Day 23, Back on the road again, just saw Austin Texas and San Francisco California

Haven't been able to keep up on my blogs as I would've liked.  Have put most of my attention on Facebook with updating pics and chatting with people. 
So far my favorite overall destination has been San Francisco.  I know, I know, I am biased because I'm a native Californian, but to be honest, the airport was awesome, and the city was spectacular!  So much to see and do, both its natural landscape (bay) was breathtaking and its architectural achievements just as much (Golden Gate Bridge).  Plus the Fisherman's wharf, Ghiradelli Sqaure, Chinatown, and the Financial District were just as cool.  I've been to Alcatrez a couple of times, the famous island that held notorious inmates mainly from the Prohibition era, but its story and as a monument you can touch can't be beat.  Great public transport, my only complaint, it cost me $16 for a roundtrip ticket.  Comparing that with Austin from Yesterday on day 22 or September 29th and I only paid $2 for an all day bus ticket...well just couldn't quite compare. 

Austin was really cool too!  Nestled against a river just to its south, its LBJ museum was one of the best museums I've ever seen.  The university was huge and the state capitol something to be admired.  I had no idea Texas was its own country for 9 years!  No wonder they still want independence! :)  I walked all day and made it to most of the historical sites, but the river walk at the end of my day was probably my favorite.  Quiet with joggers, business people and skullers, the river came alive and made me wish I had a family as the young couples played with their happy children by its edge.  The airport had friendly staff, was newer, and the food reasonably priced.  In fact to be honest, most of the airports that i've been too so far, have been decently priced, even New York!

Long Day in Airports :(

Well today is my long day of airports, slept in Louisana's airport and heading out to JFK in 45 minutes.  But 3 hour layover and don't get in to Raleigh North Carolina till 6:30pm  ahhhhh!  Wish they had an earlier flight out of here as well as a earlier connecting flight, but I've never been to North Carolina and I do have a couch surfing place to stay so that should be cool.  And I do have until 5pm to see it all tomorrow so that should be more than enough time.  Just long day in airports today, got to find something to keep myself occupied :)

Aiport Review-Louisana

Airport a little dated, needs new paint and better seating, seating is hard and uncomfortable, quick in & out of airport, but airport is a ways from town, good public transport for $2 but drops in not so good neighborhood on outskirts of Famous French District, staff friendly and helpful including security

Airport Review-Pittsburgh

Clean and finally some uniqueness/culture in the airport as there are musume like pieces showing off area's history, staff older but very friendly and helpful, bus to city $2.75 and a ways outside, but working wifi and newly upgraded central lobby with cheaper airport food. 

Airport Review-Chicago

Wide open walkways, friendly staff, quick in & out though a bit of a walk to the metro, a ways from downtown 45minutes, cheap though $2 and takes you into downtown not on outskirts, bathrooms clean, signs well labeled, working wifi, police a bit rude as well as metro staff, airport staff friendly and helpful

Airport Review-Richmond

Quick & Easy to get in and out of, staff a bit rude (security), far away from city center, no public transport operating regularly to and from, some amenities, clean bathrooms and premise

David's Jet Blue Odyssey Travel Diary-Incomplete

Day 7 September 13^th, 2010

Alright, it has been 7 days since the start of my odyssey and I am feeling fantastic!  A little tired, but not exhausted anymore.  After Boston, I headed to Washinton DC and had a fabulous time walk/running lol! (as I only had 12-5:30pm to get to everything as closing time for most stuff was 5:30pm) through our nation’s capitol, getting lost in a labyrinth of walkways to the National Library of Congress (which was really started by a gift of books personally collected by Thomas Jefferson), reading like a speed demon for 15 minutes in the Smithsonian Air & Space museum, soaking in the remaining bits of sun creeping around the massively tall Washington Monument, heading across to the ever famous Lincoln Memorial (pausing to buy a delicious chunky mango popsicle $2), listening to Enya heading to the Jefferson Memorial while trapsing along the Potomac, and finally putting on a light jacket as I glimpsed the White House from a considerable distance due to 18 layers of security.  And I ended with a little Mc Donald’s Dollar Menu items as I’m on a very strict budget they’ve saved my bacon on this trip.  To be honest, staying with the couch surfing hosts was a bit terrifying at first as I didn’t know what to expect and it was in a shadier outskirt of DC, but they were so warm and giving that we soon carried on with storytelling adventures around the world as if we had been lifelong friends. 

