Last time I posted, Alie, Aneta and I were waiting for Leslie and her family to leave for the church well they did and we got ready. Alie kept commenting on how rare it was for her to see me in a suit and how much she enjoyed it, so much that she wanted me to wear my jacket in 104 degree heat to our Pre-Church Starbucks run. I gracefully declined citing that I did not want to die by drowning in my own sweat. But enough of that lets talk about the happy Bride and Groom.
Leslie and Brian tied the knot in a small traditional and classy wedding. The Reverend discussed how it was not up to Brian and Leslie to lean on each other but rather lean on God to help solve disputes. The Reverend also made everyone in attendance help Leslie and Brian work on the marriage when they needed it. An interesting look at marriage to say the least.
After the ceremony all 63 people headed to San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, which was very cool, well except for the first hour. The hot California Sun forced us to drink a few more drinks then we thought and seek shade in a big red object. Eventually it did cool off and we were allowed to head inside. The sunset grave the entire party great lighting and amazing pictures. The entire time both Leslie and Brian were beaming with happiness, something I do not think they will loose any time soon, if at all. The table settings the food and even the drinks, were personal to Leslie and Brian. Decorations were Sodoku puzzles, Leslie Brian Trivia and wonderful food that they ate during their first date.
Around 10pm Aneta, Dan, Alie and I were exhausted and decided that we should head back the 30 minute drive back to Leslie's. We said good bye wished the bride and groom good luck and thanked Leslie's parents for their hospitality. Once we got back we all just went to bed and passed out.
The wedding was very wonderful and it was great for Alie and I to be able to relax. I loved Leslie's attitude during the weekend; very calm and what happens happens. She and Brian looked so content!
To Leslie and Brain: Alie and I wish you luck and have a great time in RI, also Alie and I are very proud to call you both friends. Leslie its been great living with you and thank you for everything you have taught me and being there for me. I know you and Brain will have a great life together. Stay in touch and of course have fun!
PS Pictures to come!
PPS No stats yet. Thankfully this wedding was our first destination.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Day 20: Road Trip Goes Hollywood
Today is day three of the great California excursion. We left the Telford compound bright and early to take our friend Dan to the San Diego airport. Consequently, our travels began around 7:30 this morning. With Mexico to the South, ocean to the west and no plans to go east yet, we began your trip northward.
Initially, we planned to go straight up to Sequoia National Park, giving LA only a passing nod. However, given the fact that it was early and we don't know when we will be back in Califonia, we decided to get a little SoCal experience. We travelled about two hours north of San Diego to the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica. After walking along the Third Street Promanade and looking at the upscale shops and cafes, we put our toes in the sand and then the Pacific Ocean! It's hard to believe that only two weeks ago we were diping our feet in the Atlantic! We have come so far and still have a ways to go! We had some lunch on the famous Santa Monica Pier and rode on the Carousel before deciding to move on to bigger and better things.
From Santa Monica we went into Hollywood. There we visited the Grauman's Chinese Theater and spent a moment in the shoes of stars (so to speak), among them Gene Kelley, Marylin Monroe, the Marx Bros, Julie Andrews and the "governator" himself. And what would a visit to Hollywood be without some star sightings? We saw Mickey Mouse, Yoda, Batman and of course Elvis, just to name a few!
When we were finished oogling at famous footprints and "stargazing" on the walk of fame, we decided to drive up to "the hills:" to get a good look at the Hollywood sign. We caught a good glimpse of it and snapped some pictures before getting lost up there and deciding to be satisfied with the view we got. Our final point of interest was a cruise down Rodeo Drive on our way out.
This afternoon we decided to leave the glitz and glamour (and expenses) of "Hollywierd" behind in search of more natural surroundings. We drove about four hours Northeast to the town of Three Rivers, about 15 miles outside of Sequoia National Park. On the way we saw (and smelled) the billowing smoke of a forest fire along the edge of the interstate (luckily not the side we were on), and we felt that now we had truly seen California.
Now we are resting in Three Rivers, getting ready for a big day of big trees! It is on to Sequoia National Park, and don't worry everyone we WILL drive through the tree!
More on that tomorrow.
Now the California stats (from the Past 2 days):
Been to: 35% of the USA!
Overall Average: 39.0 mph
Moving Average: 50.2mph
Moving Time: 13h 18m
Stopped Time: 3h 47m
Total Time: 17h 6m
Distance Traveled: 667.9mi
Distance to go: Back to the begining
Initially, we planned to go straight up to Sequoia National Park, giving LA only a passing nod. However, given the fact that it was early and we don't know when we will be back in Califonia, we decided to get a little SoCal experience. We travelled about two hours north of San Diego to the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica. After walking along the Third Street Promanade and looking at the upscale shops and cafes, we put our toes in the sand and then the Pacific Ocean! It's hard to believe that only two weeks ago we were diping our feet in the Atlantic! We have come so far and still have a ways to go! We had some lunch on the famous Santa Monica Pier and rode on the Carousel before deciding to move on to bigger and better things.
From Santa Monica we went into Hollywood. There we visited the Grauman's Chinese Theater and spent a moment in the shoes of stars (so to speak), among them Gene Kelley, Marylin Monroe, the Marx Bros, Julie Andrews and the "governator" himself. And what would a visit to Hollywood be without some star sightings? We saw Mickey Mouse, Yoda, Batman and of course Elvis, just to name a few!
When we were finished oogling at famous footprints and "stargazing" on the walk of fame, we decided to drive up to "the hills:" to get a good look at the Hollywood sign. We caught a good glimpse of it and snapped some pictures before getting lost up there and deciding to be satisfied with the view we got. Our final point of interest was a cruise down Rodeo Drive on our way out.
This afternoon we decided to leave the glitz and glamour (and expenses) of "Hollywierd" behind in search of more natural surroundings. We drove about four hours Northeast to the town of Three Rivers, about 15 miles outside of Sequoia National Park. On the way we saw (and smelled) the billowing smoke of a forest fire along the edge of the interstate (luckily not the side we were on), and we felt that now we had truly seen California.
Now we are resting in Three Rivers, getting ready for a big day of big trees! It is on to Sequoia National Park, and don't worry everyone we WILL drive through the tree!
More on that tomorrow.
Now the California stats (from the Past 2 days):
Been to: 35% of the USA!
Overall Average: 39.0 mph
Moving Average: 50.2mph
Moving Time: 13h 18m
Stopped Time: 3h 47m
Total Time: 17h 6m
Distance Traveled: 667.9mi
Distance to go: Back to the begining
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Day 18: "Here I was at the end of America -- no more land..."
Well we made it. Yesterday we got in around 2:00pm to Leslie's house. You would think that every one would be running around crazy, trying to get things done all over the place, but in fact everyone is calm cool and collected. Leslie is not nervous and here thought is that everything will work out fine. Things will get done on time and everything will work great. This is how I'd like to feel at my wedding. Not be rushing around all crazy, just plodding along, time is but a reference point but not set in stone.
