Cygnuss Blog on RealTravel

District of Columbia journal: Urban atmosphere

Tue, 09 May 2006 03:31:27 GMT

This was the first big city I saw since I went on my little trip. And I kind of missed it. The feeling that there are lots of people around all the time.

The first day I was overwhelmed by the hostel (more like apartment) I stayed in. I went for a cheap place that turned out to be in a pretty scary neighbourhood (the sign on the school across the street said "DRUG FREE ZONE"...).

On the second day, I picked myself together and went walking around in the city center. Huge buildings, huge streets. Everything is big and green :)

Virginia Beach journal: One closed hostel, and a nice beach.

Tue, 09 May 2006 03:16:55 GMT

After a 16 hours bus ride from St. Augustine, all I could say was "beach". So I walked from the bus station to the beach. Preety cheap of me, I know.. 20 minutes and I got to the beach. Sand at last. I put down my backpack and watched what was left of the sunrise. People were starting to get to the beach, jogging, walking with dogs, themselves, and metal detectors (?).

I took my backpack and headed off to the only hostel I could find over the Internet. Stupidly enough I decided not to call and reserve a place in the hostel. So when I got there, it was still too early in the morning and ...

Saint Augustine journal: A beautiful small town.

Tue, 09 May 2006 02:59:33 GMT

I got to St. Augustine by Greyhound - and again, the bus rides are really ok. They are comfortable although sometimes long and are also quite cheap.

The Greyhound clerk was kind enough to call a cab for me. As I was waiting for it I went outside to breath some air. Next to me was a lady, standing and talking on the payphone. Her dog was sitting beside her, a nice big dog. I love dogs, so I reached out my hand and pet her dog. She turned away from the phone to me and started shouting "What the hell are you doing ?! Who the fuck do you think you are ?!". "I just pet your dog" I stuttered. ...

Miami Beach journal: Sunshine for the people !

Tue, 09 May 2006 02:16:43 GMT

Miami Beach is not a quiet place in any way. But even this 24/7 place has some spots you can find quite and peace in. I found my peace in the beach - just laying around on the sand warming up, breathing the ocean. And also just walking around, finding some peace in my iPod :-p.

There's a nice Irish Pub on Lincoln Rd - a nice street by itself, always full on people, stores and of course - sunshine :)

I found a surf shop on Washington Ave. that takes you for dives in one of the Florida Keys. Since I have no qualification for diving, I took the introduction dive. They take you to a ...

Saint Augustine journal: Perfect.

Sun, 07 May 2006 12:40:19 GMT

Clean and spaced rooms, nice staff, free pancakes breakfast :)

Don't miss the World Map near the kitchen - it's interesting.

Kissimmee journal: A bed. Thats about it.

Sun, 07 May 2006 12:23:52 GMT

Well, there is nothing to do in Kissimmee except sleep on the way to Disney World or Universal Studios. Really. I stayed in a place, set on a main road. I like walking, feeling the city/town with my feet, just being there. But all I could find there was a Publix (supermarket) accross the road, a TGI Friday 15 minutes away and a bunch of other hotels/motels. Oh, and a bus station that gets you to Orlando (an hour and a half).

Clearwater Beach journal: It's quiet. Almost too quiet.

Sun, 07 May 2006 12:06:02 GMT

I took the Greyhound bus from Miami to Clearwater. Quite a long ride (though not the longest), but all in all it was really ok. Seats are comfortable, quite a few stops along the way to streach up.

In Clearwater, I met a guy who calls himself Jesus-Fish. He was quite a preacher at the beginning, but he was a nice guy. He accompanied me to the Clearwater Beach hostel and I accompanied him to the beach, where he slept. He introduced me to his homeless friends over there, and one of them even played a tape with songs in Hebrew (what a small world..).

Other than that, nothing really ...

United States journal: A short, sudden trip in the US

Sun, 07 May 2006 08:35:21 GMT

It started because another thing ended. You know what they say, every ending is a new beginning..