Waking up at 4:30am to catch a bus to Dulles (an airport I don’t recommend anyone going in or out of due to distance and cost $12 roundtrip) was very rough especially after heading to bed at 12am, but that is traveling life J  Little sleep and lots of adventure!  I had a 5 hour layover in New York, so after finding my way to the city with my pack unfortunately (I had tried to find a place to dump it only to find it’d cost me $10), I quickly walked 20 blocks starting at Ground Zero making my way north on Boardwalk.  Ground Zero was amazing I must say!  I didn’t know what to expect.  I remember when it all happened, I was attending University and my surfing friend came in (I thought he was high) yelling about 2 buildings just blown up in NY.  In disbelief I watched them plummet with plumes of smoke belching forth covering all in its destructive path.  So, at the sight, I was astonished to find how large the area was that actually was affected.  It is strange looking out over a wide swath of ground just void of any building life especially as it is in the heart of the financial district.  It’s as if the terrorists just ripped out the heart of NY and America and our wound is still open for all to see.  Sure there is building and a monument of sorts is being erected, but we almost prefer to keep it open and festering so we don’t forget or remain naïve enough to believe the rest of the world loves us and is going to allow us to continue with our way of life.  But, transitioning back to sightseeing, I quickly made my way to Mc Donald’s again, and had another Mc Double burger, well two of them (on the Dollar Menu)  lol!    However, I didn’t have time for much and was soon catching a subway back to the airport.  Still the same day, I made my way to Richmond.

Richmond is very unique.  It is a large city, yet intermingled amongst its vastness can be found quaint neighborhoods and it was there that I met my next host Yueh.  I had hitched a ride to his house with a fellow Jet Blue Jet Setter who was heading to Virginia Beach but kind enough to drop me 20 minutes out of his way.  He had just come from a lunch of Lobster in Maine, bedded down for the night in Boston, and now was heading back home.  I thought he was crazy, he thought I was and then remembered at the lunch another woman jetsetter had flown to Maine from Long Beach just for a lobster lunch with him and other fellow jet setters.  She was returning to Long Beach that night.  That was crazy we both agreed lol! J  Waiting for Yueh to get back from work, I walked around his neighborhood and quickly found it to my liking.  Richmond is vibrant yet very laid back and peaceful.  Abundant parks mixed with 1800s red and white bricked homes on a plateau overlooking the James River surrounded by lush vegetation, I truly felt a sense of community watching families and couples play with pets and tossing footballs and baseballs to one another.  It represented to me idealistic Americanism, black/white/asian and more laughing and enjoying a beautiful sunset interacting with one another in peaceful serenity.  Wow!  Yueh was a terrific host, for after working a long day and coming back from his running club, he took me throughout the city from 8-12am showing me all the favorite local haunts, museums, famous statues and explaining the history’s long and glorious history.  The next day I slept in fortunately as I hadn’t much sleep the night before.  Unfortunately, that only left me a few hours to see the famous river and Civil War museums and monuments, so lugging my pack with me and computer bag, I made my way into the heart of the city.  The James River is beautiful with cool Iron lade bridges spanning its width and connecting to small islands laced throughout the stone strewed waters.  I was impressed it was rated the top white water rafting urban place in the US, but even more so that it had been kept so natural in every respect.  And yet it even with this preserved natural beauty, the city planners had enough foresight to also create a chic new urban canal walk along its edge with little historical plaques explaining the city’s history as the major slave depot in the south that was transformed (with the confederate’s Civil War loss) into the world’s major Tobacco exporter.  Almost missing my flight was a bit exciting having been forced to request by local security to loudly ask all passengers in the security line if I could “cut” through to the front as my flight was leaving in 15 minutes, but I made it and headed back to Boston.

