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Hi everyone,
I'm currently in Vegas which I have to say ( quite surprisingly) rocks baby yeah!!!!!!!! Will come to that in a little while though as having left DC a couple of weekends ago I've also spent some time in Houston as well.
As with pretty much all my travelling experiences so far, going across the country hasn't been quite as straightforward as I would've liked. In point - leaving DC/Virginia/Maryland.
I actually had to fly from Baltimore (maryland) airport which was about 1 hrs drive from where I was staying in Virginia. This would've been quite simple as I planned to go to Maryland to see my Uncle. He, a prime example of the life in this part of the US, lives in a DC suburb state of Maryland and works/commutes to work in DC. Only problem was that he lives in a part of Maryland that my cousins dub "Behind God's back". In truth, he lives at least 1.5 hrs drive out which was an absolute mission as we had gone in to DC to meet him but ended up having to drive out to him instead. A true token of the lifestyle here where driving for 1.5 hrs is standard and somewhat expected. "It's just up the street" is often realistically 30mins or more (not I, says the non-driving English girl).
However, the drive there was beautiful and thus I understand why he does live there. You can't get around without a car as everything is so spaced out. However, they too suffer the joys of traffic jams like I've never seen. According to my Uncle and cousins this is often due to most people being really bad drivers and very nosy!!! We ended up having to make a dash for the airport for me to catch my flight (ya'll know where I get my tardiness from now?!? he he). However, due to the traffic it was evident that I was not going to be able to make it and so we called the airline to see if there was anything they could do to help me get my flight. I found out that my flight was delayed anyway. by the time I finally got there, my flight was over an hour late and therefore I was unable to make my connecting flight from Philly - Houston. In short they ended up transferring me to another flight - 12 hrs later than my original and so I got to spend extra time with my Uncle and we ended up going to dinner in DC in the evening - yay!!!
We worked out that my cousin had driven for for over 7 hours that day and therefore had to get a friend to drive me to the airport for 5am in the...wait for it - snow!!! - yikes!!! Yes, snow!!! Of all things that my cousin said they don't get much of - yeah, right!!! This did mean that there was another delay to my adventures on the runway which meant they lost my baggage on the way to Houston where - I might add - it was cold and raining!!!! Houston!!! Texas!!! Spring!!!??!!!!. Wat words would describe my current state of mind, I ask?
Interestingly enough, I felt an incredible amount of peace during this ordeal as the US customs had obviously prepped me for it despite this being my greatest nightmare!!!
As always with me though, things always seem to right themselves. The airline found my bags and delivered it to my Uncle's house at around 12:30am. Nice!!!! only 14hrs late - but hey, these things happen- right??!!!??? ;-)
As this was such an ordeal just getting to Houston, Lord would have it, Houston was a little more chilled. Got to spend some time with my Uncle and his new family ;-) (yes Hurrell, I'm more maternal than I look), met up with some more native Liberians ( I actually understood everything they were saying - woohoo!!!!!!), went to Galveston which is a beautiful old historic seaside town with trolleys and stores that look like old "Wild Wild West" saloon bars, got to go to the Johnson Space Centre and stand next to the space rocket Saturn V that was used to land on the moon in 1969 and for subsequent Apollo missions - Moose, Raks, Phil - Just Amazing and totally epic!!! and got to meet up with my Mum - YAY!!!!! Totally unplanned but so rocked as she's on her way to see my dad in Miami.
Phew!!!!
Vegas, of course, has been just as busy. Despite some curious events wen I got here (will explain more when I get back) it's been fabulous!!!!
I spent the first day just kinda walking up and down The Strip. I figured it was quite long so I bought a monorail pass for the day - but that was such a waste of money as the monorail stops are actually quite far from where all the fun and games are. So I ditched that idea and ended up jumping on the Deuce bus that actually goes up and down Las Vegas Boulevard and all the way to Downtown where the Freemont Street experience is. I did spend a long time walking to be honest as I don't gamble but there is plenty of other shows and things to do - i.e. shopping!!!!!;-) (yes, I know I don't have any space in my bags Mum, but needs must!!!!)
Due to changes in plans, I've ended up staying with my cousin's friend Edward (another liberian) and his girlfriend Kami!!!! She's been amazing. They're from down south, Alabama and they truly do have the most amazing charm and great hospitality ;) they've welcomed me into their home and she's taken me out everywhere like I'm her new best friend!!!! hang about - she is MY new best friend!!! We've been to dinner with her friends, the movies, shopping!!! Yesterday, we went downtown to the Freemont Street Experience where we had a deep friend twinkies (cream donuts) and deep fried oreos (chocolate biscuit with cream in the middle - our english equivalent of Deep friend mars bars). Two words - TOOOOO SWEEETTT!!!!
We went clubbing last night at OPM - hottest club in Vegas where all the celebs go!!! It was $20 to get in and free champagne until 12am. Plus we got VIP seats for free!!! Twas great!!!! tonight we're out again (my last night) to see more free shows on the Strip and another club (which reminds me... must check that website).
All in all, it's been fab here!!! I must admit, Vegas wasn't really high on my agenda as I didn't know anyone here and quite simply it's sin-city to say the least!!!(stripper calling cards are actually handed out on the strip to the general public - Sodom and Gomorrah, eat your heart out) but I have to say I'm so glad I've come. I do hope to come again and do the Grand Canyon and other shows here but at least now I've made some new friends of my own. Hopefully, I can be just as accommodating when peeps from here come over.
LA tomorrow to catch my flight - 7hrs drive by the greyhound - eeek!!! Should be interesting to say the least and then on to New Zealand on Wednesday so it may be a little while until you hear from me again. Prayers and thoughts totally welcome and i do hope you all are doing well!!!
Solent Church peeps- do foward my mail onto those who haven't been receiving them. I don't think I have everyone's email address.
Peepettes- glad you're all doing well. am thinking of you all who have exams at the mo. Good luck with it all.
Work peeps and uni peeps, i know you can't believe I'm still alive but I did say I would try, so here I am - looking forward to using my brain again - this all seems too good to be true!!!
Emile and other Philly family - I'm sorry I didn't call / see you - I had problems with numbers and catching you all at home.
All ye married folks / those to be married/in relationships -if you're slightly jealous - don't be. this trip has trouble of it's own but it is something everyone should do and you can do it together.
I can't believe I'm already half-way through my trip and have so much more to go. So much more to come.
final considerations - photos to be edited when I get back as they are really dark. please see photos of me in Canada for first tour courtesy of friends I was on tour with at the following address:
http://web.mac.com/laneythestar/iWeb/Site/Our%20Homepage.html
Then click on "Laura&Chris" (the top right of the
page to select the Moose Snow Plow Tour to Montreal, Quebec City, valcartier Village, Mont Tremblant, Montmorrency falls , Ice Hotel, National Park and Ottawa).
You can click on each picture and it will take you to
other pictures of that part of our holiday.
Love you all and living it large
Graciebaby - yeah!!!!
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