Welcome to redQueen
USA Baby
April 24th, 2006
I had so much fun in the US that it not only meant I had no time left over while I was there to blog, but there are too many anecdotes for me to coherently combine into any one post. However, I am sure stories and experiences will trickle out over the next few months as I remember them or find the words.
Originally when I told a few people I was going to the US for a month they were surprised I would spend so long there. All I can say is I wish I was there for longer – the landscapes, cities, hospitality and of course the people were fantastic! I would definitely go back, even to Las Vegas.
The two places I would visit time and time again (apart from Austin and SxSW) were San Francisco and New York. These cities were incredibly different but both had a great energy that made every day exciting.
New York is frenetic! Anything you want to do you can do it there – day or night. I was lucky enough to be staying with someone who lived in Manhattan which not only meant he had knowledge of great places to go but was part of a small community that allowed me to see how New Yorkers truly live. I was surprised to discover these strong local communities in a city of millions of people with a reputation for being unfriendly. The best thing about New York however, is everyone fits in whatever your beliefs, profession, background or appearance.
San Francisco is much more relaxed and laid back, something that appealed to me. In the cab from the airport I immediately felt like I was visiting somewhere familiar as we approached SF and that feeling never left me the whole time I was there. “The City” as San Franciscans call it is full of cultural micro-environments – one moment you can be in a street with coffee and clothing shops and by the next block you can be in an area that is run down and has a very different clientele. This all makes for a fascinating city. The nicest thing about SF is that you know those who live there love their city – not in manner where they try to convince you how great it is – just through sharing it with you.
I can’t wait to travel again and the US will definitely be a place I will go back and visit many times.