Rich/Bos/NH

I didn’t have long in Boston, in fact I immediately took a bus up to Portsmouth New Hampshire, a beautiful little coastal village.  The bus was late however, due to traffic and we were also late getting to our destination so I didn’t arrive until 8pm.  I sat next to a British guy who rides street bikes for a profession and was super interesting to talk to.  I enjoyed hearing his impressions o f America and the world.  I’ve found through my travels that older Brits seem to hate America where as my age group and younger really are fascinated with it, especially if they have visited more than once.  This guy was clearly enthralled with most aspects.  Finally arrived and was given a warm welcome by my couch surfing host Chris and his 4 other roommates.  I kind of felt like I was on the tv hit show series FRIENDS , but with one girl, his fiancé and 4 other guys, it threw me a bit.  But they were easy to talk to and fun to hang out with.  And they weren’t about to give up on showing me Portsmouth even though I had arrived so late.  So after some wine and chatting, we were off, me and the girl on a tandem bike, the rest on normal mountain bikes.  I was a bit nevous, okay, very nervous as she was driving and had more than 1 glass of wine.  Wobbling through town was an adventure, but I was grateful for their gracious friendship and enjoyed drinking some beer and heading to a dance/bar where we were the youngest in the crowed…by about 30 years! Lol!  Still fun.  Finally made it back by 2am and wasn’t too happy when my 4am alarm rang, but hey, that is the traveling life I lead at the moment.  Off to Baltimore without a lot of sleep, okay hardly any was quite rough.  Chris gave me a ride to the bus and I don’t remember much after that, think I slept the whole way to Boston airport, jumped on my plane quickly and was off.  Overall, my 6 hours in New Hampshire were quite fun and I’d love to go back.  From what scenery I could see, it was remarkably green and the homes looked like cottages I’ve only seen in the movies, 3 stories with bright colored painted wooded sidings (green/white/red) and thatched roofs.  Quaint, kind of rustic, but a very lively night community for a small town.  Got a real good sense of a tight knit community allowing everyone to do their own thing without judgement and respectful of one another’s values whatever they may be.

Bos/Balt

Bos/Chicag

Chicago/NY

NY/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh was much greener and had a lot more to do than I expected.  And the city owes its existence to Carnegie, in my opinion.  Every boom and bust cycle based on resources or industry could have crippled the city, but Carnegie’s endowments and generous land gifts and legacy of Natural History Museum, parks, and buildings gives it a great cultural feel.  Stayed with David Adamson and played Agricola.  His place was a little out of the downtown area, but near to the University which is where all the “cultural stuff” was.  A little bummed to have to leave without seeing a Pittsburgh Pirates game as the stadium was beautifully located along the river’s edge, but at least I got to enjoy the downtown area and the University area including the Carnegie Natural History museum ($11).  Learned some interesting history about Penn being at the collision points along theworld’s plates boundaries pushing up the Aplachians.  It also explains its richness in coal, oil, and natural gas.  Lots and lots of dinosaurs were also found there as a result of the giant continent, waterway, and some glaciers all making their way through.   It was a cool feeling to have the University town on the adjacent hill to the downtown so you could enjoy the best of both world’s yet their separateness gave them distinct flavors.  $2 to go anywhere on a bus and only $2.75 to go 30-50 minutes from airport to downtown.  Food prices were also reasonable.  Loved the airport as it was spacious, new, good amenities, wifi, very friendly staff and easy clean public transport.  Bathrooms were also nicely kept up.