After a while Alie, Aneta (a friend from college) and I followed Leslie and Brian to La Jolla and then walked around had lunch at a cool surf shop and went to the beach, while they rehearsed. Afterwards we went back for the dinner which was very low key, very relaxing and calm. Alie and I have been doing so much during the day that its not to have to worry about getting some place or be on a specific time frame we are on someone else's and it feels good.
After dinner we went to the beach again and sat talked and laughed; overall a very good time. Now we are waiting for the bridesmaids to get their hair done and then they are off to the church. At this point Aneta, Alie and I will be getting ready and heading to the church. It’s going to be great. The Church is right across from The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, where the reception will be so that shall be very exciting.
For now stats will have to wait until tomorrow when we will post both days of Cali, but I will leave you with something our very proud of our map.
After a while Alie, Aneta (a friend from college) and I followed Leslie and Brian to La Jolla and then walked around had lunch at a cool surf shop and went to the beach, while they rehearsed. Afterwards we went back for the dinner which was very low key, very relaxing and calm. Alie and I have been doing so much during the day that its not to have to worry about getting some place or be on a specific time frame we are on someone else's and it feels good.
After dinner we went to the beach again and sat talked and laughed; overall a very good time. Now we are waiting for the bridesmaids to get their hair done and then they are off to the church. At this point Aneta, Alie and I will be getting ready and heading to the church. It’s going to be great. The Church is right across from The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, where the reception will be so that shall be very exciting.
For now stats will have to wait until tomorrow when we will post both days of Cali, but I will leave you with something our very proud of our map.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Day 17: Welcome to Triassic Park
Today was a great day. When our car originally broke down, we thought we would have to drive straight to San Diego and cut out both Canyon De Chelly and the Painted Desert. But once our heads cleared, we decided we could do the Painted Desert and that's what we did today.
The Painted Desert is inside of Petrified Forrest National Park. We first traveled to the Painted Desert, and it's quite a beautiful palette of muted pastels. It got its name when Coronado came through the area and saw the hues in the rocks and described as "the painted desert."
From there we got onto the road, part of which is historic Route 66, and travelled to ancient Pueblonean ruins and went on a guided tour of native dwellings. The buildings there are not the kind you see at Canyon De Chelly, but are only partially excavated ones; meaning they looked like foundations of buildings, when in fact the rest of the walls and such are still beneath the ground being protected from the elements and humans. We also saw petroglyphs the natives left there thousands of years ago. The differences between pictographs and petroglyphs is that petroglyphs are carved and pictograms are painted. Apparently there are some pictographs in the park, but they are in a remote and protected area. The most common drawings found here are petroglyphs.
After that we traveled and stopped off at many pullovers taking pictures and seeing the general sites. But our final stop was truly our best. It is called Crystal Forest. Before the park was a National Park, during the turn of the last century, this field was covered in petrified logs that glistened in the sun and had been there for 225 million years. Back then all the continents were still joined together. That area of Arizona was a sub tropical climate located near present day Panama. In this land there were HUGE trees and all kinds of Triassic animals that resembled crocodiles, rhinoceros, and other pre-dinosaur creatures. Over time these trees fell into a river and floated down stream till they reached a flood plain and sank to the bottom when they were completely water-logged. Then layers of sand, ash, etc. were piled on top. The silica in the ash seeped through the pourous wood and reacted chemically with it. As time marched on, the silica replaced the wood cell by cell with stone and other semi-precious rocks. Resulting in beautiful colors wrapped around petrified bark.
Today the filed is almost barren; only a few of the pieces of petrified wood remain. People have been stealing it since the railroad came by and established a link to the remote area. The pilfering of the wood is what made the park become a park so it can be protected. But that still hasn't stopped people. The rangers estimate that 1 ton of petrified wood is stolen from the park each month; soon there will not be any petrified wood left at all.
However the park has been fighting back. They do vehicle checks on the way out and they like to permiate the idea that there is a curse upon stealing rocks from the park. It isn't something they came up with and they do not tell it over and over again, but reminders are here and there about it. Each year the park gets tons of mail and packages with pieces of petrified wood and other rocks from the park. In the letters some tell of how terrible their luck has been since they've stolen a piece of the park and are hoping it will change when they return the property. They do not seem to follow up on it though. Would be an interesting investigation.
Alie and i very much enjoyed the park. Our hike around Crystal Forrest was very beautiful despite the thefts. I got a good bunch of pictures mostly macro shots that I will post soon. We could not help but think about what it would've been like if people were not so greedy with the petrified wood and left it there for all to see. I'd imagine it would rank up there with the colors and sites we saw in Carlsbad Caverns or even the painted desert. But alas people are greedy and the view of Crystal Forrest is lost to history, at least now we still get to see what is left and that is still worth the trip.
I've typed a lot here, but I cannot elave with some quick stats for you all
We are still in AZ so it keeps us at 35% of the Nation.
But that does not mean we haven't gone anywhere.
We travelled 430miles
at an overall avgerage of 64.8mph
and a moving average of 67.8mph.
It took us 6h and 38m
with 6h and 20m of moving time
stopping for only 18m and 7s
Wrong Turns: 0 Its so much easier out here with all this land and planning.
Distance to go: about 2h 20min YESSSSSSS!
The Painted Desert is inside of Petrified Forrest National Park. We first traveled to the Painted Desert, and it's quite a beautiful palette of muted pastels. It got its name when Coronado came through the area and saw the hues in the rocks and described as "the painted desert."
From there we got onto the road, part of which is historic Route 66, and travelled to ancient Pueblonean ruins and went on a guided tour of native dwellings. The buildings there are not the kind you see at Canyon De Chelly, but are only partially excavated ones; meaning they looked like foundations of buildings, when in fact the rest of the walls and such are still beneath the ground being protected from the elements and humans. We also saw petroglyphs the natives left there thousands of years ago. The differences between pictographs and petroglyphs is that petroglyphs are carved and pictograms are painted. Apparently there are some pictographs in the park, but they are in a remote and protected area. The most common drawings found here are petroglyphs.
After that we traveled and stopped off at many pullovers taking pictures and seeing the general sites. But our final stop was truly our best. It is called Crystal Forest. Before the park was a National Park, during the turn of the last century, this field was covered in petrified logs that glistened in the sun and had been there for 225 million years. Back then all the continents were still joined together. That area of Arizona was a sub tropical climate located near present day Panama. In this land there were HUGE trees and all kinds of Triassic animals that resembled crocodiles, rhinoceros, and other pre-dinosaur creatures. Over time these trees fell into a river and floated down stream till they reached a flood plain and sank to the bottom when they were completely water-logged. Then layers of sand, ash, etc. were piled on top. The silica in the ash seeped through the pourous wood and reacted chemically with it. As time marched on, the silica replaced the wood cell by cell with stone and other semi-precious rocks. Resulting in beautiful colors wrapped around petrified bark.
