Lots of Crazy Crap on the Walls!

At Cracker Barrell, I suddenly recognised some American Culture which had previously been brought to me courtesy of The Simpsons. There's an episode where Mo transforms his diner to a more themed establishment with 'lots of crazy crap on the walls'. When it's a client's birthday or celebration, members of staff will gather round and sing a mad celebratory song, which certainly isn't English!

Well, here at Cracker Barrell, there was lots of crazy crap on the walls, and a table nearby us was celebrating something. Then a number of staff gathered around and started singing maniacally for the prinicipal celebrant. This IS the Simpsons incarnated!

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

I wanted an iconic American dish!

Well, my first meal in the US had to be something typically American, something iconic. So, here it is - a burger and fries (NOT chips - that's another matter!). Yes, it was an awesome burger, courtesy of 'Cracker Barrell'.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

I am English. Tea should be hot!

Now, new country, new ways. When in Rome etc etc. So I'd asked to sample some typical American dishes and drinks, and was told that this was a good ol' Southern Drink. Sweet tea. Cold. Sugary, and stacks of ice. Well, I tried, you know. A couple sips was enough for me to recoil in horror and realise that being English (well, yes, personal taste too) had conditioned me to feel that tea should be hot, usually with milk, and drank from ceramic cups / mugs.

This was at a 'Cracker Barrell'. I'd never heard of it, but was told it was an American institution of sorts. Taken in South Carolina, and if I recall correctly there was a huge apple or pear nearby unintentionally (or maybe not) resembling a gargantuan naked ass (or arse, if you're English).

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Evening Light near Blacksburg and Rock Hill

Evening light on a sunny day. There's nothing like it. Nothing like it at all. The blue sky, the deep greens. Add in a country you've never been to before, and it's amazing, stimulating vibe. Even a motorway (is it a freeway, interstate or what, here?) can have a mellow aesthetic vibe going on. Just a short distance from Blacksburg and Rock Hill at this rest area, it was magic. Roads and rest areas can be magic, you know.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Flying the Flag

Welcome to the USA. Welcome to South Carolina. Welcome to Carolina Blue Sky, well with a dash of cloud. I do like the sense of being able to be proud of your country's identity without any vibe that you're being nationalist or discriminating against someone. Would be refreshing to fly the Union Flag in England without the feeling that some politically correct so and so would worry someone somewhere might just be offended and feel repressed. Fly your flag, wherever you are.

And I just love the South Carolina flag. Blue background. White tree and crescent moon. It does it for me.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Blue Star Memorial Highway - A Rest Area

Here we are again at the Blue Star Memorial Highway and this impressive sign at the rest area. A good sign. I like signs. Makes me feel welcome.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

South Carolina in the Spring

I'm not entirely sure exactly where we went after leaving Charlotte airport, but we ended up at this rest area on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. The evening light was amazing. Maybe the beginnings of jetlag and my body telling me that 6pm should be 11pm added to the experience and vivid perceptions. This photo shows the intensity of light and just a token of how beautiful South Carolina is in the spring.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Queen Charlotte, again...

This lady, once again.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Welcome to Charlotte, North Carolina

This statue of Queen Charlotte is outside Charlotte airport. Not sure who she was, but was very impressed with the dynamic pose, and well, statue-esque nature of it. Also, my first taste of Carolina sunshine!

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Random Collections of People

I love how every journey we make, especially on public transport, will pretty much always be a completely unique assemblage of people. That group of people will never be together again. Reminds me to seize every moment. This was some of the unique collection of people on the flight from Philadelphia down to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Welcome to the USA

Many hours later, and my first view of the USA at a rainy Philadelphia airport. Cue Bruce Springsteen "Streets of Philadephia" in my mind. I remember being impressed by the posters of the movies filmed in the city, through one of the connecting areas in the huge airport. I think it could be the biggest airport I've ever been to.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Possibilities

I love departures boards at train stations and airports. So many possibilities. So many stories. So many reasons for travelling. I love pondering reasons why people are on their journies. Work. Holiday. Personal life. All significant for each and every traveller. My flight to Philadelphia was the 10:55 to Philadelphia.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Rebirth Passage, Departing England

Preparing to leave Manchester, England, there's this vast long connecting tunnel from the airport train station to one of the terminals. The piece you see here is just one small segment. The more I ponder on this, for me it was like some kind of rebirth passage to another world, another life. Sometimes simple actions we do are invested with far more significance and symbolism than we realise.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.