How to Spend A Week in LA

It seems like the "Southern Sun" is so far away already. That it's been ages since we've left New York on July 1st. Well, true, it is like 8000 Miles away (still can't believe that I've crossed the whole country). But still. It also seems just like yesterday that we've said our Good-Byes. But really, it's only one week since. But I guess that's how it goes when you spend time away and experience and see so much.

I'm in Cali for one week now and again, it seems like it's been forever. We've done so much. Been to like almost every Amusement Park there is (Universal Studios, Sea World, Disneyland). Hit the Beach several times. I even biked there. Yes, while eating all this American food (just remembering Georgia now, huh, Becca ;)), I just HAVE to do some exercise, don't I :) I'm actually having the whole "Beach-Experience" here. Meeting Hot Dogs there (how weird is America *lol*), just strolling along, not lasting too long, cause I was hungry :) Imagine, a Hot Dog walking at the beach. Now, did ayone of you ever experience that? I guess not. But that's what you get here in Cali. And so much more ... Boogie Boarding (my first but prob not my last try). Getting Face Paintings plus Tattooes (you 'll figure out for yourselves if it's a real one or not ;)). Being pampered with a Pedi-and a Mancure. Eating Dippin Dots. Shopping a whole whole lot (kinda fell in love with Hollister). Being "kissded" soooo many times. And dancing the nights away with my Texan Cowboy Boots. I really have to start with Line Dance Lessons when I get back home.

So you see. One never gets bored during a week of "Dani California". Thank you soooooooo very much for everything, Teresa, Derek, Teri and Liana (I'm gonna miss those kisses, actually :)) So very grateful for ever and always! Thanks!!! But it's time now to get on the road again. Move on. Next destination: San Francisco. And those flowers are ready to being worn.

The pics of the "Southern Sun" are up now. Just go to ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielle_76/sets/72157620558398019

Playing Cool @ Disneyland

Huntington State Beach

Again, at the beach

Playing Hunchback up at Griffith Observatory

The Del Rosario Bunch

On the road again.
Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again.
And I can't wait to get on the road again.

~ Willie Nelson ~

Tales of Canyons, Heat and Dancing Shoes

Before I get into the Texan heat and the amazing wonders of Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon ... I completely forgot to tell what I have been eating in New Orleans. Yeah, I do admit, I did have Alligator. Just as an appetizer though. Really doesn't taste any different from chicken. There you go, this is my confession of the day. But doesn't really mean I'm going to eat everything that crawls and is alive from now on :)

Back to the State of Texas (Yehaw! :)). After being swamped in Louisiana we headed straight into "The Lonestar State". Which took us like four days to cross (as it is the 2nd biggest state, behind Alaska). Four days of heat (I'm really not exaggerating, it's getting hotter and hotter here), dust, dancing in my new Cowboy Boots to Country Music (yep, I got them and lovin' them as much as to wear them day and night :)), a drive-in cinema which left us hangover as a preparation for Vegas, Bowling (I'm such a loser in this game), plus some chilling in the Schlitterbahn (a Water Park). It got even chillier when we crossed boarders to New Mexico. Those Carlsbad Caverns were a real nice treat after days of heat and sweat. New Mexico came and passed, us already anxious to see some of the most amazing monuments nature has to offer: Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. You can't really try to put into words what you are feeling when you stand there in awe. A magnificent splendor. Nature at it's best. And you can barely grasp the beauty of it all. Especially not in a picture. Well, I've tried my best. But I guess Ive failed at some point. Best, you go there yourself.
Monument Valley has been traveled by Jeep. Followed by a Navajo Dinner (Navajo Tacos) and a drive back while the monuments were glowing in the most beautiful evening light. With this behind us, the next wonder was just very close ahead. The Grand Canyon. Flying over that hole in the ground with a helicopter and hiking it the next day. Shame on me. But I really didn't make it that far down. Though, I hiked it. Dragged myself. Complained. Nearly passed out and barely made it out of the Canyon. Those are about the adequate words for my Grand Canyon Hiking Experience :))

We're now at Zion National Park. Done some more hiking here (that's about it for me, I can tell ya *lol*). And making our way to Vegas tomorrow. Vegas Baby, here we come! And how do you say ... "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". Let's see what's going to happen there :) Just sayin'. I hear Wedding Bells already ...

Cowgirls in San Antonio - Texas

Carlsbad - New Mexico

Monument Valley

Amazing Grand Canyon

Riverwalking in Zion NP

When your spirit cries for peace, come to a world of canyons deep in an old land,

feel the exultation of high plateaus, the strength of moving waters,

the simplicitiy of sand and grass, the silence of growth.

~ August Frugé ~

Heading West

The Jazz Music of New Orleans fell silent. The craziness of Bourbon Street is still going on (even though we've left :)). The Appalachian Mountains have been passed (but not really seen). The capitol of the US seems so far away already (but actually it's only one week since we've been there). I haven't really been a part of New York yet (just reciting the great Louis Armstrong). More states than I can count (at least six) have already been traveled through. The mosquitos are still v-e-r-y much present (arghhhh!!!). The heat is just unbearable at times. Storms have been driven through. And just all of this happening in only one week of traveling the "Southern Sun". After a tour in the swamps of Louisiana we've now arrived in "Cowboy Territory". Howdy Texas :) My intention for the next 4 days while traveling the big state of Texas is to get some Cowboy Boots. I'll let you know by next time if I've succeeded.