Today the filed is almost barren; only a few of the pieces of petrified wood remain. People have been stealing it since the railroad came by and established a link to the remote area. The pilfering of the wood is what made the park become a park so it can be protected. But that still hasn't stopped people. The rangers estimate that 1 ton of petrified wood is stolen from the park each month; soon there will not be any petrified wood left at all.
However the park has been fighting back. They do vehicle checks on the way out and they like to permiate the idea that there is a curse upon stealing rocks from the park. It isn't something they came up with and they do not tell it over and over again, but reminders are here and there about it. Each year the park gets tons of mail and packages with pieces of petrified wood and other rocks from the park. In the letters some tell of how terrible their luck has been since they've stolen a piece of the park and are hoping it will change when they return the property. They do not seem to follow up on it though. Would be an interesting investigation.
Alie and i very much enjoyed the park. Our hike around Crystal Forrest was very beautiful despite the thefts. I got a good bunch of pictures mostly macro shots that I will post soon. We could not help but think about what it would've been like if people were not so greedy with the petrified wood and left it there for all to see. I'd imagine it would rank up there with the colors and sites we saw in Carlsbad Caverns or even the painted desert. But alas people are greedy and the view of Crystal Forrest is lost to history, at least now we still get to see what is left and that is still worth the trip.
I've typed a lot here, but I cannot elave with some quick stats for you all
We are still in AZ so it keeps us at 35% of the Nation.
But that does not mean we haven't gone anywhere.
We travelled 430miles
at an overall avgerage of 64.8mph
and a moving average of 67.8mph.
It took us 6h and 38m
with 6h and 20m of moving time
stopping for only 18m and 7s
Wrong Turns: 0 Its so much easier out here with all this land and planning.
Distance to go: about 2h 20min YESSSSSSS!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Day 16: Movin Right Along (Thank Goodness!!)
Hello all!
Thankfully the car is up and running once again!! After waiting until 4, we found out that there was a problem with the computer which they replaced. The test drive showed that it was running fine, so here's hoping that there are no other problems (that would be costly in both time and money). All in all we didn't lose much in the whole ordeal. We got to explore Santa Fe, stay in a nice place and celebrate the fourth and we didn't have to pay for repairs because they were under warranty!
We drove the car for about four hours yesterday without incident, so our confidence is coming back. Which brings us to where we are today...in ARIZONA! We decided to drive to the Petrified Forest National Park yesterday so that we could find a place to stay and see the park the next day. We were under the impression, however, that the park was in New Mexico, but it turns out its in Arizona, so we were very excited. Oddly enough we are also in a different time zone of sorts, because apparently they don't do daylight savings around here, so we went back another hour. Three hours from you east coasters! Basically there is not much to report from yesterday; we had another 'forced' relaxation day where we sat at cafes and walked around.
We did see the Palace of the Governors, which was the center of Santa Fe politics whether it be rule by the Spanish or the Indians. It is also the oldest continually run building in the US! We caught a guided tour, on which we learned a lot about New Mexico's long and rich history. Unfortunately there will be no photos to follow because photography is not allowed in the museum, sadly. If you ever find yourself in Santa Fe and are hankerin for some history, I recommend the Palace of the Governors; I think you will learn a lot.
Now we are getting ready to head out and explore the Petrified Forest. Then its on the California (or as close as we can get)!!!
But first some Stats:
Been to: 35% of the USA!
Overall Average: 69.4mph (speed limit is 75! ;)
Moving Average: 71.0mph
Moving Time: 4h 23m
Stopped Time: 6m 2s
Total Time: 4h 29m
Distance Traveled: 311.9mi
Distance to go: Not much at all!
Thankfully the car is up and running once again!! After waiting until 4, we found out that there was a problem with the computer which they replaced. The test drive showed that it was running fine, so here's hoping that there are no other problems (that would be costly in both time and money). All in all we didn't lose much in the whole ordeal. We got to explore Santa Fe, stay in a nice place and celebrate the fourth and we didn't have to pay for repairs because they were under warranty!
We drove the car for about four hours yesterday without incident, so our confidence is coming back. Which brings us to where we are today...in ARIZONA! We decided to drive to the Petrified Forest National Park yesterday so that we could find a place to stay and see the park the next day. We were under the impression, however, that the park was in New Mexico, but it turns out its in Arizona, so we were very excited. Oddly enough we are also in a different time zone of sorts, because apparently they don't do daylight savings around here, so we went back another hour. Three hours from you east coasters! Basically there is not much to report from yesterday; we had another 'forced' relaxation day where we sat at cafes and walked around.
We did see the Palace of the Governors, which was the center of Santa Fe politics whether it be rule by the Spanish or the Indians. It is also the oldest continually run building in the US! We caught a guided tour, on which we learned a lot about New Mexico's long and rich history. Unfortunately there will be no photos to follow because photography is not allowed in the museum, sadly. If you ever find yourself in Santa Fe and are hankerin for some history, I recommend the Palace of the Governors; I think you will learn a lot.
Now we are getting ready to head out and explore the Petrified Forest. Then its on the California (or as close as we can get)!!!
But first some Stats:
Been to: 35% of the USA!
Overall Average: 69.4mph (speed limit is 75! ;)
Moving Average: 71.0mph
Moving Time: 4h 23m
Stopped Time: 6m 2s
Total Time: 4h 29m
Distance Traveled: 311.9mi
Distance to go: Not much at all!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Day 13: Photo Dump Stalactites and Mites
Here are the promised photos of Carlsbad Caverns. Again they do not do justice to the cavern at all but they at least wet your appetite for geological formations. MMMMM flowstone!
Famous Rock of Ages:
Famous Rock of Ages:
Day 15: Happy 4th of July from Santa Fe
Today was a very relaxing day and thus uneventful. Alie and I slept in for our forced day of non driving. Then we got up and went to a restaurant called The Upper Crust recommend by my Uncle Paul. (Thanks!) It was delicious and as an extra super duper 4th of July bonus they served Sam Adams on tap! This excited Alie and I. There is nothing quite like Sam on the 4th of July with a pizza. It tasted like home, and it tasted good. A lot of beers down here are minimally hoppy. Instead they go for a thirst quenching kind of beer whereas we are used to the hoppy Sam and Harpoon IPAs so once the Sam hit our lips it brought back home to us. Which was refreshing since we've been on the road for 1/2 a month.
After that we returned to our hotel and went for a swim. This was also very relaxing, sitting poolside reading. After that we walked around downtown Santa Fe and entered the Cathedral they have here. It was very neat, one of the oldest structures in town and had some interesting artifacts brought over from the Old World. Alie and I took some pictures so we will be posting them eventually. Then we returned to our room and posted some pictures and did some digital cleaning of the blog.
