Trip to USA

[JeffH]

Actually I told you to look at the reflection in the window. I thought the upstairs window was a nice touch and wondered how long it would take someone to notice it.

Coming soon some interesting information about coastal California and some great scenery.

[ausjack]

I did look at the reflection but then I was like, hold on :scratch_one-s_head: what the hell :pilot: :kez_15: then thought :scared: should I be looking at this :dontknow::whistle2:

So it's not my fault :angel:
And I bet Uni and Pedro notice but just wanted to see me mention it first because they're such good mates

[Triggersmob]

Welcome home Jeff.
Hope you had a great time.

[duggee27]

welcome back jeff

the u. s. of a. certainly has a variety of things to see and do. we both took different routes , only crossed over in flagstaff i think, and will show and tell different stuff



this is the diner we had breakfast in flagstaff





monument valley -  standing on the spot from where john ford directed his movies and of of course john wayne - am sure i have some sand still in my shoes that ' the duke ' may have stood on

side note: i know that with a selfie you're supposed to be in it, but with this ugly moosh i choose not to scare anyone and spoil the photo totally:angel:

have 1 more night here in NYC before seeing qantas.
also made sure the grandies left nyc for home yesterday, now all i have to do is get to melbourne to visit :yahoo:

[ausjack]

Nice pic duggee and your not that bad mate :blush2:

[Pedro]

And I bet Uni and Pedro notice but just wanted to see me mention it first because they're such good mates

:mocking:

It's taken me this long to work out it was actually painted on :-/

Pedro

[ausjack]

Didn't you find this pic a bit funny how the one in the truck was in the reflection but not in the truck and it's an awfully skinny building

[Robster]

Well painted 'fake window'!

[JeffH]

only crossed over in flagstaff i think

I didn't see you there! You had the right idea to go to a diner for breakfast. If the Americans do one thing well it is breakfast (coffee excepted at most places). Many motels offer a free 'continental' breakfast, not recommended -in the words of 'Crocodile' Dundee "Well, you can live on it, but it tastes like shit."

While in that area did you get to Santa Fe -just down the road (well nearly 400 miles but America is a big country). We called in at Sandia Peak and went to the top on the (aerial) tramway. A hot, spring day at the base and, when we reached the top the wind threatened to blow us off the viewing platform and it started to snow. Spectacular views when not snowing.



Speaking of grandies*, we became grandparents, for the third time, the day before we departed the US. Two boys and now a beautiful girl.

*The Americans are rather intrigued by our habit of abbreviated slang and often adding an 'o' to the end e.g.'arvo'. We had breakfast with our daughter's (now ex) boss and his wife at a cafe in La Jolla (pronouinced La Hoya -Spanish name) the day before leaving. La Jolla (literally 'the jewel') is a very nice place and the cafe had good coffee made with a proper espresso machine -not a tip the beans in the top, place the cup under the spout and press the button affair. (Trivia note; most proper coffee places in the states seem to be operated by ex-pat Australians and new Zealanders, but the Americans are slowly coming around to the idea of drinking decent coffee.)
Anyway, back to the point....Our daughter has spent three years educating her American workmates in Australian slang (even presented them with an Australian slang dictionary as a parting gift) but I was able to give boss a new one to take back to the lab, "stone the crows"!

The Americans also love our accents although they sometimes confuse us with Brits (really). We were often asked what country we are from and they all seem to know Michael J. Dundee and some of our actors who are big time Hollywood stars now. Met very few who have ever visited here (they all expressed desire to return, perhaps we could fit them in our luggage?) and those who had not visited seemed keen on the idea of maybe doing that sometime.

How did you find Las Vegas Duggee? We bypassed there in favour of going to Hoover Dam -time was limited that day and our intention was to see as many 'away from big city' sights as possible and talk to as many 'real' Americans as we could. We did, however, pop off the interstate 25 (on our way to Denver) to have a look at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Quite different to Las Vegas, Nevada I am sure.

[Pedro]

Didn't you find this pic a bit funny how the one in the truck was in the reflection but not in the truck and it's an awfully skinny building

Ah, not the first time through. Skimmed the piccies and knew Winslow, Arizona rang bells in a song but couldn't immediately place it (ie didn't follow Jeff's clues either). Not doing well am I? :blush:  

Wednesday is babysitting granddaughter day and I am claiming that I was distracted.

Pedro

[JeffH]

Your excuse is acceptable. Babysitting grandies can be a very distracting exercise.

That particular display was obviously set up as a tourist magnet.

[ausjack]

Yes your off the hook Pedro as kids can be very distracting to say the least and congrates on the new arrival Jeff So that automatically makes them an yank being born there doesn't it :scratch_one-s_head:

[JeffH]

No, born here while we (grandparents) were there. So no chance of a potential POTUS in our family.
COINS
While on our trip I checked our change each night and pulled out any better looking coins. Every few days did a check of my stash and tossed out excess duplicates.
Statehood and America the Beautiful quarters are very common in circulation so there was a good haul of those.
Here is what I ended up bringing home...

[ausjack]

Pretty shiny shiny's :drooling: got a nice haul there Jeff :good:
:mocking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjsnkIP4ddo

[Pedro]

How did I know that was coming? :laugh2:

Pedro