fortreisen

My last post about my West Coast road trip is a very special one for me, because it´s showing my by far favourite city in the US: SAN FRANCISCO!
It was actually my first time in SF and I was pretty excited, because the city is known for small streets, cute little restaurants, Thrift Shops and so much more things I just love. And although I went in with as much expectations as a person can possibly have, I was still surpized about HOW beautiful it actually was. Pictures can´t really live up the feeling you get walking through the streets and one is prettier than the other!

Of course there is a reverse side as well, although I have to say that it applies to every big city in the US: poverty. I love so many things about the american culture, the food, the friendly people the easy going life style, but walking along the streets of a large city it´s so easy to tell that the country has many many problems they need to tackle and I truly hope soon. I have never ever seen this amount of people living in the streets. Of course I have been in very poor countries, but somehow I still think that it feels very different being in an industrialized country and seeing all these hundreds over hundreds living on the streets, in the underground railways in no sunshine for weeks. I was in so much pain, because you´re not able to give something to everyone, there are simply way way to many. With some of them you can´t even talk anymore, because they´re so desocialized. Something needs to happen soon, but looking at who is in charge right now it seems like that these urgent problems won´t be solved soon, even more excruciating.

I believe looking at a city you have to look at all sides, not just the glimmer ones. I was never scared in San Francisco, not even alone with hundreds of homeless people in the middle of the night. They ask you to buy pens from them or invite you to a meal, but not once I felt attacked, there was only feeling bad and sorry. But of course all of that is something you won´t see in pictures or in tourists guides.

There is one small thing that really got me in SF (and that´s for once not a deep one) it´s just freeking cold there! 😀 Believe me, you drive half an hour and the clouds are gone, but in SF it´s windy and cloudy and forgy, bring your sweathers and long pants! (I definitly brought the wrong clothes)

And now after all this negativity here is a huge list with just some of the pretty places the city has to offer. I hope you enjoy!

„Bernal Heights Park“ is a small hidden park, only known by habitants. The swing was my highlight of the day!

„Painted Ladies“ in Almo Square Park.

„Bradford street“, known as the deepest street in SF.

„Haight Street“ an arty district that starts to become pretty touristy. Cute little stores and much of graffitti.

„Golden Gate Bridge“ sadly in fork, I was not able to see anything 😦

Beautiful, but I think way to full and touristy „Pier 39“. Really spectacular are the Sea Lions!

And all the beauiful shopping streets around Dewey Monument.

I was so excited doing this post and share all the fantastic pictures (which are honestly not even able to catch a glimpse of the beauty you´re going to see visiting the Yosemite National Park!) But if I´m looking back I have to admit that I was pretty dissappointed in the first couple hours. I do have a very simple solution for that: My expections were up to the ceiling whenever I just thought about Yosemite or looked at pictures. I started talking to people a couple days before and the reaction were all similar in one point: everyone was stunned. One guy even told me he found God in a hidden place and was driving every single weekend up to the park to feel the connection. I for my part was hoping to see something different and unexpected, and how life is, don´t search and press things you would like, let things happen and try to be as open-minded and unprejudiced as possible, even if it´s in a positive way.

Yosemite showed me that beauty can be the emotion you feel being at a place. Maybe not even a exceedingly stunning one, but one you´re touched and you feel comfortable and home. And I found my Yosemite while I was hiking at places you couldn´t hear the full streets and thousands of people. Not being at the view points with huge tourists busses or in Yosemite City that reminded me of a huge summer camp. Yosemite had to dissappoint me first to lift the feeling up to something even more special: Feeling home in a place so far away from home.

„Mariposa Grove“, I was beyond intrigued by these huge beauties. Can you even see me in front of the Dead Giant? Some of the trees there have been growing for more than
2´000 years.

Enjoying the evening atmosphere:

We started the day off with an amaaaaazing breakfast, nothing could possibly make a day better than this. Of course it was a bit overexpensive, but eating fast food breakfast for the last couple days it felt like heaven.

And than we went on a quick sightseeing tour trying to see as much as possible of Mammoth Lakes. But in half a day you can only catch a glimpse of the beautiful nature, but a little of the peace the place is surrounded with.

Stay tuned guys, because my next post is going to be about YOSEMITE!

Well, let´s talk about unexpected things: I was pretty sure the Death Valley National Park was just a „must“, because we had to drive through there to reach our next destination. And I don´t think I ever had zero expectations before that turned out being so so wrong! I LOVED it, although it was crazy hot and sticky, I thought it was so faszinating.

I have never been a fan of Vegas, but it turned out turning 21 in the middle of Casinos would be more fun than I thought! We only stayed there for one night till we went on to the Death Valley – I was happy seeing it again, but one night was more than enough.

My personal super highlight was seeing the beyond stunning Lower Antilope Canyon!
I don´t think I have ever seen something as stunning and beautiful formed by nature. I had no idea I would be so touched by it, I didn´t want to leave this place again.

Next morning we were able to see the more known Upper Antilope Canyon. It was way more crouded and although we had a very sweet guide like the day before, my heart was already given..

My second time at this magical place and as last time it felt like standing in front of a photo wallpaper!

We spent a couple days enjoying the views from different spots, the Grand Canyon National Park is a huge area where you can take walks for what feels like weeks. I was so positive surprized: You pay about 20 Dollar for the car (not per person) and you can use the public busses all day that stop at close to all sightseeing-points.
The first day we started off early in the morning to catch our prebooked helicopter flight. We chose „Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters“. As always flighing in a helicopter is quite expensive, but we were very disappointed by sitting in the back in middle seats and not seeing much at all. Afterwords it turned out that you even have to pay extra for sitting in the front seats. So if you plan on doing things like that, be better and inform yourself to pay that money in addition, it´s definitly worth it!

 

Not so much to say than it´s a peaceful and beautiful place, I enjoyed being there so much – But just for one day, I guess a place like this is loosing it´s spirit if you hold on for too long.

For that one night the atmosphere was just magical.

Our last stop at the coast was Los Angeles, amazingly I was able to meet a wonderful friend of mine over there and we did some typical sightseeing. I always enjoy being in LA, although it´s not my favourite city. I love the spirit, the feeling the city is surrounded with. But it´s always in contrast to all the unfulfilled dreams of so many souls.

We started our first day in LA with delicious (but a little pricey) Pancakes from iHop!

„Walk of Fame“

„Santa Monica Pier“

 

The second day we started off with the Hollywood-Sign view point: „Griffith Observatory“

„Venice Beach“

Hello you!

I´m finally able to share the exciting Roadtrip I have been on the last couple weeks with you!

It was quite exciting switching from a country like Thailand to a country like the United States. For me it felt like coming home though. I spent my Exchange Year 2013/2014 in Kentucky, a pretty tough and controversial state, that still needs so much to learn about the world we live in today – But more about that another time. I came back a year later and I was thankfully able to travel around a little. But like you probably know it´s close to impossible to actually do something under the age of 21.
So it was not my first time in California and Nevada, but my first time travelling independently by car. Retrospective we had a waaaay to tight schedule, I would not suggest like that,  but the positive side about that was seeing incredible much!

We started in San Francisco to pick up our rental car and drove down the coast on Highway 1, along the street you have incredible views. That way we crossed Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Barbara.

I fell so in love with a little city called Ventura, although it was freezing cold. 😦
The night we arrived we went to the American Fair located right next to the beach and than we shopped through a long cute street stuffed with Vintage, Second-hand and small stores the next day. In addition to that I discovered one of my new favourite Fast Food brands there: „The Habit“.