Edmonds Blog on RealTravel

Calgary journal: It's a Zoo in Calgary

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:42:46 GMT

Stayed with Marin's friends Doug and Ginny in Calgary and got an upclose and personal tour for the Calgary zoo from a zookeeper friend Jolene.

Vancouver journal: Vancouver + Beckham + Streaker

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:05:18 GMT

Went to Vancouver. Stayed to watch David Beckham play soccer. Average game except for the streaker. Got a free breakfast for my birthday.

Grand Canyon National Park journal: Grand Canyon

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:47:19 GMT

RUTHLESS CANYON

So I’m at the Grand Canyon enjoying the view. I asked this guy to take my picture. He was all fancy photographer like, “Oh yeah that’s a good one. Turn that way. Yeah that’s it. This is a good shot….” Then he dropped my 5+ year old camera! It was an accident; I let him run off embarrassed.

I took a very educational tour and learnt about the different plant life that survives at various elevations at the canyon. While on tour I met some folks who were on a travelling bus tour. I was invited to camp with them, so I bore the cold for 2 days at 7000 feet above sea level ...

Ensenada journal: Back to the border through Ensenada

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:16:34 GMT

Dirk's camera broke. We suspect dust in the lens as the telescopic part is possibly not opening far enough. We stopped off in Ensenada to price cameras. Maybe things are cheaper in southern Mexico, but many items and food are about the same price or more when compared to the US or Canada.

Erendira journal: Surfer's Paradise in Baja California

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:05:41 GMT

We decided that Tijuana is not the place to stay, but this hostel down south would be cool. It was quite a drive down a road in various stages of disrepair. Made us 2nd and 3rd guessed our decision a few times.

We decided to sleep in the hostel for $15 ($13 after or Hostelling International discount) instead of camping out in the cold for $10. Yup, it's even a bit cold there.

Met some interesting folks there. A Swedish guy who backpacked across South America and is now in Mexico with his Chilean girlfriend (from Easter Island to be exact). A travelling private high school. ...

Tijuana journal: Tijuana!

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:52:38 GMT

From the second we crossed the border, it was clear that we were in a different country. We went to the immigration so Dirk could get a visitors stamp, they searched our trunk then ignored us!

Anyway we managed to tour the city where the toilets hardly work, and either people are trying to sell you something, or begging in every corner.

San Diego journal: San Diego, California

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:55:46 GMT

The drive to San Diego took quite a bit from my car as I was going up and down the mountain, reaching as high as 5000 feet. A similar ordeal ensues when I went to the beach as I had to climb down and up some very steep hills.

After sleeping in my car for a couple of nights, I decided to sleep in a hostel to a) get a good night's rest, and b) meet some friendly travellers. A resounding success on both fronts as I met a German guy, Dirk, who I will eventually travel to Baja California, Mexico with.

Dirk and I spent Friday night with couch surfer invitee Brittney and her boyfriend ...

Tucson journal: Arizona Desert

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:28:51 GMT

Drove through the desert. Did however find the plant life there quite interesting. Surprised to see the number of species that survive on little water.

Truth Or Consequences journal: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:16:37 GMT

Visited a hot spring in Truth or Consequences (actual name of the town). A local described it as the weird part of New Mexico.

Ciudad Juarez journal: First stop in Mexico

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:34:38 GMT

Drive about 9 hours straight, only stopping for gas and to grab a snack. Supposed to meet a couch surfer and her friend and drive to Chihuahua to party it up all weekend.

Been trying to call her with no success, but email works. So I crossed the border into Mexico. Stopped to get a calling card to call on a Mexican pay phone, nothing. Went to the farmacia to see if they have a phone I could use, nothing. Came back, my car won't start!

Anyway, lots of local guys were very helpful. But I had to eventually tell my couch surfer to go on and have fun without me. Operated on my ...

New Orleans journal: Partying it up in New Orleans

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:59:03 GMT

The first thing I saw as I entered New Orleans were that every one of this insect was paired up and mating. I knew I was in the right place!

Met a couple for excellent couch surfers in Heather and Casey, and their equally excellent roomate John and they're super friends. We went for a night on the town, and they threw a huge block party the following night.

During the day I checked out the culture of street performers, the boats on the Mississippi River, the Haunted House and Vapire Tours (where I heard some of the best story telling I've ever heard), and then I attended a local ...

Jackson journal: Jackson, Mississippi

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:44:51 GMT

Drove through the tail end of Hurricane Humberto to checked out the Mississippi Museum of Art. They had a student playing classical music in the atrium. Then I went to the closed Sports Hall of Fame. However, some logo company rented out room so I went into their function and acquired some participation gifts :).

I met my first couch surfer here. Stacey, a local lawyer moving to NY soon, called after I got a hotel, so I didn't need her couch. We went to check out the bars that only the locals frequent. Here we saw some dumb people doing some stupid things. On one occasion, guys ...

Memphis journal: Graceland in Memphis

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:21:29 GMT

Decided to check out Graceland, Elvis Presley's home. I certainly stuck out in that crowd! Also what stuck out was the lack of evidence of Fat Elvis.

Orlando journal: Universal Studios, Orlando

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:53:38 GMT

Hotel 8 was a smelly roach motel.

We got an opportunity to save some $130 US on Universal Studio tickets if we spent 90 mins listening to a presentation. Took us nearly 2.5 hours, but it was an excellent presentation by Westgate Resorts (really nice Five Star timeshares), but I’m proud to say that we didn’t buy.

Took the rest of the day to see the shows at Universal Studios. After waiting possibly over an hour to see Jaws, we lucked out with an excellent tour guide who made that show my favourite.

