USA

General Info

February 2002

Eating fast and in XXL quantities is fairly common in the USA. Beer and soft drinks are usually served ice-cold. Wait a minute before you drink. Your throat will be thankful. I liked asian food restaurants with self service buffets. You can taste all those strange dishes which you never had chosen from the menu.

You arrive at the airport. First thing you do is hire a car. The only place where you can do without is New York.

... tip. In restaurants and bars they expect at least 10%. You'll be sorry if you don't.
... be prepared to exactly describe how you like your breakfast egg, or have you ever entered a Starbucks and ordered a coffee with milk and sugar.

Boston

Is the place to eat sea-food and lobster. Down-town Boston is quite busy, even at night.

Los Angeles

Playa del Rey. Funny beach. When I was there a rock band was playing for kids and pensioners. Beer was for free, or you could pay whatever you liked....I can't say much more about LA, have only been around LAX Airport.

New York

The big apple is defenetly not just another city. It is the city. A big plus is that you don't need a car. The underground transport system is as extensive as the ones in London and Paris. Stroll along the Broadway or through Central Park. Climb the Empire State Building. Spend a few hours in Guggenheim museum. Don't miss an excursion to liberty island from where you can take pictures of the skyline of Manhattan.
Take care when taking a cab from and to the JFK airport. On the way from the airport we were not taking a yellow cab but a limousine instead which cost us a fortune. To get back to the airport we took a yellow cab but were stuck in the traffic jam for two hours. It cost us a fortune again.

Phoenix

Widespread. Downtown is small and just lively during business-hours. Wild western style landscape around Phoenix.

Florida

The tropical part of the United States. Have a swim in the nicely tempered Caribean sea. Stroll along beach-front of Miami Beach in the evening hours. An excursion to the keys as far as Key West is highly recommended.

Miami Beach is a good place for a few days on the beach. You can do day excursions to the keys.

...is the beach resort of St.Petersburg. It's rather quiet. All Suite Motel is situated at the laguna which is separated by a dam from the Golf. An appartment for 4 people costs 800 USD a week. Further north is Clearwater beach which is very crowded.

A characteristic American city. Some office towers in the center, no pedestrians, no life.

Florida aquarium is the place to go on a rainy day. Everything is inside a building. You start on the top floor where a reconstruction of the Everglades is exposed. Highlights are the massive coral reefs. You can even touch sharks doing their rounds in a swimming pool.

A day excursion from St.Pete. It costs 50 USD a person which is fairly ok. Magic Kindom is even a pleasure for adult children. Be prepared to queue up for up to an hour to enter an attraction.

Once upon a time ... - New York

Mrs.America - New York

Magic Kingdom - Orlando