http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/SandrineClaudia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from SandrineClaudia en-us Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:58:14 +0000 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:58:14 +0000 Every journey will come to its end at some stage well for us it will be today I'm on my way back to Cape Verde and Claudia will spend a few more weeks with friends in Sacramento and New York.We really enjoyed the whole trip and would like to thank every one that made us feel so welcomed to the United States. We will be back And for our friends thank you for all your support and the intere http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-429880.html The wind and the fog in the bay are bone chilling but San Francisco is such a great town that its amazing views from one hill to another and it's special aura are making up for the chilliness.First hill we took was up to Russian hill to see the crookiest street in the world Lombard street than we headed to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Than to a finally bustling Chinatown ... where we ran into http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-429372.html The highway n1 is nice ride but apparently very frequented by the bald and the beautiful... every second car was a Porsche... now explain me why you ride such a great car on a street where you can't drive over 35 mph due to the curves and the speed limits ... I feel sorry for the poor boxster motors... We stopped in Monterey for lunch and found out the the Californian coast must be the new Cte http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Monterey/blog-429354.html Yesterday we didn't do much Claudia took the Universal Studio tour and I updated you on our trip and enjoyed more of the freakshow down at the beach. In the evening we had a too expensive dinner at Bubba Gump's....Today we hit the road again and this time it's coastal highway n 1. It was a very nice drive but tiring due to the many curves along the coast. So we stopped in San Simeon to sleep http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Simeon/blog-429353.html It took us nearly an hour to get into downtown LA from Santa Monica not really due to traffic but more due to the distant ... we strolled through Chinatown and thought why keep on walking through dusty streets when there is a nice beach waiting for us. So we headed back to eventually have a swim but hey ... the pacific is cold ... brrrrr so we enjoyed the free freakshow at the shore LOL http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/blog-428791.html So let's see if all we ever saw about Santa Monica Beverly Hills Melrose Hollywood and Downtown LA is true ..... well you know ... it's right here where you become aware how well TV can blow everything out of proportion .... LOL .... it's all a big spoof Especially the walk of fame ... let me tell you the streets in Cape Verde are cleaner and there are far less homeless on the street ... oh a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Santa-Monica/blog-428495.html his morning we thought it couldn't get any hotter but oh boy ... through Mojave Desert we hit the 113F mark .... we prayed our tires would hold and only stopped in San Bernardino to visit the first Mc Donald's opened outside of Des Plaines starting the neverending story of McD...Finally in the early evening we arrived at Santa Monica pier... the end of route 66 but the start for our exploration o http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/blog-428493.html What a spectacle that was driving into Las Vegas at sunset .... stop thinking about how much energy they use per second to light up the desert and enjoy the ride through crazy town.We checked in at the Circus Circus very good value for the prize we paid a mere 65 per night for a nice room on the 19th floor. The day started with an all you can eat breakfast buffet and we were fit for the walk u http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-428492.html Today I'm off to ride the Grand Canyon from above ... I'm so excited ad it was amazing I got to sit next to the pilot and I really enjoyed the ride ... Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures with my phonecam but used Claudia's camera so the pictures from the ride will be added later but I tell you if you ever have the chance go and take the ride the 200 bugs are worth itAfter the stint we h http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-428489.html Today we made the last stretch of New Mexico in Gallup we stopped to check out about the Navajo Code Talkers from 2nd WW but we forgot it is Sunday .... closed...The sun followed us into Arizona and you might think it is hot hot but no it is actually ok the only thing is as soon as you step out into the sun it hits you and your skin feels like it's burning .... so don't forget the sun screen.We d http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Williams/blog-426829.html That is the question... red or green chili sauce But even the country side responds to this all over you see red soil and scattered green bushes. We slept over in Santa Rosa and hit the road to Santa Fe in the morning. There we visited the national history museum the Georgia O'Keefe museum and strolled through the Mountain Man Fair Trade.The climate is hot and dry after 10 minutes out in the su http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Mexico/Santa-Fe/blog-426592.html The lone star state ... and land as far as you can see .... and what you have to know is everything is bigger in Texas We came through a few populated ghosttowns and stopped in Amarillo and took a walk through downtown. Well some banners told us it's the city center but we were the only ones walking the sidewalks... a spooky and quirky town ... but home of the Big Texan steak house Eat the 72 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Amarillo/blog-426321.html Howe ... the great wild west opens itself before us and no picture would capture this amazing panorama. On thrusday you'll see who comes for sunday roast After a good nights sleep and a true american breakfast surrounded by old boys speaking with the real southern slang we hit the road to Oklahoma City. We strolled the National CowboyWestern Heritage Museum all you wanted to know about Cowboys http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oklahoma/Oklahoma-City/blog-426061.html Wow the landscape is changing into the wide open and the temperature is rising .... today we were at 99FWe entered Cherokeeland and stopped to see the largest Totem Pole by Ed Galloway and we wanted to stroll the streets of Tulsa ... but due to a Country Music concert all motels reasonable priced ones were booked solid so we decided to continue and stopped in Stroud Home of the Tigers.Tomo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Oklahoma/Tulsa/blog-425715.html Our tire was already waiting for us and in a few turns we were back on the road. Great service and thank you to the nice guys from CrossMidwest Tire.Today we were heading towards Kansas but before crossing the state line we had to stop at an antique shop. You name it they got itIn Kansas we found a good old stretch of Route 66 and crossed the Rainbow Bridge and took a fantastic lunch in Baxter http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Kansas/blog-425712.html The day started with a styrofoam breakfast at the Diamond Inn Motel in Villa Ridge MO and went straight to the Meramec Caverns in Stanton. The caves were known as a Jesse James hideout but nowadays they should be visited for their amazing mineral formations. We stopped in Lebanon for lunch but the place our guidebooks told us to check out was closed until further notice ... the alternative actua http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Missouri/Springfield/blog-425445.html After a sumptous breakfast we hit the road. First stop in Joliet to see the Joliet Jewel Rialto Theater 1926. We passed the Gemini Giant in Wilmington and had a banana milkshake at the Polk a Dot vintage Rte 66 Drive In.In Springfield we visited Abraham Lincoln's tomb we passed St Louis and entered Missouri to sleep over at the Diamond Travelodge near St. Clair. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Springfield/blog-425175.html After a nice breakfast out in the sun we visited the Chicago Art Institute which has a great collection of Impressionist's paintings. But also the american contemporary collection was very interesting especially some paintings from Ivan Albright. The rest of the afternoon we spent ... shopping ... and wrapped the day with a vietnamese dinner http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-425168.html In a split second we were captured by the charm of windy city CHICAGO The driver from the Rental Car company dedicated us a song ... he says he saw Angels and had to sing us a song ... Thank you AlvinAfter checking into Arlington International Hostel set in a beautiful neighbourhood we strolled Lincoln Avenue and took the bus downtown.Nothing better than a shopping spree down Michigan Avenue http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-425162.html Wehad a very short night and are off to check in to Chicago http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-425154.html