Said goodbye to family. Met a friend who has his a successful one man steel ...

Nashville journal: Nashville, Tennessee

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:46:38 GMT

Actually it's kinda boring here. No special Sept. 11th ceremony. Dollywood turns out to be just an amusement park so I skipped it. The Grand Ole Opry was sold out.

I did managed to have a nice dinner and enjoy some Jazz at B B Kings. Then I went to Coyote Ugly where the waitresses and other female patrons dance on the bar. There's even a collection of bras hanging on the rafters. But the most intersting part of all was an African girl singing country music so well that if you closed your eyes you would think it's a Dixie Chick.

Montgomery journal: Mongomery, Alabama

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:40:14 GMT

Surprisingly, most of the cheaper hotels/motels seemed to be owned by East Indians.

Visited the Rosa Parks Museum.

Went to a cave used by the natives as a burial site, and then by Americans during prohibition to make moonshine. The cave had this ridiculous light show with a narration that pretty much said that God made everything happen. Then the tour guide made a wise crack about evolution. I was actually happy to hear it, 'cause it confirmed that I'm in a different part of the world.

At a gas station, a couple of ladies openly flirted with me saying that I'm cute. One ...

Key West journal: Key West

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:02:36 GMT

Clubbing

Clubbing here is so sexually charged with foreigners, locals who enjoy foreigners, and the ease of bar hopping in which you can walk from bar to bar with your drinks in your hand (predominantly in Key West), that it's almost impossible for someone looking for some action to not get some. And most of the people who come to the clubs here are looking for some version of “gaiety”. So if you're into slow talking, chain smoking, ditsy alcoholics, free lays all around.

I spent most of my engaged clubbing time in Key West with two mature island chaps, one from St. Thomas the ...

Miami Beach journal: South Beach, Miami

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:37:33 GMT

Kiran visited. When we were not bickering, our favourite past time, we clubbed in South Beach at the ever popular “Mango”, which lived up to the hype with the staff (men and women) taking turns dancing on the bar to an excellent live band, plus there was a Latin dancing room.

We also drove to Coral Gables to see homes and a water park made from coral, visited Palm Beach, took an airboat through the everglades and saw alligators, turtles and birds which came fearlessly close to the boat.

Longboat Key journal: Longboat, near Sarasota

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:27:58 GMT

Hung out with Chris and his folks. Spent a lot of time on the beach as well as played board games and cards.

Chris and I were going to go sailing, but there is no wind. I did enjoy being lunging distance from a very large stork and a pelican.

Miami journal: Miami

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:23:52 GMT

Nostalgia

From the time I entered South Florida it reminded me of my native land aka Guyana. Palm trees, agreeable weather (oddly enough I don't feel uncomfortably hot, though I did perspire inexorably), and populace that move in slow motion. Except for the bartenders, everyone seems to take their precious time to do everything.

You know how I feel about music (anything to stupid to be said is sung), but I soften up on this stance when it be fitting. On the drive I listened to two of my favourite genres on the radio: country and reggae (pre Shaggy). Maybe it's because my dad ...

Myrtle Beach journal: Myrtle Beach & Hitchhiker

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:10:13 GMT

Just a regular beach.

Some guy's van broke down and a caretake at the rest area asked me if I could drive him to Stanford Airport so he could make his flight. I offerred to Drive him as far a Daytona, but ending up driving him a lot further. He wasn't very good company. Another American with little knowledge of the world outside his work and family.

Titusville journal: Kennedy Space Centre (Center)

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:01:33 GMT

Went to check out the Kennedy Space Centre (Center), but didn't want to spend $40 on a tour by myself. Took some pictures of the outside of the building. As a funny side note, my navigation system kept trying to take me through restricted areas.

Emporia journal: Jellystone Park

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:36:09 GMT

Saw Jellystone Park camping area while driving. Decided to make use of the tent I have in my trunk. Got an oppertunity to talk to some Southerners who are proud of that they vote Republilcan, yet admit that they don't follow politics and have no opinion on the matter other than "I like Bush because he is a Christian".

Niagara Falls journal: Waiting 3 hours at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:16:39 GMT

Like I said, I waited 3 hours at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. One lady got out of her taxi and decided to walk across the border so that she could make her flight out of Buffalo.

New Jersey journal: New Jersey

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:15:25 GMT

After heavy tolls, getting off at the wrong exit and wasting an hour getting back on track, Atlantic City was quite a bore. Unless you're into gambling and Wayne Newton (the performer this weekend I believe) there isn't much to do. I did however find a nice conservation area and beach to get away from the traffic and bright lights.

Queens journal: Back to NY to meet the family

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:57:11 GMT

I stayed a little longer in NY to meet up with my cousin and her family members that I've only seen once in about 17 years!

Also spend $200 US on a GPS naviation system after all the hassle with getting lost in NY. It's made a big difference in improving the enjoyment of my road trip thus far :).

New York journal: NYC - Ole High School Friends

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:18:58 GMT

Finally met up with my High School Friends from Guyana. Went to two birthday parties. Did a lot of catching up, while sitting and eating.

Went to Manhattan on Aug 7th to have lunch with Denny, see the sights around Times Square, Hostel locating to get a map book, Museum of Natural History, Central Park, then with to the Laugh Factory with Abena.

Aug 8 had a rain storm that caused traffic daymare. Followed by a heat wave that had me sweating out all the birthday cakes. Figure I'll take it easy today and plan some more of my trip.

North America journal: North American Road Trip

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:59:45 GMT

Quit my job with the intention of driving around the US, Canada and hopefully Mexico looking for fun and educational experiences.