Goodbyes and Hellos

I have a great Uncle and Aunt who, when I was a kid, moved on a regular basis, sometimes every three years.  I remember thinking that they were crazy.  My world was constant, reliable and completely predictable or so I thought and that, for a shy farm kid, was perfect.  I couldn't understand why anyone would want to move all the time or leave the comfort and consistency of home.

I look back now and think how I couldn't imagine my life being that constant and familiar again.  I've become a nomad in some ways and I love that.  Maybe a gypsy is a better description.  I enjoy the challenge of moving to a new home, city or even country and of course, I absolutely love packing my bag and traveling.  Albeit sad to say farewell to friends, one thing I have learnt in my years of traveling is that the world is really a small place and that somewhere in the great outdoors we will always cross paths again.

The biggest challenge is that my once small possessions have become a horde that makes packing up a wee bit hard and more complex.  No more can I throw everything into a box and chuck that into the boot of the car!!  Now it requires a team of packers and a sea container to move.  But that's okay because I apparently have 9 feet of length in the container left for more stuff and memories!!

I am eternally grateful for the life I have because through these wonderful and stressful moves, I have  made friends from all walks of life, from diverse cultures, religious beliefs and political backgrounds and that has only made my life richer.  I know that there are any number of countries around the world where I can always find a friendly face and a warm hug should I need it and I know that I always have a crazy family to run to in Oz when I need some family time!  So truly blessed.

So where does my life take me and you, my reader, next?  From the USA across the pond to the UK.

Stick with me...this is gonna be fun!!

I've been to the windy city.....the windy city, she's mighty pretty!!

Chicago is the third largest city in the US after New York and Los Angeles.  With some 2.7 million residents and over 46 million international and domestic visitors a year, it is fair to say Chicago is multicultural and pumping.

Culturally diverse, a visitor to this city is never short on opportunities to be entertained, intrigued and educated.  It is famous for its contributions to visual arts, literature, film, theatre, comedy, music particularly jazz, blues and soul, and sport.  It has amazing museums and art galleries, and the outdoor environment is also spectacular.

Being uniquely situated on the bank of the enormous Lake Michigan and with two rivers, the Chicago and Calumet, running through the downtown and encircling it, it is like a modern Venice.  Absolutely beautiful.  The early town planners of this city knew their stuff and designed a city that respected these beautiful water bodies, incorporating them into the very heart and soul of the city centre.  Add these wonderful waterways to some amazing architecture and you have quite a breathtaking city.

Although it was bitterly cold while I was there, I nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed walking Chicago.  I took in not only the sights along the waterfront and on the footpaths, but managed to visit a few galleries and musuems and listen to some music.  Of course, I also was fortunate to get to a Chicago Bulls game which was fabulous!  Didn't make to Wrigley Park but only because she is under restoration.

Like its diverse population, the food culture here is also interesting and you don't have to walk too far in any direction to have a wonderful choice of food offerings.  We took in some of the iconic cuisine such as the deep dish pizza and the Italian sandwich, but also we were able to enjoy fabulous seafood and great breakfasts.

The locals are very welcoming and proud of their city and rightly so.  In fact, I think Chicago is probably one of the most beautiful US cities I have visited.  Would love to come back in spring or summer and see her then in all her glory.  But even in the cold with snow on the ground....Chicago is absolutely worth a visit.

The US North East

I love road tripping.  I think its because of the trips I did as a kid.  My parents would pack my siblings and I up into our old Ford station wagon and take us on all sorts of camping, caravanning and beach side trips around Australia and I always loved them.  Despite being squashed into the old car with sometimes obnoxious siblings, no air-conditioning and zero road tripping music, I have incredibly fond memories of those holidays.  Consequently, I never baulk at an invitation to jump into the passenger or driver's seat for a road trip.

So Christmas 2014 saw my partner and I strapped in and on the road again.  This time we took the opportunity to put some rubber down on the road throughout the North East of the US.

We started in Boston and drove through Massachusetts to Providence, Rhode Island, where we woke up on Christmas Day to the ringing of church bells from the Cathedral next door.  Didn't notice the church when we checked in but a 7am wake up to chiming Christmas carols was certainly a 'cheerful' start to our day.

From Providence, we made our way over into Connecticut, then up into New York State following the Hudson River up to Albany, the capital of New York.  Saw some beautiful countryside and wonderful little towns along the way.  But also some tragically derelict places.  One town in particular had some fabulous old homes throughout, yet almost all were boarded up and falling to pieces.  True ghost towns in some cases.

From there we meandered through upstate New York to the Finger Lakes, which were absolutely beautiful.  We stopped here at a little place called Skaneateles, and if you can pronounce that correctly....well done.

