Trip to USA

[Unicorn]

Good to see you back safe and sound Jeff.

Sounds like you had a great time!

[trout]

:welcome:
Welcome back Jeff.
Finally finding the right beer overseas is a very  special moment :angel::yahoo:

[Robster]

Welcome back!

[JeffH]

DENVER MINT TOUR
This is a must if you ever visit Denver. Even people with no numismatic interest will find it worthwhile.
As mentioned to me early in this thread a reservation is a must and you need to know the procedure and requirements;
•bookings open at midnight, 30 days prior to any date and are usually filled within minutes so get in early. If your desired dates are fully booked then keep coming back and checking -we obtained three places on one of our desired days just one day prior even though it kept coming up as none available for weeks beforehand. Be prepared to be flexible with time of visit -a tour happens every hour.
•They take security very seriously (place is crawling with armed Mint police*) and every visitor is subject to a full security check/x-ray scan (and their scanners are much more sensitive than airport scanners).
•You will be denied admittance if you are carrying any sort of handbag or package too big to fit in your pocket -no exceptions. They do not have lockers available for storage.
•Cameras and phones must be turned off. Any attempt to take a photo will see you summarily (but politely#) ejected from the building.
That all sounds rather negative but the tour is comprehensive and the guides very friendly and knowledgeable. Every tour visitor receives a free sample (see photo below).
After the tour, visit the gift shop to make purchases of souvenirs and usual mint products. Do put a note, or two, in the change machine to get the most recently minted quarters. Where else would you get UNC, 2016 America the Beautiful quarters at face? §

Every visitor on a mint tour is given a 1¢ planchet and newly minted coin.

OLD NEW ORLEANS MINT
In contrast you can just walk in anytime and peruse the museum. It was closed for most of the civil wat but did also produce Confederacy currency for a short period. After decommissioning in 1909 it was used as a Federal prison until 1943. Now, as well as being a mint museum it also is a musical museum and the venue for jazz concerts.
A visit is recommended if ever you visit New Orleans (add to a very long list of other must see/do things there).

§Dollar coins are almost never seen in circulation and many banks will not even have them (Americans love their 'greenbacks" and just won't accept dollar coins). We found, at a parking station in Denver -parked there just a block away from the Mint- that the payment machine gives change in dollar coins. Put $20 in notes in for a $12 charge and received eight dollar coins change and seven of them around UNC.

#Politeness seems to be an American obsession. Even beggars, and there are many in some inner city areas, will accept a rejection politely and some even wish you a nice day even though you gave them nothing. If you do give a beggar something the thanks are effusive and you almost feel embarrassed you didn't give them more.

*Every Government organisation in the US seems to have its own police force and you will see many different types of police officers on the streets. We saw police on foot, horses, segways, bicycles, motorcycles (HD of course) and driving a large variety of vehicles. There is a large presence of them on the streets and they are very approachable and friendly -a pair of mounted police in Bourbon Street, New Orleans happily posed for snaps with passers by.

Finally finding the right beer overseas is a very special moment

Well for me if it is cold and amber, has froth and is made from malted barley (wheat also acceptable), hops and yeast it is right. That said some are much more right than others.

Sighted in Tijuana, Mexico. We visited there our penultimate day -a 30 minute trolley (tram) ride from downtown San Diego.

We had a tequila tasting (free) there and bought a couple of bottles. The fellow who ran out the front with the sign as we approached was not Victor but his son.

Snapped out the window of the trolley on the way to San Ysidro (just other side of the border from Tijuana).

Apparently some parts of San Diego are infested with shops supplying "medical" marijuana.

[Pedro]

Welcome home Jeff! Sounds like you had a great time.

Pedro

[triplewitch]

Many smoke shops in California advertise that 'the doctor is in'.

[ausjack]

:shock:
:mocking: So what one's are the good one :winkextra: Just joking John :friends:

[JeffH]

Banksy was here. A street corner in New Orleans.

Speaking of corners, we were standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona (as you do) when....

We decided to have lunch in the retro diner there.


On the opposite corner -check the reflection in the window- is

Now can you guess what road traverses Winslow?

You did say Route 66 didn't you? Bobby Troup wrote the song.

On the other two corners of this intersection are souvenir shops imaginatively named "Standin' on the Corner" and "Taking it Easy".
What a coincidence! Take it Easy

[ausjack]

So did you have a coke
:swoon: OMG so they don't have curtains in the US :winkextra:
Nice pic's Jeff :good:
Do you have a zoomed in piccy :blush2:

[JeffH]

I tasted coke once, many years ago and have never, ever had another one since.
Zoomed in on what?

[Unicorn]

Great pics Jeff!  Such a fine sight to see ....

[JeffH]

OK; just guessing which one AJ wants to zoom in on. He will surely tell me if my guess is wrong.

P.S. I drank lemonade. They do make really good lemonade in the states.

[ausjack]

Above here :winkextra:

That's what I meant by don't they have curtains over there :shock:
But the blondie looks ok :drooling:

[JeffH]

You peeping tom you. They do have curtains but closing them is optional.

[ausjack]

You told me to look in the window so I did and now I'm in knee deep shit as usual , ahh all good just water off a McDucks back :laugh2: Besides I can't help it if I'm observant :blush2:
:blink: You should have hung around for the show :laugh2: