Back in Australia now, being serenaded by bird songs as the day dawns. The large numbers of wild birds that this country has is a true blessing.
We didn’t blog the last couple of days in Nyorlins for several reasons: number one we were pretty tired at that stage, a week in a crazy city like that is exhausting! Secondly we spent the final two days either riding in streetcars (trams) and viewing the city we hadn’t experienced yet, or driving in a zig zag pattern around the one way back streets viewing the pretty architecture and the outrageous colours that they have been painted. We speculated on why the house owners might have chosen selections such as orange walls with pink and lime trimmings, and could only come up with “Well, no one else on the street has it!” as a reasonable answer. Boring is not something that is common in Nyorlins.
Finally, our lack of bloggage was really down to the utter exhaustion we felt that was brought on by so many late nights ricochetting from one music establishment to another, groovin’ on the different jazz and blues styles that we came across. The live music in Nyorlins is amazing, it is a community that is rightfully proud of its fabulous jazz and blues heritage, and musicians are encouraged and promoted in so many ways.
We rode a couple of the streetcars from one end to another, viewing the scenery and the people that utilise them. Although the benches were wooden they were quite comfortable to perch upon and soak up the views outside the nice and clean glass windows. Nyorlins was going through an unusual heat wave during our stay (lucky for us) and the streetcars were all air conditioned, so we remained comfortable within their confines.
What follows a few Odd and Quirky Observations on the US:
*Before coming we were warned that ‘Everything is Big’ in the US. For example Big meals: After a feed you need to take the leftovers (called a ‘box’ not a ‘doggie bag’) home for lunch the next day. Goodness gracious, who needs to super-size? Getting a full tummy was not a problem that we encountered, even pastries were often much larger than what we were used to.
*Monster trucks: they take it to the extreme on a regular basis, lots of lo-o-ong, broad and high pickups (utes) sporting wide dual tyres on the back and throbbing V8 motors under the bonnet. Often the wheels were so big, and projected so far out from the mudguards, that they sprayed mud up the side panels. Outrageously enormous vehicles are extremely common, probably because the roads are so wide and gas (petrol) is so cheap. We paid about an average of US$1.30 per gallon (aprox 80 cents per litre Australian) whilst travelling right across the country. In Lafayette one person commented on our ‘small’ Toyota Camry and how economical it must be! Gosh, and there we were thinking that Mary car was a big guzzler!
*In our travels around the world we have encountered a variety of toilets, encompassing the indescribable abominations of Vietnam to the sordid holes in the ground of Italy and Africa. But to sit on an otherwise civilised porcelain throne and have a gentleman’s equipment dip surprisingly into the cold and unsavoury water lurking a mere centimetre or so below one’s bottom is an unpleasant and shocking experience indeed. It took Rod some time to get used to the large reservoirs held just beneath the seat.
*Disposable plastic: this is the only place we’ve encountered where each and every disposable cup – be it plastic or paper – is wrapped in its own individual little plastic bag to tear open and throw away! Effectively doubling the environmental problem! To compound it most of the motels we stayed in for breakfast used disposable plastic knives, forks and spoons as well as plastic bowls and plates! What’s wrong with washing dishes for goodness’ sake? Plus, it does look so incredibly tacky.
*We were often asked “Where you from? England?” to which we reply “No, Australia.” One person then answered us with “So that’s why you are easier to understand!”
*Advertising: in the US it is something of an eye-opener. The most commonly seen road side billboards are for rather unsavoury ambulance-chaser lawyers, frequently inquiring of the reader “Injured?” Some specialise in oil-rig injuries, others 18-wheeler accidents, others do class actions. It’s quite creepy. We saw whole suburban streets taken up by law firms advertising how to blame someone else for your own actions. Litigation, it seems, is very common and very lucrative.
TV ads are phenomenal, lots of ambulance chasers constantly plugging class action litigation for glyphosphate exposure, mesothelioma, etc, etc. But the drug companies were a big surprise with their prolific hard sell of lots of chemicals for diabetes, MS, weight loss, botox, multiple forms of cancers, and plenty of medical conditions that we knew nothing about. Doctors are so expensive that people must be forced to self medicate. Also using up lots of air time were loan shark ads extolling their ‘gifts’ of FREE MONEY!
*Sugar: oh my goodness gracious me most foods are packed heavily with the stuff. It takes a lot of ingredients list reading to buy something that is not riddled with the wicked substance.
*Coffee: over on the West coast San Francisco had fairly reasonable stuff, but purchasing a cup of coffee whilst travelling across the country was an unpleasant experience. Weak and insipid, tasting only just a tiny bit like coffee, each coming with eensy little disposable packs of ‘creamer’ (labelled half and half) instead of milk. Rod had to open and then throw away about four disposable packs to colour his weak cups of strange and insipid fluid. Luckily, in Nyorlins the coffees were often more acceptable, but to be on the safe side, Rod took no chances and brewed his own back at our little house. He has been spoilt by good Greek and Turkish coffees whilst on other adventures. And getting a cup of tea for Georgie was nigh on impossible in some places. Iced tea not a problem but hot tea was quite a challenge.