Till then. Safe travels wherever you are!

in front of Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC


Live Jazz Band in New Orleans

Being swamped in Louisiana

The Swamp - Louisiana

Hot Hot Hot

Indeed. It is soooo very hot here in the Carolina States. And as I've already mentioned in the previous Blog, the temperatures of the mountains are dearly missed here. I even dare say that we've become quite attached to the AC. Which is a big thing (if you've read my first Blog). So, the nicely tempered mountains have been left and new roads lead us down to the coast: to Charleston. There we've marveled at the most beautiful and gracious Mansions, took a Carriage Ride to at least get a little breeze at the go and made a stop at Boone Hall Plantation. An estate just miles North of Charleston, where parts of the movie "The Notebook" (yes, I've been "notebooked" and I do love this movie) have been filmed. And stories of the past are being told. On the way along the Carolina Coast we passed Wilmington (I already miss this place,it has grown really strong to my heart). And I've had my first swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Carolina Beach YAY! :) (already looking forward to the one in the Pacific). From there we headed up further North to our next destination: the Carolina Outer Banks. A 2 h ferry ride away from the mainland. Accompanied by some very (food) attached sea gulls :) The Outer Banks are a fragile chain of sand, separated from the shore by the Intercoastal Waterway, but connected by bridges and ferries. Going up North for 100 miles. Out of the 3 lighthouses we've climbed but one. 248 steps up to enjoy the view from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We've made stops at secluded beaches - secluded only from humans. But populated by mosquitoes. Those nasty little suckers only attacked me, cause obviously I have the sweeter blood. Now isn't that sweet ... So after that attack (I'm so itchy right now) I was quite ready to leave the coast and head back inland (good-bye Atlantic Ocean, I'll see you again by the end of summer). To a small town called Chapel Hill. A very dozy one indeed. But a town where the oldest state-run University of the US is located. Another quiet little town is Winston-Salem. Or let me just say Salem. Old Salem. Which ist the historc district of Winston-Salem. The district showcases the culture of the Moravian settlement in North Carolina during the 18th and 19th centuries, re-creating shops, churches and houses. I might add at this point that Liane enjoyed the stay there very much. Really peaceful it has been and a good end to this part of my trip :)

Now, 2000! Miles and only 9 days later we're back in Charlotte, NC. Tomorrow I am leaving for the Big Apple to start "The Southern Sun" with 14 strangers. 3 weeks from now, those strangers won't be so strange anymore and my backpack will be packed with new memories. But as this is mainly a camping trek I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog that much during those 3 weeks. But I'll give my best to at least write something at the 4 hotel stays inbetween. Meanwhile, go have a look at the pictures of my first 2 weeks (seems like I have been here a lot longer) on those Traveling Roads.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielle_76/sets/72157620558398019

Carriage Ride in Charleston, SC

First Swim at Kure Beach, NC

Shells along the Coast

enjoying the view up at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse - Outer Banks, NC

Picture Talking in the Mountains

We've had some fun times up in the mountains and are already missing the cool air here on the South Coast (Charleston and Wilmington - again) But apart from that not much more to say for now. Just have a look at the pics. They sometimes tell more than words can ... I'll make sure to put up some more of those on my Flickr page as soon as I get the time to do so ... which should be the case when I hit LA ground - the latest *lol* Hopefully just kidding. I'll try my best though while being on the road.

CYA :)

misty times at Blue Ridge Parkway (Mount Mitchell)

blue blue roads - Blue Ridge Parkway

Tired after walking for hours :) - Appalachian Trail - Smoky Mtns

Smoky Mountains

Cable Mill - Smoky Mountains

Grotto Falls - Smoky Mountains

No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it.
~ unknown ~

Along with the crazy bit... ehm, bunch

After having been stuffed with all kinds of food (peaches included, of course) in Meansville, Georgia (such a small place, even the guy at customs didn't know of it), it was already time to hit the road to Wilmington, North Carolina. A long drive East, and Becca and me already anxious to meet up with six other SoGoPro supporters. But no need for that really. It seemed like mostly everyone clicked at the first second and became friends by the end of the trip.
We've spent quite a few awesome days - and nights - in this beautiful town just along the Carolina Shores (if anyone should ever come along there, please make sure to make a stop). Great concert (Bibis, you were a blast!). Many visits to the beaches. The possibility to visit the locations and studio where "One Tree Hill" is filmed (thank you so much for that Kelly!). Again, loads of food (I think I've seen the shapes of Chicken Burgers, thanks to Chick fil A, for a while :)). The beautiful sights in town. The very hot outsides of it. The awfully cold insides (man, do I hate those AC's). Nights out and about until the very early hours of the morning (I have such a lack of sleep). And never in my life have I been at a beach at 3 AM, watching filming going on and seeing actors almost get naked. But that's what you get when spending days with 7 crazy girls :)

To sum this up and really get the impression of those days in Wilmington you def have to take a look at the video (great job, Becca!!). Showing the time of our life. Us being Megan from Minnesota, Jac from Canada, Becca and Andrea from Georgia, Kim from Arkansas, Liz from Virginia, Lauren from North Carolina and finally me, the only sane one in this group :)

It's time for me to hit the road again and see what else there is to discover in the Carolina States. Until then.
All the best from Charlotte, NC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmp_-W7AXEw

Stuffed in Georgia

Just a short note to say that I have arrived safely here in the US. The flight was ok. But the customs very horrid. Controls backward and forward. I'm glad this is over with. But I am in now. With chocolate, Swiss Army Knife and everything else too :)
Still getting used again though to the differences once again. Everything's just way bigger (way better, hmmm?) and way colder at times (the AC's on like all the time). And the food, well don't make be get started 0n this. I think I am gaining weight just by talking about it.

After a long road trip East I'm now spending a few days in Wilmington, NC. Updates on how that is going later on.

CYA!