Trip Diaries: 45 days in USA

My first international vacation

For someone who didn't have a passport less than an year ago, my first visa is of the USA. And before this spring, I had travelled in an air plane like 2 times. As a baby!

In a sentence, the 45-days holiday at my brother's place was pure fun.

The daily temperature ranged from 7 to 28 degrees Celsius. In winters, it's negative.This image sums up the weekly weather. So pack your clothes wisely. A mix of every season wear. Or you know, pack lightly and shop stuff, make the retailers happy :D

One point: Chicago is called the Windy City, and it is the windiest. My friends on Instagram and Facebook have seen the chance good pictures, but most of the unpublished photos have my hair defying gravity. So many kodak moments :P

On the way from airport to home, I noticed a few things.

1. Left-hand drive, as expected.
2. The houses are horizontal, unlike Indian 'kothis' that are vertical. With lawns. There's so much land and so few humans. Lesser people, no litter. And American hobby of lawn-mowing and gardening really shows. 
3. There's a McDonalds, a Dunkin Donuts with Baskin Robbins and a Starbucks at every nukkad. 

Shopped at many retail chains. Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Sears, Macy's, JC Penny, Best Buy and of course Walmart.

Note: Everything in USA is a big SKU (jargon alert). And has many SKUs . Saw giant onions (so big, you buy only one onion). And three-four different kinds of onions. From 5-6 different nationalities. Same with other vegetables and fruits. And other stuff.

The people hold the door. No GoT reference. Basic courtesy in their everyday lives include holding the door for the next person, be it at the building you stay in or the mall. It takes like 3-5 seconds but it's polite.
The people love their pets and love their sports. Every weekend, a train form suburbs to Chicago is packed with Chicago Cubs supporters: gangs of teenagers cheering loudly or dads with their sons and daughters wearing the team jersey or ladies guessing the odds in favour of their home baseball team.

Speaking of weekends, people can take unlimited train rides to and fro Chicago for $8 each weekend. Made great use of that in the long Memorial Day weekend :D

Went on road-trips to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Holland, Michigan. Took a flight to Atlantic City- city of resorts and casinos, across the Atlantic Ocean. From there, took a bus to New York City, which by the way, is another world. Took a road trip across New York state, to the Niagara to Philadelphia to Washington DC to back to NYC.

Lake Geneva was the classic TV/movie scene with people picnicking at the beach, sunbathing lying on the grass and ships and food and breeze.
While Holland had its Tulip Festival, with heavenly blooms in all colours.
Niagara took my breath-away. But they say, the view from Canada side is THE view. So fingers crossed, one day I'll see the better of the best falls :)
Philadelphia was a touch-and-go for me as we spent only so much time to see the historic Liberty Bell.
Washington DC is different from all these. It tells you that it's the nation's capital, it means business. All buildings grand, and government's. Saw the White House. And black helicopters. Took a cruise to see all the notable, historic buildings of DC. Visited the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the Korean Memorial. Went to the National Science and Aerospace Museum.


And then NYC. The people, they are running. The roads, they have traffic. The walls, filled with graffiti. The skyscrapers, kissing the clouds.
Times Square-One World Trade Center-Empire State Building-Manhattan-Brooklyn-Statue of Liberty-Wall Street-Broadway.

Foods/Eating Places I explored
Buffalo Wild Wings:Sports Bar- chicken, beer, sports
Chipotle: Mexican- great rice bowls for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, affordable (my fav)
Garrett's Popcorns: a Chicago favourite
Giordano's: Chicago's famous stuffed deep dish pizza (you can't eat it all alone)
Quizzno's: Subs- good veg option
Tostada: Mexican, another veg option
Panda Express: Chinese (love the tangerine chicken)
Chai-Tea Latte: Starbucks' Indian tea offering
Oberweiss: Ice-cream
Rocky Mountain: Ice-cream
Steaks N Shakes: I tried shakes :)

And then there's Chicago: my summer home, Windy City, Navy Pier, Skydeck on 103rd floor, John Hancock Observatory on the 94th, Lake Michigan, Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Chicago Bean, Magnificent Mile, areas where Gotham City is based on.

So many memories. Mid-West and the East Coast, check. Next time (hope): LA and Vegas baby :D