Square NYC, and San Luis Obispo (Ground Squirrel)
22.Best Laundry Service: Steven's in San Bruno
23.Best Walk: Muir Woods & Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco
24.Best Quiet Day: The day at Jazzy's sister's pool
25.Best Beaches: Coronado Hotel, Waikiki, Hamauna Bay, Malibu, Santa Monica
26.Best Boat Trip: Lake Tahoe
27.Best Experience: Driving on the right hand side for the first time
28.Best Shower: Jazzy's in New Jersey
29.Best museums: Mutter in Philly, Musuem of Natural history NYC
30.Best Experience with a Difference: Tijuana Mexico
31.Best Lunch: Clam Chowder at Boudin Bakery at Fisherman's wharf
32.Best Tea: Morrocon Restaurant in Little Falls
Worst 10.
1). Seeing a huge fat bum having a shit in daylight on a San Diego Street
2). Experiencing unhelpfulnes of Bank of America
3). Seeing queues of people lining up for the soup kitchens of the Salvation Army
4). Being harrassed by bums in San Francisco for change - "change" "change"
5). Smelling the stench of human urine on the steets in SD & SFO
6). Experiencing 38 degrees in Stockton the day we arrived (melt)
7). Having our airport shuttle crash on the freeway on the way to the hostel
8). Mike losing his wallet
You know - I can honestly not think of 10 worst things. On the whole my experiences of America were very positive. People are friendly and will usually go out of their way to help when help is needed. Good humour and laughter followed us around wherever we went.
I'm glad we saw some bad things though, because thats what makes us appreciate the good things more, and it makes us realise that there are always people worse off than ourselves. It makes me thankful that I live in NZ which has a Social Welfare buffer. It doesn't mean that we don't have homeless or bums, just that the problem is less, and largely unnoticeable.
My small list of highlights is tiny - I could go on and on and wax lyrical about each day we had in USA. No day was the same, the experience and sights we saw were totally different each day, which stimulated and excited our senses and gave us an appetite for more. It kept us energised and helped us fit in all the things we wanted to do.
I would do it again - but fully intend to put my feet up for a couple of years first. I'd like to see rural America next, I would like to see Seattle, and I would like to see Chicago and surrounds again.
Cheers
Robyn
Please look me up if you ever visit Seattle. I love it here and find it fun to play tour guide!
ReplyDeleteNow, wait a minute!LOLOL! ALL of San Diego, even all of downtown where you stayed isn't like that! There's a huge, world renowned homeless shelter just a few blocks away from your hostel, St. Vincent DePaul's. (Father Joe) so of course you would see some of our city's finest. I do apologize for the 'huge fat bum' and I will speak to him about not shocking tourists from now on. *LOL*!
ReplyDeleteLinda Binns (who lives in San Diego and has never seen a huge fat bum doing that on the street....)