Around 8:30pm we headed to Santa Fe High School to watch the local fireworks. It was interesting being a major city with the fireworks being at a local high school. Alie and I were discussing this, and in general, we feel there is a disconnect from the holiday and what it means to people around here. Here they have their own local history that is very disconnected from our "Nation's History." When we won our freedom from the British this land was still controlled by the Spanish or the Native Americans. (Not sure which hopefully a reader can correct me.) So when they celebrate the 4th it might mean something to them symbolically, but it's not the same as it is with people in the Cradle of Liberty; at least that's what if feels like to us.
The final thing we want to mention is the cab drivers around here. Since our "Iron Horse" is in the shop. We've had a total of 3 cab drivers. So far all of them are 50+ men who seem to have come here because they were tired of were they were and are laid back kind of people. They also seemed to have done a lot of drugs in the past and continue to while enjoying the new age kind of vibe found around here.
So overall we've enjoyed our stay in Santa Fe. We'd certainly come back here, but I do not think that we would move here any time soon.
Tomorrow at 9am we have an appointment with the dealership and we get to find out if we are to fly out of New Mexico or drive. Here's hoping for driving. Wish us luck!
After that we returned to our hotel and went for a swim. This was also very relaxing, sitting poolside reading. After that we walked around downtown Santa Fe and entered the Cathedral they have here. It was very neat, one of the oldest structures in town and had some interesting artifacts brought over from the Old World. Alie and I took some pictures so we will be posting them eventually. Then we returned to our room and posted some pictures and did some digital cleaning of the blog.
Around 8:30pm we headed to Santa Fe High School to watch the local fireworks. It was interesting being a major city with the fireworks being at a local high school. Alie and I were discussing this, and in general, we feel there is a disconnect from the holiday and what it means to people around here. Here they have their own local history that is very disconnected from our "Nation's History." When we won our freedom from the British this land was still controlled by the Spanish or the Native Americans. (Not sure which hopefully a reader can correct me.) So when they celebrate the 4th it might mean something to them symbolically, but it's not the same as it is with people in the Cradle of Liberty; at least that's what if feels like to us.
The final thing we want to mention is the cab drivers around here. Since our "Iron Horse" is in the shop. We've had a total of 3 cab drivers. So far all of them are 50+ men who seem to have come here because they were tired of were they were and are laid back kind of people. They also seemed to have done a lot of drugs in the past and continue to while enjoying the new age kind of vibe found around here.
So overall we've enjoyed our stay in Santa Fe. We'd certainly come back here, but I do not think that we would move here any time soon.
Tomorrow at 9am we have an appointment with the dealership and we get to find out if we are to fly out of New Mexico or drive. Here's hoping for driving. Wish us luck!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Canon NP Contest Reminder
Hi all Happy 4th! Alie and I will be posting a full update later tonight. But right now I am just taking a quick moment to remind everyone to let me know which pictures in this photo set you like so I can then submit the best one to the Canon National Parks Photo Contest. You can post a comment here or in any post at all or even email me with the name(s) of the photo(s) you like. Rock on and have fun!
Day 14: The good the Bad and the Car Troubles
We are new in Santa Fe, New Mexico! This place has been pretty neat, but its been a little odd too. Its largely a tourist town but Alie and I have found that a few restaurants are closed for the holiday. This doesn't seem right especially since a lot of people will be coming into town to celebrate the 4th. We figured they just did not need the extra money.
We've also heard that Santa Fe is expensive; we did not find this to be necessarily true. Our dinner and our lunch were very reasonable for a city. Though compared to places like Carlsbad or Rosewell, Santa Fe is expensive but its nothing like the major cities we've been to in the past. In the end its right up there with any other tourist destination. A little expensive but nothing unexpected.
The road to Santa Fe from Carlsbad was rather boring except for the last 40 minuets where it was hilly mesas. Once we got through Roswell, which was 2 hours from Carlsbad, there was nothing. Just small brush and desert for miles and miles and miles. Alie and I were supposed to eat and switch 3 hours into our drive, but after we got 3 hours out there was no place to eat, just small picnic areas or unpaved shoulders. So we did not end up eating or switching until we got to Santa Fe.
This leads me to the third part of the title. Once we ate we decided to go back to the car and book a hotel. When we turned on the car we got a MAJOR Engine Error! We called a Toyota Dealer and made arrangements for the car. On the phone the service department said we could drive it as long as it was driving okay. Well it was before we turned it off to eat, and the dealership was 2mi away so we figured why not? The car barely made it there. It would only average 20mph and right when we were turning into the dealership it wouldn't go at all. We turned the car off in the turn lane turned it back on and that was just enough to get us there.
Tomorrow the Toyota dealer is closed so we are required to spend the 4th in Santa Fe, not bad, but it puts the rest of the trip in peril. Hopefully they can fix it on the 5th and we can still see the Petrified Forrest. Canyon DeChelly is too far out of our way to hit on this leg but its not far from Zion National Park, so we might pick it up after the wedding. time will tell. In the worst case scenario, we will fly the rest of the distance to San Diego and fly back to pick up our car later. Time will tell and right now we think about how lucky we've been and the memories we have created thus far. Alas what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. ;) But enough crappy things.
Tomorrow will be better and we'll be able to give a more rounded view of the city. For now the stats...
Still 33% of the USA!
Distance Traveled Today: 281.1mi
Moving Avg: 55.5mph
Overall Avg: 36.0mph
Moving Time: 5h 4m
Stopped: 2h 44m
Total Time: 7h 49m
Gas Used: 44mpg! Yay Hybrid! when it works
Wrong Turns: 0 Straight lines all the way!
Distance to go: 600+ miles: Will we make it?
We've also heard that Santa Fe is expensive; we did not find this to be necessarily true. Our dinner and our lunch were very reasonable for a city. Though compared to places like Carlsbad or Rosewell, Santa Fe is expensive but its nothing like the major cities we've been to in the past. In the end its right up there with any other tourist destination. A little expensive but nothing unexpected.
The road to Santa Fe from Carlsbad was rather boring except for the last 40 minuets where it was hilly mesas. Once we got through Roswell, which was 2 hours from Carlsbad, there was nothing. Just small brush and desert for miles and miles and miles. Alie and I were supposed to eat and switch 3 hours into our drive, but after we got 3 hours out there was no place to eat, just small picnic areas or unpaved shoulders. So we did not end up eating or switching until we got to Santa Fe.
