New Adventures in Rainy London-TownThat's right.. I can here all of you in Sunny SA sniggering at yet another person who has disappeared into the cold, grey, rainy cultural melting pot that is London. However I here and about to start from scratch again: job, flat, friends, new life and all that.
I am actually really excited about being here, I love this city's vibe and the crazy mix of people that it attracts. Though the job and house hunt is more than a little intimidating to say the least. Anyway, out the door with my tough face on and all will be well.
I have some photos from NY which I will upload as soon as I can, though I am without an easily accessible internet connection at the mate's flat I am squatting in at the moment. My posts may be a little sporadic again now, though I will try to keep you all up to date with the proceedings.
Stage 3: The Big AppleI arrived in New York yesterday morning, and have spent the last day and a half walking and walking and walking... and gaping at everything in sight! I love this city, it's just buzzing all the time with millions of people rushing around and falling all over each other to get wherever they are going first and as quickly as possible. Not to mention the food and the shopping, oh the SHOPPING.
Unfoturtunately I arrived without my luggage, which is a long story worthy of its own entry so will save that for a day when I have more time and don't have to fork out dollars to get on the Net. Very unhappy about it.
I have managed to see Times Square, which is just down the block from where I am staying in Manhatten, as well as The Rockafeller Centre, The Empire State Building, 5th Ave, Central Park, Ground Zero/World Trade Centre Site (which is under reconstruction by the way), Wall St, NY Stock Exchange, Battery Park and its view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Tomorrow is art gallery day: Guggenheim, Museum of Modern Art, The Met. I fly out of JFK tomorrow night, and head to London Heathrow via Dublin. So I guess the next you hear from me will be in the UK:-) Wish me luck for the hellride back over the ocean.
Stage 2: Georgia ctd...Well my time is almost coming to a close here in Georgia, I am heading to New York tomorrow morning to see what the Big Apple holds in store and am sad to be leaving this beautiful area, though very excited to be seeing New York at long last.
The Easter weekend was basically filled with long lazy days in the hot summer weather and good food, so not much news as such to report. I did spend some time looking around more historical towns and old plantation areas, though they were not much different from Washington which I have already described.
I also went to have a look at the Uncle Remus Museum in Eatonton, which is just down the road from here. Those of us who are Old Skool will remember the stories from our childhoods about Brer Rabbit and the escapades he and his friends got up to in the Georgia woods. The Uncle Remus Museum is a commemorative old log cabin containing bits and pieces documenting the life and literary work of Joel Chandler Harris, the author of the Uncle Remus storiea. The stories themselves were originally written in the mixed up Southern language of the slaves who told the stories to their children, based on old African folk tales from their native lands (something along the lines of "How the leopard got his spots..."). The African animals were replaced with the local animals of the Georgia forests, hence Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Wolf etc.
Read this. for more information on the museum.
Here is a sample - you have to read it with a thick Southern accent for it to make sense! From "The wonderful tar baby story":
“He come mighty nigh it, honey, sho’s you born—Brer Fox did. One day atter Brer Rabbit fool ’im wid dat calamus root, Brer Fox went ter wuk en got ’im some tar, en mix it wid some turkentime, en fix up a contrapshun w’at he call a Tar-Baby, en he tuck dish yer Tar-Baby en he sot ’er in de big road, en den he lay off in de bushes fer to see what de news wuz gwine ter be. En he didn’t hatter wait long, nudder, kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin’ down de road—lippity-clippity, clippity -lippity—dez ez sassy ez a jay-bird. Brer Fox, he lay low. Brer Rabbit come prancin’ ’long twel he spy de Tar-Baby, en den he fotch up on his behime legs like he wuz ’stonished. De Tar Baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay low."
Stage2: Greensboro, GeorgiaI have arrived in Georgia, after spending the day travelling yesterday. I was glad to leave the wind and rain in Fort Lauderdale, and head here. The days are hot, lazy and Southern, perfect for the heart and soul:-) I am staying on Lake Oconee, with some family friends who have lived in the USA for a long time. It is a really beautiful area, with lots of trees and green grass and spring flowers. Look at the map
here, I am about 90 miles east of Atlanta.
We took a trip to a small historical town called Washington, about 45 min away. There are a large number of very old Southern style homes, built in the 1700's and 1800's in the area, which was mainly cotton plantations at the time. We had a look around one of the old plantations, obviously with no cotton and no slaves, but it was interesting to find out a bit about some history I know very little about. I didn't take that many photos as my memory ran out, but will load what I have.
I also had fried green tomatoes and crawfish cakes for lunch, it had to be done since I am in the deep South! The tomatoes are pretty darn good y'all.
Here are some links with photos and information about the area if you are interested, and I will load the photos I have and there will be more on the way.
Click here to see photos and information about Greensboro, it gives you a good idea of what the stunning architecture here is like.
Click here to see images an info about Reynolds Plantation, where I am staying with friends. It is a very wealthy area...