Boston 2^nd time!  Not much sleep on this trip, that is for sure lol!  Got up at 5:45am to catch my 6:10am bus to the Pittsburgh airport.  After 1 change and a hurried hustle through town, I made it to my connecting bus and finally to the airport 1hr 10minutes later.  I have to be honest, I wasn’t anticipating the time it’d take to get to and from airports.  My schedule had in fact been scheduled with a bit longer layovers to go into Manhattan or Boston.  Boston is feasible, but not Manhattan.  Anyway, the Pittsburgh airport was cool and I was pleasantly surprised that our flight was less than half full.  Awesome!  More leg and arm room.  Watched a new preview of Lonestar the TV series and really liked.  About a con man who dupes “both” his wives, their families and towns out of their money.  Raised by his father to be a con man, he has a sudden conscious check and realizes he wants to be legit.  Impressed that I remembered it all lol!  Made it to Boston, quickly grabbed a ride on a sub, bought the $9 24 hour pass, and headed off to Northern Boston where my hotel is at.  The Marriot has the other franchises under it and one of them is the Fairfield suites, or something like that.  Farther than I thought out there, they claimed only 3 miles outside of the last exit “Wonderland” on the Blue line, but it had to have been at least 10 miles if not more.  When I got it the ladies were kind of bizarre yelling at their maids for not doing their jobs, but nice enough to me J  Dropped my stuff off, wrote some e-mail requests to couch surfing hosts in New Orleans, my next destination and headed back to town.  Took another metro out to Harvard.

I don’t know what I expected from Harvard.  It definitely lived up to its air of intellect, few people talked or laughed with one another, and EVERYONE was reading or studying.  All the other universities I’ve been too had a game of Frisbee or soccer or football going on.  Not 1 on the Harvard campus.  It did have a unique culture and cool vibe.  It’s nestled against a large river and its architecture makes you feel taken back in time to the late 1600 early 1700s made of brick and mimicking the “nicer” parts of England.  And it was all brick, every building, but still had small tracts of trees throughout plus was intermingled amongst the town of Harvard.  The inside of buildings were less technologically advanced than I had expected esp. after visiting other universities with state of the art equipment and new auditorium seating, but hey, this is where Bill Gates and Obama went, so maybe tech is not all that important, the mind must be developed first.  Not sure if I’d like to go there as it seemed to lack a friendly community, but it’d definitely push me to succeed J

Took several metros to my next destination, Boston University and Boston College.  Boston University is nestled right against a major waterway and has quite a vibrant hustle and bustle atmosphere about it.  Students were pouring out of everywhere, even clogging up the roads.  Boston College on the other hand seemed very much like a self contained university not next to major roadways or any town.  A large newer campus made to look of the old school style of stone and steeped green thatched roofs, but I found the environment to be sterile.  There was a lot of activity, students studying, laughing, throwing around footballs and walking all over the place, but I didn’t like that if felt so secluded up on the hills overlooking downtown.  It is quite a ways from anything as well, so I definitely didn’t like that as that is the major downside  I felt for my own undergrad program at PLNU, just so far removed.  Harvard did have that perfect balance so… maybe it is all that it is supposed to be.  Gonna walk around downtown now, it is a bit late 7pm, but I enjoyed walking in the city during the daytime a week/week and a half ago and I want to make the most of my time.  It is my last stop through Boston, and overall I really enjoyed this city.  I like the history seeping from its cobbled stone roads and brick thatched homes along the Freedom Trail.  And the Italian and Irish communities still are very cultural.  Its proximity to the airport, other major cities like Manhattan, fantastic shipping/boating community, intellectual air, commitment to academic excellence, and natural beauty as it is surrounded by forests makes it my favorite destination so far.  Did I mention it has surfing nearby as well ???? J lol! 