This leads me to the third part of the title. Once we ate we decided to go back to the car and book a hotel. When we turned on the car we got a MAJOR Engine Error! We called a Toyota Dealer and made arrangements for the car. On the phone the service department said we could drive it as long as it was driving okay. Well it was before we turned it off to eat, and the dealership was 2mi away so we figured why not? The car barely made it there. It would only average 20mph and right when we were turning into the dealership it wouldn't go at all. We turned the car off in the turn lane turned it back on and that was just enough to get us there.
Tomorrow the Toyota dealer is closed so we are required to spend the 4th in Santa Fe, not bad, but it puts the rest of the trip in peril. Hopefully they can fix it on the 5th and we can still see the Petrified Forrest. Canyon DeChelly is too far out of our way to hit on this leg but its not far from Zion National Park, so we might pick it up after the wedding. time will tell. In the worst case scenario, we will fly the rest of the distance to San Diego and fly back to pick up our car later. Time will tell and right now we think about how lucky we've been and the memories we have created thus far. Alas what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. ;) But enough crappy things.
Tomorrow will be better and we'll be able to give a more rounded view of the city. For now the stats...
Still 33% of the USA!
Distance Traveled Today: 281.1mi
Moving Avg: 55.5mph
Overall Avg: 36.0mph
Moving Time: 5h 4m
Stopped: 2h 44m
Total Time: 7h 49m
Gas Used: 44mpg! Yay Hybrid! when it works
Wrong Turns: 0 Straight lines all the way!
Distance to go: 600+ miles: Will we make it?
On the Road Again Texas Pictures
These are a few pictures I've snapped while Alie and I are on the road.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Day 13: Broadcasting from 750ft Below Ground UPDATED!
Today was spent at the wondrous Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico! That’s right we’ve made it all the way to Mountain Time. So now we are two hours different from our common time. It was exciting crossing over the state boarder we got to switch all our clocks over and were glad we were given an extra hour in the park. We needed it.
In Carlsbad Caverns there is 2 ½ miles of self guided tours and another 1 1/4miles of guided tours. We were unable to get in on a guided tour but that’s okay for us. The we had in the caves was excellent. First we decided to use what is known as the Natural Entrace. This is the big opening to the cave where people bats and birds enter and exit. The other entrace is via an elevator shaft but you do not get to see nearly as much if you take it. We did both. The Natural Entrance is neat and really gives a visitor the sense of how deep the cave goes down. You also get to see an area where the bats hang out. During the 1920s and parts of the 1930s this cave was used as a guano mine. Gauno is bat poop and is used as a fertilizer. Apparently there is so much guano in the Bat Cave that it has added 40feet to the floor! This are ais now closed off to visitors, but the bats do come out and eat flying insects nightly starting in the spring and ending in October where they migrate to other places.
The human developed sections of the cave go down to about 750feet. When traveling the Natural entrace you go down on foot in a winding path that terminates in the “Big Room” There is more cave below the Big Room as well but that remains undeveloped so researchers can study the cave in a natural way. “The Big Room” Is where all the famous geological formations are, and a ton of them, there is. I would describe it to you but words simply cannot do it justice instead, I’ll post pictures of them. But even those do not really describe the cave fully. Needless to say this park is a must see even if there are around is NOWHERES-ville. Tonight we are watching the Bats fly and hunt! I’m Psyched!
Want to know more?
Side thought: In New Orleans a city that was once almost completely destroyed has had internet city wide for about 9 months or so but since we’ve left Houston We’ve been in a virtual internet blackout. Makes me think anyways….
Stats and more about the Caverns to come tomorrow with pictures!
UPDATED:
Pictures to come once I weed through them and decide which ones are worthy.
Let me tell you about Lechuguilla Cave. This cave was discovered in 1986 and is the largest limestone cave in the USA. To get in you must be a very experienced spelunker, but once you are in you see all kinds of underground untouched wonders. From gypsum and flow stone formations to rare kinds of microbes and other forms of fauna. I mean the public caverns are amazing to be sure, but the things in Lechuguilla Cave is beyond compare. (I know this from the exhibit in the Visitor Center and other research.) I only hope that one day they will open it up to more people so, the general public can experience the new world found in the remote places of Carlsbad National Park. However before that can happen the National Park needs to be extended so all of Lechuguilla Cave is protected. Right now a lot of it is, but parts extend to the boundaries of the park and development on these parts can threaten the cave beneath the land. Hopefully that will come sooner than later.
So that is all about the inside of Carlsbad Caverns.
Now for the stats to Carlsbad Caverns, around the park and the town...
33% of the Country!
Distance: 225.9mi
Overall Avg: 40.7mph
Moving Avg: 53.5mph
Total Time: 5h and 33m
Moving time: 4h 13m
Stopped: 1h 20m
Distance to go: Juat a few more stops
Gas used: About a tank a day not bad for 500mi days
Wrong Turns: Not many at all! straight shot once we got in the south and southwest.
In Carlsbad Caverns there is 2 ½ miles of self guided tours and another 1 1/4miles of guided tours. We were unable to get in on a guided tour but that’s okay for us. The we had in the caves was excellent. First we decided to use what is known as the Natural Entrace. This is the big opening to the cave where people bats and birds enter and exit. The other entrace is via an elevator shaft but you do not get to see nearly as much if you take it. We did both. The Natural Entrance is neat and really gives a visitor the sense of how deep the cave goes down. You also get to see an area where the bats hang out. During the 1920s and parts of the 1930s this cave was used as a guano mine. Gauno is bat poop and is used as a fertilizer. Apparently there is so much guano in the Bat Cave that it has added 40feet to the floor! This are ais now closed off to visitors, but the bats do come out and eat flying insects nightly starting in the spring and ending in October where they migrate to other places.
The human developed sections of the cave go down to about 750feet. When traveling the Natural entrace you go down on foot in a winding path that terminates in the “Big Room” There is more cave below the Big Room as well but that remains undeveloped so researchers can study the cave in a natural way. “The Big Room” Is where all the famous geological formations are, and a ton of them, there is. I would describe it to you but words simply cannot do it justice instead, I’ll post pictures of them. But even those do not really describe the cave fully. Needless to say this park is a must see even if there are around is NOWHERES-ville. Tonight we are watching the Bats fly and hunt! I’m Psyched!
Want to know more?
Side thought: In New Orleans a city that was once almost completely destroyed has had internet city wide for about 9 months or so but since we’ve left Houston We’ve been in a virtual internet blackout. Makes me think anyways….
Stats and more about the Caverns to come tomorrow with pictures!
UPDATED:
Pictures to come once I weed through them and decide which ones are worthy.
Let me tell you about Lechuguilla Cave. This cave was discovered in 1986 and is the largest limestone cave in the USA. To get in you must be a very experienced spelunker, but once you are in you see all kinds of underground untouched wonders. From gypsum and flow stone formations to rare kinds of microbes and other forms of fauna. I mean the public caverns are amazing to be sure, but the things in Lechuguilla Cave is beyond compare. (I know this from the exhibit in the Visitor Center and other research.) I only hope that one day they will open it up to more people so, the general public can experience the new world found in the remote places of Carlsbad National Park. However before that can happen the National Park needs to be extended so all of Lechuguilla Cave is protected. Right now a lot of it is, but parts extend to the boundaries of the park and development on these parts can threaten the cave beneath the land. Hopefully that will come sooner than later.