From the Finger Lakes we made our way over to Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, one of the Great Lakes.  Again beautiful.  These lakes are truly inland seas.  We then travelled along the edge of the lake into Cleveland, Ohio.  Only a short stop here to take a spin around town and check out the architecture, have a coffee etc.  We travelled around the southern end of Lake Erie up to Vermilion and Toledo before we headed inland into Kalamazoo in Michigan.  We have lived in Jabiru and Kakadu, and have played sport in Humpty Doo.  So of course, we had to visit a place called Kalamazoo!

From Kalamazoo we made our way over to the eastern shore of Lake Michigan and down its banks to Chicago, Illinois, our final stop on this trip.  Chicago deserves its own mention, so I shall speak to it later for you.

But on this trip, I was impressed not only with the beautiful countryside but also with the history of the land we passed through.  I was equally saddened by the tragedy of that history.  This New England/Upstate area had such a rich American Indian culture and history, all trace of which is almost gone.  I know it is the way of colonising peoples but to lose such amazingly rich cultures is terribly sad for the integrity and fabric of a country.  It is heartening at least to see that some States have recorded that history and protected what may be left.

This road trip was only a taste of what this part of the US has to offer and I would love the opportunity to do it justice another time.  My advice, if you make your way to this area...take some time and check out the back roads and the farming areas...beautiful.

Boston

Quite unlike any other US city, Boston is the oldest US city and has an individual culture and identity to match that age.  It was founded in 1630 by the Puritan settlers from England and was ground zero for several significant events throughout its history, not the least of which was the American Revolution.

My visit began on a bitterly cold winters day with lunch in a little Irish pub being served by a Bostonian with an amazingly difficult to understand Boston accent.  In fact, he made me laugh when he said "you think I speak funny don't you, well I think you sound strange!".

Boston is a very walkable city with little cobbled streets and grand old architecture not unlike what you would see in many European cities.  Its chock full of history and following the Freedom Trail is a great way to see the full extent of what Boston has to offer.  I walked the trail throughout all the North End, Charlestown, the Boston Common, Back Bay, etc and despite freezing conditions, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  You can purchase these great little walking trail books which tell you not only about the trail itself and the history, but also quirky facts about various addresses or architectural features that you would never otherwise be aware of.  I also learnt the history behind the Tea Party which I have never fully appreciated.

A visit to Boston would also not be complete without a trip to Fenway Park.  Okay, its baseball but even if you aren't into sports, this place is a significant part of history and so many movies throughout my life have either made reference to it or have had scenes filmed there.  So of course, I had to visit.

The food culture in Boston is also fabulous.  Boston was and continues to be, a very multicultural city.  Its population comprises people from all over the world and the food on offer reflects that.

Its a very beautiful city and in more recent years, there has been a significant gentrification and rejuvenation of the downtown area such that high line railways have been replaced by parkland and pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged.

I enjoyed Boston.  Old world but modern, quirky but elegant, relaxed yet a big city.

Vegas!!

Its hard to really describe Las Vegas.  It is such an assault on the senses and not necessarily positive or negative.  On the one hand, Vegas sits in a truly beautiful desert valley, where the colours change throughout the day and the natural environment is harsh but inspiring.  And then on the other, at night it is a kaleidoscope of neon lights, sounds and smells that can assault, thrill and exhaust you.  I found Vegas interesting.  I guess the sociologist/anthropologist in me truly took the observational rather than participatory role during my visit.

The area was named Las Vegas, which in Spanish means "the meadows",  because of the beautiful valley which was, in this desert environment, unique for its abundant wild grasses and spring waters. It provided a safe haven for the nomadic Paleo-Indians travelling from the south Americas to the north.  But for the very same reason, it proved a valuable stopping point for snaking iron tracks of the Union Pacific as it made its way across the nation.

The city was founded in 1905 but it wasn't until about 1931 that Vegas boomed.  It was at that time that Nevada legalised casino gambling and changed divorce laws.  At the same time, the construction of Hoover Dam began and the rest, as they say, is history.

While the greater metropolitan area of Vegas is home to over two million people, and is one of the leading cities in the USA for conventions and business conferences, it is really known internationally for its tourism and as such, it is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.  In fact, I am told that there are more hotel rooms in Vegas than in the whole of Europe.  And one hotel alone, the Venetian, has over 7,000 rooms.

So all those facts aside....what did I think?  Well, I took the opportunity to do a helicopter flight over Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  Brilliant and worth every cent.  Absolutely magnificent and a sight everyone should experience.  That hole is the ground is beyond belief and truly makes you appreciate nature's perfection.  I also visited a couple of places of historic significance, as is my want to do.  But did I gamble and go into the casinos....no.  Having some experience in the casino and gambling industry, I can honestly say it is not an industry I enjoy in any way.  There is a kind grunge and sadness that I see which I find difficult to be around.  Sure I took in some shows, which were brilliant and spectacular, and I also enjoyed some good food and live music.  But overall, not my preferred holiday destination.

Having said that, there is great shopping, fabulous live entertainment, outstanding restaurants and amazing sights to be seen.  It is worth a visit....but if you stay too long, the shine might wear off!