What is it about this country? Seems like so many people wanna be here. But is it really that different than, let’s say, AUSTRIA??
The truth is, it IS. I’m never gonna be able to explain why, because you just have to see and live it yourself, but I can give you some sort of idea…
One of th most surprising and unusual thing’s I’ve ever done: a DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT. You just pull up with you’re car, open your window, some nice and good-looking young ladies bring you the menu (typical American food: burgers, sandwiches, salads, quesadillas *yum* and hot dogs, …), take your order and put some sort of tray on your window where they place the food. It’s quick and it’s fun, and that particular one was REALLY good. And cheap. While I really enjoy going out for dinner and even spending some money (treating myself…) I thought it was a great thing to do, especially with the kids, and it’s not fast food, yet it’s fast. You can even put on a DVD or listen to the radio while eating – really nice idea. You could probably make a lot of money with something like that in Austria =)
Parades… Americans throw a parade for EVERY occasion that you could think of. This picture was taken in Disney World, Orlando, where they have them all day long. which, to a degree, is reasonable. But there’s parades on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Saint Patricks Day, the Mermaid Parade, The Gay and Lesbian Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade – and plenty more. I don’t like to watch them because I always think they’re rather boring, you just stand there and watch, but Americans seem to enjoy them because they can’t have a single holiday or some sort of special day without a parade =) I don’t recall parades being popular in Austria…
And of course the parade is just part of promoting and marketing all those holidays – decoration at christmas time is crazy, I didn’t get any good shots though, I hope I’ll be able to post some next christmas.. And I’ve never felt so lonely as on my first valentine’s day in the US, simply EVERYTHING is covered with hearts and pink and balloons… Americans just make a big thing out of every special day, there’s no way you could miss one because they have reminders all over the place. which is nice =) why the hell not?! always looking for a reason to party (or making money…. NOOOO let’s not be sarcastic!)
No, this picture was NOT taken in an amusement park, that Ferris wheel is in the middle of the TOYS-R-Us store on Times Square in New York. I was thrilled when I saw it for the first time… I never went on it though, there’s always a loooong long line. I think it’s very futuristic!! And not only appealing for kids =)
Baseball. Not just baseball itself, also those batting cages – I just HAD to try that. And let me tell you something – I totally sucked… But it was a lot of fun!! I just view it as a very american thing to do =)
That “grandpa” was rollerskating in central park – some kind of event, it was hysterical. They had music from like the 70s, 80s and he was dancing like a maniac, everyone was watching him, i should have filmed it! That guy was a blast!!
And the other thing that I think is typical for America is Roller Skating Rinks. There is one closeby, but it seems like nobody wants to go there with me… I think it would be so much fun, real old school =) I’ll check it out some day!!
One of my favourite things to do on a friday night: The Drive-In Movie Theater. Luckily, there are two in this area, and it’s AWESOME!!!! You can grab a pizza and some drinks on your way there, it’s really cheap (cheaper than a regular movie theater, and you can watch 2 movies for 1 price!!) and you just hang out in your car, bring blankets, the sound is coming out of your radio – put your seat back and relax! Or some people park their car backwards and open the trunk – everybody has those huge cars: trucks and vans, so that’s really convenient! And there’s nothing better than watching a movie while seeing the stars!! how romantic, haha =)
Now of course, that had to come… Fast food. ALL OVER THE PLACE!! We found that huge “M” at “Downtown Disney” in Orlando and had a photo shooting there, haha! The people there were kind of making fun of us, but who cares… It’s interesting that I used to enjoy going to Mc Donalds every once in a while back in Austria, but now I absolutely disgust all those fast food places. Probably because yo can’t go anywhere without being blinded by those bright signs for Mc’ Donalds, BK, Wendy’s and all the other ones. I can’t even eat french fries anymore. But it’s just part of America, so for those who like it: Enjoy. You’ll have plenty to choose from!
And finally for today: Views like that. I took this picture out of the car while crossing the Hudson river on the George Washington bridge, and it’s just one out of hundreds of really stunning pictures I have – in fact, it’s even one of the worse ones, that moment just ment a lot to me and i thought i lost that picture, that’s why i chose it.. Everytime I go to New York I wait for that view. I see the skyline of Manhattan out of the train (or the car), and my heart starts beating a little bit faster, there’s just no other place like New York. I love it! And I’m speechless.
I’m gonna sleep now, and you have no idea what it means to me knowing that I’m gonna wake up and still be here. No offense you guys in Austria, but I don’t wanna go home, I just love it here. Well I do miss you of course, but I know you’re gonna wait for me =) There’s so much left for me to see, and those are just some of the things that make America special for me. I’ll probablt never find the right words to explain what it is that keeps me here, but trust me, I don’t wanna be anywhere else right now. Hugs and kisses to everybody back home!!