So that is all about the inside of Carlsbad Caverns.
Now for the stats to Carlsbad Caverns, around the park and the town...
33% of the Country!
Distance: 225.9mi
Overall Avg: 40.7mph
Moving Avg: 53.5mph
Total Time: 5h and 33m
Moving time: 4h 13m
Stopped: 1h 20m
Distance to go: Juat a few more stops
Gas used: About a tank a day not bad for 500mi days
Wrong Turns: Not many at all! straight shot once we got in the south and southwest.
Day 12 (Remembered): Don't Mess With Texas
After exploring Sixth Street in Austin, a twentysomething/college student playground with miles of bars and restaurants open late, we retired to our hotel a little north of the city. The next day we went out in search of some good ole Texas BBQ and we found Ruby’s, a no frills barbeque joint that would cover just about anything with hot sauce. It was just the thing to satisfy our taste for Texas and tide us over for the busy day ahead.
We took a mini driving tour of the Austin area and saw the streets lined with trendy little shops and cafes for college students and “real people” alike. It was certainly a fun town, and Matt and I agree that it was someplace we would definitely like to visit again.
Later that afternoon, we drove up to Fort Hood to see my cousin Billie and her two kids, Natalie and Talon. It was the first time I had seen them since Christmas, so I was both excited to see them and amazed at how much the kids had grown in just a few months. We had a great time seeing their toys and their room, playing hide and seek and watching Talon eat his first ice cream cone!! It was so nice to see some family and have some fun with the kids. I’m sure that a lot of my family members are jealous that we got them to ourselves for a whole afternoon! I’m so glad that we were able to see them.
We left Fort Hood that evening with a long drive ahead of us. We prepared to leave Texas and enter New Mexico via Fort Stockton, TX, a sort of gateway to the far west. We drove about 6 hours through the countryside, passing farms and ranches. We saw both a beautiful sunset and an intense lightening storm in the same drive. It was truly a quintessential road trip moment, with almost no one driving ahead or behind us and just the headlights to guide us down the open road. We arrived in Fort Stockton road weary and ready for a good night’s sleep before heading off to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico where we are now. Details on that adventure to follow.
For now the stats:
Overall Avg: 45.3mph
Moving Avg: 61.6mph
Total time: 10h 2m
Moving Time: 7h 52m
Stopped Time: 2h 49m
Distance: 480.0mi
We took a mini driving tour of the Austin area and saw the streets lined with trendy little shops and cafes for college students and “real people” alike. It was certainly a fun town, and Matt and I agree that it was someplace we would definitely like to visit again.
Later that afternoon, we drove up to Fort Hood to see my cousin Billie and her two kids, Natalie and Talon. It was the first time I had seen them since Christmas, so I was both excited to see them and amazed at how much the kids had grown in just a few months. We had a great time seeing their toys and their room, playing hide and seek and watching Talon eat his first ice cream cone!! It was so nice to see some family and have some fun with the kids. I’m sure that a lot of my family members are jealous that we got them to ourselves for a whole afternoon! I’m so glad that we were able to see them.
We left Fort Hood that evening with a long drive ahead of us. We prepared to leave Texas and enter New Mexico via Fort Stockton, TX, a sort of gateway to the far west. We drove about 6 hours through the countryside, passing farms and ranches. We saw both a beautiful sunset and an intense lightening storm in the same drive. It was truly a quintessential road trip moment, with almost no one driving ahead or behind us and just the headlights to guide us down the open road. We arrived in Fort Stockton road weary and ready for a good night’s sleep before heading off to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico where we are now. Details on that adventure to follow.
For now the stats:
Overall Avg: 45.3mph
Moving Avg: 61.6mph
Total time: 10h 2m
Moving Time: 7h 52m
Stopped Time: 2h 49m
Distance: 480.0mi
Friday, June 30, 2006
Day 11: Deep in the Heart of Texas
So here we are in Austin, the illustrious Texan capital. We drove in this evening from San Antonio, so we haven't seen much yet. We did, however, do quite a bit of sightseeing in San Antonio. We started our day by visiting Mission Conception, one of the four San Antonio missions that make up the Missions National Park. We walked around and saw the old churches that were used to convert the South Texan Indians to Christianity in the 1700s. It was interesting to see the way of life and all of the history that happened within the walls. We visited Mission San Jose, the "Queen of Missions," before heading into San Antonio center.
Starving, we made our way into the city, in search of what else but good old Tex Mex food. We made our way down to the Riverwalk, which is indeed as cool as people say it is! We found Original Mexican Restaurant, where we enjoyed some of the best Mexican food I have ever had! With full stomachs we wandered down the banks of the river which are lined with restaurants and shops. We walked across little stone bridges and watched boats float along full of eager tourists. Finally we reached The Alamo!
The historic Alamo was packed with tourists, many of which were native Texans, swelling with pride at the history of their beloved state. We walked the halls of the former mission that contained exhibits, including memorabilia from the likes of Davy Crockett. Stories of Texas history were plastered on the walls in an exhaustive manner. Overall it was a good experience to see the famed monument, but I much prefered the silent halls of the missions that showed the wear that hundreds of years and people had left on it. We got a good dose of history before heading to the mall to find Matt proper attire for the upcoming weddings. After our shopping trip, we headed back to the car and drove the hour and a half up to Austin where we are currently staying.
I am looking forward to seeing my cousin Billie and her adorable kids Natalie and Talon, especially since my cousin Jason has just gone back to Iraq this week. We are going to meet up with them tomorrow, and as Matt said, it will be nice to see some familiar faces! Onward and westward!!!
Stats to come.
-Alie
Starving, we made our way into the city, in search of what else but good old Tex Mex food. We made our way down to the Riverwalk, which is indeed as cool as people say it is! We found Original Mexican Restaurant, where we enjoyed some of the best Mexican food I have ever had! With full stomachs we wandered down the banks of the river which are lined with restaurants and shops. We walked across little stone bridges and watched boats float along full of eager tourists. Finally we reached The Alamo!
The historic Alamo was packed with tourists, many of which were native Texans, swelling with pride at the history of their beloved state. We walked the halls of the former mission that contained exhibits, including memorabilia from the likes of Davy Crockett. Stories of Texas history were plastered on the walls in an exhaustive manner. Overall it was a good experience to see the famed monument, but I much prefered the silent halls of the missions that showed the wear that hundreds of years and people had left on it. We got a good dose of history before heading to the mall to find Matt proper attire for the upcoming weddings. After our shopping trip, we headed back to the car and drove the hour and a half up to Austin where we are currently staying.