Day 7 Washington DC & Richmond

Day 7 September 13th, 2010


Alright, it has been 7 days since the start of my odyssey and I am feeling fantastic! A little tired, but not exhausted anymore. After Boston, I headed to Washinton DC and had a fabulous time walk/running lol! (as I only had 12-5:30pm to get to everything as closing time for most stuff was 5:30pm) through our nation’s capitol, getting lost in a labyrinth of walkways to the National Library of Congress (which was really started by a gift of books personally collected by Thomas Jefferson), reading like a speed demon for 15 minutes in the Smithsonian Air & Space museum, soaking in the remaining bits of sun creeping around the massively tall Washington Monument, heading across to the ever famous Lincoln Memorial (pausing to buy a delicious chunky mango popsicle $2), listening to Enya heading to the Jefferson Memorial while trapsing along the Potomac, and finally putting on a light jacket as I glimpsed the White House from a considerable distance due to 18 layers of security. And I ended with a little Mc Donald’s Dollar Menu items as I’m on a very strict budget they’ve saved my bacon on this trip. To be honest, staying with the couch surfing hosts was a bit terrifying at first as I didn’t know what to expect and it was in a shadier outskirt of DC, but they were so warm and giving that we soon carried on with storytelling adventures around the world as if we had been lifelong friends.

Waking up at 4:30am to catch a bus to Dulles (an airport I don’t recommend anyone going in or out of due to distance and cost $12 roundtrip) was very rough especially after heading to bed at 12am, but that is traveling life  Little sleep and lots of adventure! I had a 5 hour layover in New York, so after finding my way to the city with my pack unfortunately (I had tried to find a place to dump it only to find it’d cost me $10), I quickly walked 20 blocks starting at Ground Zero making my way north on Boardwalk. Ground Zero was amazing I must say! I didn’t know what to expect. I remember when it all happened, I was attending University and my surfing friend came in (I thought he was high) yelling about 2 buildings just blown up in NY. In disbelief I watched them plummet with plumes of smoke belching forth covering all in its destructive path. So, at the sight, I was astonished to find how large the area was that actually was affected. It is strange looking out over a wide swath of ground just void of any building life especially as it is in the heart of the financial district. It’s as if the terrorists just ripped out the heart of NY and America and our wound is still open for all to see. Sure there is building and a monument of sorts is being erected, but we almost prefer to keep it open and festering so we don’t forget or remain naïve enough to believe the rest of the world loves us and is going to allow us to continue with our way of life. But, transitioning back to sightseeing, I quickly made my way to Mc Donald’s again, and had another Mc Double burger, well two of them (on the Dollar Menu) lol! However, I didn’t have time for much and was soon catching a subway back to the airport. Still the same day, I made my way to Richmond.

Richmond is very unique. It is a large city, yet intermingled amongst its vastness can be found quaint neighborhoods and it was there that I met my next host Yueh. I had hitched a ride to his house with a fellow Jet Blue Jet Setter who was heading to Virginia Beach but kind enough to drop me 20 minutes out of his way. He had just come from a lunch of Lobster in Maine, bedded down for the night in Boston, and now was heading back home. I thought he was crazy, he thought I was and then remembered at the lunch another woman jetsetter had flown to Maine from Long Beach just for a lobster lunch with him and other fellow jet setters. She was returning to Long Beach that night. That was crazy we both agreed lol!  Waiting for Yueh to get back from work, I walked around his neighborhood and quickly found it to my liking. Richmond is vibrant yet very laid back and peaceful. Abundant parks mixed with 1800s red and white bricked homes on a plateau overlooking the James River surrounded by lush vegetation, I truly felt a sense of community watching families and couples play with pets and tossing footballs and baseballs to one another. It represented to me idealistic Americanism, black/white/asian and more laughing and enjoying a beautiful sunset interacting with one another in peaceful serenity. Wow! Yueh was a terrific host, for after working a long day and coming back from his running club, he took me throughout the city from 8-12am showing me all the favorite local haunts, museums, famous statues and explaining the history’s long and glorious history. The next day I slept in fortunately as I hadn’t much sleep the night before. Unfortunately, that only left me a few hours to see the famous river and Civil War museums and monuments, so lugging my pack with me and computer bag, I made my way into the heart of the city. The James River is beautiful with cool Iron lade bridges spanning its width and connecting to small islands laced throughout the stone strewed waters. I was impressed it was rated the top white water rafting urban place in the US, but even more so that it had been kept so natural in every respect. And yet it even with this preserved natural beauty, the city planners had enough foresight to also create a chic new urban canal walk along its edge with little historical plaques explaining the city’s history as the major slave depot in the south that was transformed (with the confederate’s Civil War loss) into the world’s major Tobacco exporter. Almost missing my flight was a bit exciting having been forced to request by local security to loudly ask all passengers in the security line if I could “cut” through to the front as my flight was leaving in 15 minutes, but I made it and headed back to Boston.

