So, back to the trip of my life. It’s actually a Summer job I have been doing during the last seven Summers, but this time the destination was USA and a three week trip in a van from LA to NYC. It is everyone’s dream trip, I’d say and I am so happy I can now check it from my list over things to do before I die. 

We (me, an American guide and 12 Swedish students) set out from Stockholm July 6th and arrived in LA early that evening. Next day included a trip to Disneyland and Santa Monica. Next morning a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills before we headed up to Las Vegas. Now, we had a quite busy schedule and the goal was to see and experience as much as possible in three weeks, which ment that we didn’t stay long in each place we came to. Of course there were times we wanted to stay longer at stops, but we all liked the idea of keeping the pace in order to see as much as possible. 

From Las Vegas we continued our trip to Grand Canyon where we stayed for two nights. A day of hiking and helicopter touring over the canyon - insanely magic! From Grand Canyon south to Monument Valley in Utah and a VIP jeep tour of the Navajo reservation. To me this was one of the highlights of the entire trip. Watching the sun rise early in the morning over the rocky plains was magical. 

Onwards to Santa Fe, Roswell and New Orleans where we stayed for two nights. New Orleans is what I expected - wonderful. I wish I could go back, and I will, without the students, to indulge myself in music, the relaxed atmosphere and the food. I loved every second of New Orleans. The alligator tour in the Louisiana swamps was highly appreciated as well. 

Continued to Memphis and Nashville and Washington DC, where we made a two night stop. DC is pretty cool, I have to say. I didn’t appreciate the monuments and the memorials as much as the American tourists on site, though. Again, this is my idea of US politics talking again. 

Last night of the trip was spent in NYC with one full day of city exploring. I had plans to go see Statue of Liberty and all those sites, but I totally scrapped those things and instead I focused on experience the NYC atmosphere. A walk on Wall Street, China town, Soho and Broadway turned out to be the perfect way to spend a day in NYC. And I will never forget those noodles I had at a little restaurant on uptown Broadway, named Sookk. I tell you, those noodles were the best I have ever had!

That’s it. Three weeks on the road in USA in a short blog post. Of course I could keep telling you about this trip for ages, but I doubt it would interest you. I am still puzzled about a couple of things about the US:

- why isn’t tax included in the labeled price? Ridiculous.

- what’s up with all the tipping? 

- what’s up with the coins, no numbers? Annoying! And those 1 cent coins….arrrrgh!

I gotta go back. Soon.