I am looking forward to seeing my cousin Billie and her adorable kids Natalie and Talon, especially since my cousin Jason has just gone back to Iraq this week. We are going to meet up with them tomorrow, and as Matt said, it will be nice to see some familiar faces! Onward and westward!!!
Stats to come.
-Alie
To Houston and To San Antonio Stats
I'm making this a separate post since we have two full days of stats but only one map. So here they are...
We have been to 31% of the USA!
To Houston:
Coming Soon!
To San Antonio Stats:
Overall Average: 55.9mph
Moving Average: 65.2mph
Moving Time: 4h 18m
Stopping Time: 42m 50s
Total Time: 5h 1m
Traveled: 281.3mi
So close yet so far...
We have been to 31% of the USA!
To Houston:
Coming Soon!
To San Antonio Stats:
Overall Average: 55.9mph
Moving Average: 65.2mph
Moving Time: 4h 18m
Stopping Time: 42m 50s
Total Time: 5h 1m
Traveled: 281.3mi
So close yet so far...
Day 9 & 10: Geetings From Texas!
First I’d like to apologize for the posting black out for the past two nights. At our last two hotels we have not had a good internet connection. So Its been difficult to get a post out. However now we have found a wifi hotspot and I can deliver you the last two updates.
Yesterday we went to the Houston Space Center. Which is still completely operational and getting ready for a historic day. The re-launching of the space shuttle fleet! Thus mission control shuttle and mission control space station are both alive with activity. Especially shuttle mission control; they have been going through simulations for the past week or more.
The way the Johnson Space Center works is a little odd. They want an attraction for people to go to, but they also want to show Historic Mission Control and the Training Center. So what they have done is turn a section over to Disney and let them basically design a HUGE kids playplace and the only real adult attractions are space suits, hall of Astronauts and the two tour locations. This would be fine but the entrance fee is very expensive and the flight simulations are $4 each. They obviously know they have you trapped but it seems like every place you turn they try to take money from you. Even when you try to purchase a ticket they try to sell you a combo pass that includes the tour of the facilities and an audio, when in fact a tour of the facilities is included in the regular ticket price.
But after saying all that there is some pretty cool things there. You get to see the mission control room where they controlled all the Gemini Missions, all Apollo Missions, and 77 Shuttle Space Flight Missions. Then we saw the training center which is very cool. What I thought was interesting is that we are able to take as many pictures as we want of the real palces where Astronauts Train but we cannot take pictures of any train on the MBTA.
After we spent the entire day at the museum we traveled to San Antonio where we found a hotel right near the Spanish Missions and the Alamo. I’m VERY excited about both.
So that was Yesterday.
The Day before is much more interesting
When we tried to leave Nawlins our car wouldn’t start. We called AAA they came jumped the Prisus’ battery and told us to take it a Toyota Dealer ASAP. So we took it to Toyota of New Orleans, they did not have anew battery but the good people at Mike Calvert Toyota did and would sell it to us. So we drove the 500 miles to Houston, which we were going to anyways. Oh yeah the final thing AAA told us was to NOT shut the car off. So for 500 miles we didn’t even when we needed a fill up.
We got to the Texas Dealership and left the car there and told them of the problem. We then went to dinner and then our hotel. The next morning around 11am I get a call and they said NOTHING was wrong with it. They allowed us to drive with a Master Mechanic to see if the problem came back and we drove around for 10 minuets or so and it was all fine. I asked the technician and he said a map light might drian the battery if left on but the 500 mile trip after the jump recharged it fine.
The best thing of all is that we did not loose anything but mental angish, not money or time. So knock on wood the car is fine and we will continue on to Austin tomorrow to Alie’s Cousin in law’s house and her children. It should be good to see familiar faces, its been a long time since Jersey.
Yesterday we went to the Houston Space Center. Which is still completely operational and getting ready for a historic day. The re-launching of the space shuttle fleet! Thus mission control shuttle and mission control space station are both alive with activity. Especially shuttle mission control; they have been going through simulations for the past week or more.
The way the Johnson Space Center works is a little odd. They want an attraction for people to go to, but they also want to show Historic Mission Control and the Training Center. So what they have done is turn a section over to Disney and let them basically design a HUGE kids playplace and the only real adult attractions are space suits, hall of Astronauts and the two tour locations. This would be fine but the entrance fee is very expensive and the flight simulations are $4 each. They obviously know they have you trapped but it seems like every place you turn they try to take money from you. Even when you try to purchase a ticket they try to sell you a combo pass that includes the tour of the facilities and an audio, when in fact a tour of the facilities is included in the regular ticket price.
But after saying all that there is some pretty cool things there. You get to see the mission control room where they controlled all the Gemini Missions, all Apollo Missions, and 77 Shuttle Space Flight Missions. Then we saw the training center which is very cool. What I thought was interesting is that we are able to take as many pictures as we want of the real palces where Astronauts Train but we cannot take pictures of any train on the MBTA.
After we spent the entire day at the museum we traveled to San Antonio where we found a hotel right near the Spanish Missions and the Alamo. I’m VERY excited about both.
So that was Yesterday.
The Day before is much more interesting
When we tried to leave Nawlins our car wouldn’t start. We called AAA they came jumped the Prisus’ battery and told us to take it a Toyota Dealer ASAP. So we took it to Toyota of New Orleans, they did not have anew battery but the good people at Mike Calvert Toyota did and would sell it to us. So we drove the 500 miles to Houston, which we were going to anyways. Oh yeah the final thing AAA told us was to NOT shut the car off. So for 500 miles we didn’t even when we needed a fill up.
We got to the Texas Dealership and left the car there and told them of the problem. We then went to dinner and then our hotel. The next morning around 11am I get a call and they said NOTHING was wrong with it. They allowed us to drive with a Master Mechanic to see if the problem came back and we drove around for 10 minuets or so and it was all fine. I asked the technician and he said a map light might drian the battery if left on but the 500 mile trip after the jump recharged it fine.
The best thing of all is that we did not loose anything but mental angish, not money or time. So knock on wood the car is fine and we will continue on to Austin tomorrow to Alie’s Cousin in law’s house and her children. It should be good to see familiar faces, its been a long time since Jersey.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Day 7 & 8 Photo Dump Life Continues On
In Nawlins especially the French Quarter life is moving and the jazz is heard through out the streets. Here are some pictures from the past few days.
But first the answer to yesternigt's photo dump trivia question how can one tell the difference between a digital sepia print and a true sepia print? Clouds. Original speia prints took so long to be exposed that the clouds and the sky became completely washed out. We would have also accepted grain. Today grain can be completely eliminated ,but when sepia was common grain was almost overwhelming.
Now on with the photos!