Here is one photo:
A very frustrating daySo much for the plans for the sun and sea. I seem to have brought tropical storm weather down with me from who knows where. It rained hard all day today, and the wind is HOWLING down the beachfront. I spent the day cruising down Las Olas Blvd, the main central shopping/eating place in town which was cool for about an hour when you are on your own. Then went shopping for a new watch and sunglasses because unfortunately there isn't much to do in this town when there is no sun and the beach is out. Got the watch, still need sunglasses though. Anyway, I guess these things happen. I will wait and see if there is sun tomorrow, otherwise I may try and get up to Miami, though I don't know if it will be logistically feasible at such late notice.
Hold thumbs for better weather:-(
Stage 2: Fort Lauderdale (ctd...)Well I survived the gators, which are really just small crocodiles. It was a bit tougher to get past the way of life in the Florida everglades though. Life is... er... simple down here (read Forrest Gump). Check out the photos, the airboat cruise through the glades was pretty cool, though very commercial. The boat captain, Chez, seemed to know a lot about the glades having done this for 30 years or so. Unfortunately after the cruise we sat through a gator handling show, which was actually just cruel to see. The poor animals were kept in a tiny enclosure and looked so dry and dehydrated. Their water was dirty and low and they were continually harassed by the handlers performing tricks, agitating them and frightening them half to death. I felt really upset walking out of there. They are not aggressive creatures by nature, especially around humans. Shame on commercialism!!!
Then we went to Hooters on the beachfront for drinks. A true cultural experience. I will definitely get to a high speed internet connection tomorrow that can handle large photo uploads to get some pics up. Gotta see the gators!
Tomorrow is a chilled day around town, hit the beach and get some sun!
Stage2: Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Going to get me some gatorsI am now in Fort Lauderdale on the Eastern coast of Florida. It's about 30 deg centigrade in the shade, which by SA standards is pretty normal. However after living below zero at 8000 feet in the snow for 4 months, the heat is a bit more challenging. I had a lazy morning catching up on some sleep this morning, then headed down to have a look at the beach. It's a bit like Umhlanga on the KwaZulu/Natal coast - has the same vibe. The sea is warm and there are no waves at all. It was so awesome to be out in the sun again, after being pale and pasty for a while. Time to work on the tan, like ASAP:-)
Heading out to the everglades this afternoon to get me some gators. That is if Ben and Jess ever arrive to pick me up... still waiting...
I tried to upload some pics last night, but the connection was dial-up and ridiculously slow. Shame.. who still uses dial-up, so annoying. I will try to find a faster connection with a USB port to get some pics up. Hang tight
Stage 1: DenverI arrived safely in Denver on Friday evening, just before sunset in the downtown area. I stayed in a backpackers in the main (slightly dodgy) area of town, a few miles down from the central Denver area. The place is called the Hostel of the Rockies and was pretty... er... interesting. I walked in the the place smelled like about 10 cats lived there in a small area. I never found the cats and the smell never went away either. Not the way forward.
The place is very run down as well, its a really old building in the original part of town so I guess it's what can be expected for $20 a night. At the least the linen was pretty clean, and no bedbugs which is always a good start. The staff were really friendly an helpful at any rate, which made for a slightly more pleasurable experience. I also met some pretty cool guys from the US and England, who had a wicked sense of humour and good political knowledge, so the conversation and back to back episodes of Monty Python and South Park kept me entertained.
I headed out for dinner before the sun set completely to a diner on the corner of Race and Colfax called Pete's Kitchen. It's been there since 1942 and is a popular landmark in Denver, attracting everyone from celebrities to old couples who have been there for the full 60 years! The food was not as good as they made it out to be, but maybe I am just sick of American food in general. It's worth a visit.
The walk home was a bit scary so note to those planning to visit Denver not to wander around Colfax at night.
Heading down to Florida today (Saturday) after a 5am start and a long flight via Houston and over 2 time zones.
Also over carrying the boardbag around.
On the move again... Final destination: London in the Summertime!Ok I know I have been a total delinquent about blogging over the last month, mostly because I have been making the most of my last days here in Aspen, and making plans to travel a bit over here. I now have a complete itinerary worked out until the 21 April, when I will be arriving in London to see what that holds for me for a while.
Here is an abbreviated itinerary of my movements for the next month:
Friday 7 April:
Aspen to Denver, Colorado (to spend the night).
Saturday 8 April:
Denver, CO to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I am going to be staying right on the beach, and will be visiting one of my best mates from SA who is living and working in FL as well. I also intend to make a trip or two up to Miami to see what there is to see there.
Wednesday 12 April:
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Atlanta, Georgia
I am actually going to stay with family friends living in a big house on a lake. Lots of hiking, swimming, jetskiing, fishing, boating etc etc to do. Also maybe some home cooked food for the first time in 5 months *hold thumbs*
Wednesday 19 April:
Atlanta, GA to New York City
I am very excited about this leg of the travels. I will be staying right in Times Square, Manhatten, close to all the action and places to see. I don't plan to sleep much.
Friday 21 April:
JFK, New York to London, Heathrow
And so begins the new chapter of the adventure....
I will be trying my best to load pics and stories as I go along.
There really hasn't been much happening in Aspen that is blog worthy, just the same old sleep, snowboard, work, drink, sleep, snowboard... and so it goes. It is spring here and the snow is melting fast. I am loving the warm weather and spring snowboarding which is a totally new experience. I am really sad to leave Aspen, I really love it here and will be back in the near future for sure.