1st day in Boston!

Boston is sweet!  It really has all that I'd want from an American city, history and culture found throughout the Irish & Italian neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, lots to do, cool places to eat and drink and TONS of free stuff to do.  I walked the Freedom Trail, visited Bunker Hills, took the tour of the USS Constitution, took a Ferry across the Harbor, and went on a National Park guided tour of the city including Paul Revere's house!  Recommend this city to everyone.

Airport Reivew-JFK

Spacious, well lit, lots of amenities including fast wifi, the proximity to downtown is not horrendous.  And considering it is New York $7.5 one way into downtown isn't horrible.  Crowds throughout the day and night and not as many resturants and bars to choose from are a drawback, but overall this airport has everything you need whether you are in and out in an hour, or sleeping through for that early morning flight.

Airpot Review-Boston

One of the worst major airports I've ever traveled through.  Cramped and narrow hallways make the already crowded congestion way worse than needs be.  The bathrooms were dirty and the staff not extremely helpful.  The facility seems to be aging as well.  The big flip side to the negativity however, is the proximity to downtown.  I took a free bus 2 stops, then took a subway 2 stops costing me $2 one way and I was in the heart of downtown.  The accessibility could save the airport as a whole, it was that easy, convienent and cheap.

Airport Review-Denver

One of the best airports I have ever been in, no kidding!  New facility, clean, spacious and high tech, the staff are extremely helpful and friendly.  I was a little bummed at the security who took my toothpaste, hair gel, and face soap as I didn't see why I couldn't have just a little of it :)  but whatever.  The one major drawback is the proximity to the downtown area in Denver.  It is 30 minutes by metro and it costs $8 one way.  A little bit pricey, but transport (the light rail) is smooth.  The only other thing i can find to complain about is the lack of real working wifi.  Other than that, i am sold!

Final Prep

Well..almost there.  1 day to go, 1 last full night of sleep :)  Excited, nervous, tired, but ready to make the most of it.  Am gonna post some more clips on youtube ASAP.

Guys! AAA is awesome! I got 20 free maps and 6 free camping books!

Too good to keep to myself!  I just went to AAA and with my membership, think it cost me $50, I was able to get 20 free maps and 6 free camping books... and there was more free stuff!  Each map normally costs $5 and each book $10.  THANK YOU AAA!

Follow my YOUTUBE POSTINGS "60 destinations in 30 days"!!!!

I can't seem to upload videos on this blog from my camera, but have been successful uploading them on youtube.  I'll keep trying here, but if not, follow me on "60 destinations in 30 days!!!"

d.

Guinness Book of World Records!

Dear Mr. Lausch,

Thank you for contacting Guinness World Records about having an official GWR judge attend your event.

We are interested in your record proposal.

Is it working?

I keep trying to upload vids on this blog as well as link it with youtube.  Doesn't seem to be working!!!  Ahhh!  To many places to update... facebook, tweet, e-mail, youtube.  Can't they all just work :) !!!!

My Sponsor Video

Planning Stage

Welcome to David's Jet Blue Odyssey Blog!  From September 7-October 6 thanks to Jet Blue's $700 travel anywhere special, I'll be traveling across the US.  Right now I am trying to reach out to sponsors as well as travel gurus, friends, and family so I don't have to sleep on park benches... at least not every night :)  I love traveling and meeting new people and if you are unemployed like I am (for the moment), I encourage you to take a risk like I am, getting out and seeing beautiful America.  Hey, at the very least, it could be considered networking right?!!! lol!
Ciao!

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