But first the answer to yesternigt's photo dump trivia question how can one tell the difference between a digital sepia print and a true sepia print? Clouds. Original speia prints took so long to be exposed that the clouds and the sky became completely washed out. We would have also accepted grain. Today grain can be completely eliminated ,but when sepia was common grain was almost overwhelming.
Now on with the photos!
Laissez les bon temps roulez! (Let the good times roll!) Still.
Hey All,
It's Alie again, reporting live from the Big Easy. Day two of our New Orleans discovery was full of fun and interesting experiences. We have been moving pretty much non-stop since 11am, so it's nice to have a rest and update the ol' blog for a bit. We started the day the way any good day should start, with some beignets (and cafe au lait for me!) at Cafe du Monde, the happiest place on earth®. Disneyworld doesn't stand as chance against hot, deep fried doughnuts burried in powdered sugar...definietly the breakfast of champions!
Have no fear, however, we walked off our treats (including the after breakfast praline we had to get!). We walked around the French Market, dipping in and out of cute little shops, and we stumbled upon the National Historic Site for New Orleans jazz. We wandered in and spoke with the park ranger for quite some time. Though he had little to say about jazz, he had a lot to tell us about teaching, Hurricane Katrina and life in general. People are so friendly down here, and I feel like a lot of them just want to talk and share their experiences; most of them have a lot to say. Next, we got our share of New Orleans/ Louisiana history by exploring the St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest in the country) and the Cadilo where the Louisiana history museum is located. Highlights included the room in which the Louisiana Purchase was signed and Napolean's death mask.
Not having gotten our share of history yet, we saw the place in which Tenessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire (which, incidently is for sale, and Matt really wants to buy it). We also found the Jean Laffite National Park (two for one, how do you like that?) and learned even more about New Orleans history.
With tired feet, full brains and empty stomachs, we went out in search of some good ole creole food. We found a great little cafe and treated ourselves to the Creole Creation special; a cup of gumbo, jambalaya and beans and rice. We cleaned our plates! In New Orleans, they say there are two times of day: meal time and everything else. With food like that, I would have to agree!
After indulging in spicy goodness, we hopped on a walking ghost tour of the city, in which we saw the most haunted spots. Even a skeptic like me, got goosebumps when I heard of the tragic tales of former New Orleans residents and the spirits they left behind. We discovered that our hotel is indeed one of those very haunted spots (maybe that's why the rates were so good!).
The tour guide gave a little chuckle when we told him we were staying at the Place d'armes. He told us that our hotel was the site of the first Louisiana school, which was an all boys school. The first of two fires that destroyed the city while it was under Spanish control wipped out almost all of the buildings, including the boys school. According to the guide, the boys haunt the hotel and like to play practical jokes on the guests. This morning we were awoke by a knock at our door, but when I answered it, no one was there... coincidence or haunting...I'll leave that up to you to decide. We also heard chilling tales of the dirty dealings of a doctor and his wife who used slaves for medical experiments, the building itself has been abandoned for decades, but is finally in use again... we shall see how its current tenant fairs.
After a long day, complete with a pit stop at an old 24 hour diner on Bourbon St., we are ready for a much deserved rest. We will certainly be sad to leave New Orleans, it was a wonderful experience from which we learned a lot about both its distant past and recent history. It will always have a special place in my heart. I encourage people to visit this still beautiful city; if you support it, it will give back to you more than you might imagine. And now... on to Texas!
No stats today
I've talked enough already! Thanks for listening
It's Alie again, reporting live from the Big Easy. Day two of our New Orleans discovery was full of fun and interesting experiences. We have been moving pretty much non-stop since 11am, so it's nice to have a rest and update the ol' blog for a bit. We started the day the way any good day should start, with some beignets (and cafe au lait for me!) at Cafe du Monde, the happiest place on earth®. Disneyworld doesn't stand as chance against hot, deep fried doughnuts burried in powdered sugar...definietly the breakfast of champions!
Have no fear, however, we walked off our treats (including the after breakfast praline we had to get!). We walked around the French Market, dipping in and out of cute little shops, and we stumbled upon the National Historic Site for New Orleans jazz. We wandered in and spoke with the park ranger for quite some time. Though he had little to say about jazz, he had a lot to tell us about teaching, Hurricane Katrina and life in general. People are so friendly down here, and I feel like a lot of them just want to talk and share their experiences; most of them have a lot to say. Next, we got our share of New Orleans/ Louisiana history by exploring the St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest in the country) and the Cadilo where the Louisiana history museum is located. Highlights included the room in which the Louisiana Purchase was signed and Napolean's death mask.
Not having gotten our share of history yet, we saw the place in which Tenessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire (which, incidently is for sale, and Matt really wants to buy it). We also found the Jean Laffite National Park (two for one, how do you like that?) and learned even more about New Orleans history.
With tired feet, full brains and empty stomachs, we went out in search of some good ole creole food. We found a great little cafe and treated ourselves to the Creole Creation special; a cup of gumbo, jambalaya and beans and rice. We cleaned our plates! In New Orleans, they say there are two times of day: meal time and everything else. With food like that, I would have to agree!
After indulging in spicy goodness, we hopped on a walking ghost tour of the city, in which we saw the most haunted spots. Even a skeptic like me, got goosebumps when I heard of the tragic tales of former New Orleans residents and the spirits they left behind. We discovered that our hotel is indeed one of those very haunted spots (maybe that's why the rates were so good!).
The tour guide gave a little chuckle when we told him we were staying at the Place d'armes. He told us that our hotel was the site of the first Louisiana school, which was an all boys school. The first of two fires that destroyed the city while it was under Spanish control wipped out almost all of the buildings, including the boys school. According to the guide, the boys haunt the hotel and like to play practical jokes on the guests. This morning we were awoke by a knock at our door, but when I answered it, no one was there... coincidence or haunting...I'll leave that up to you to decide. We also heard chilling tales of the dirty dealings of a doctor and his wife who used slaves for medical experiments, the building itself has been abandoned for decades, but is finally in use again... we shall see how its current tenant fairs.
After a long day, complete with a pit stop at an old 24 hour diner on Bourbon St., we are ready for a much deserved rest. We will certainly be sad to leave New Orleans, it was a wonderful experience from which we learned a lot about both its distant past and recent history. It will always have a special place in my heart. I encourage people to visit this still beautiful city; if you support it, it will give back to you more than you might imagine. And now... on to Texas!
No stats today
I've talked enough already! Thanks for listening
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Day 6 Photo Dump: Old Timey
Most of the following photos are in Sepia hence the title. (I've lessen the size so this page loads faster if you want to see the full image click on it!)
20 points for those who can tell me the easiest way to spot a digital sepia print from a true sepia print! the answer will come tomorrow.
PS I've created a National Park Photo Set so all my National Park Photos taken from any trip are all in one place!
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