USA on the road

After visiting the length and breadth of the old and dear (in every sense!) Europe we have decided (me and my companion of adventure!) To go to visit the United State.
We have taken on the fly during a two-fold: the friendship with our friend who lives in a small town near Detroit (Ann Arbor) and that can make the holidays at the end of September, far from abituli routes of mass tourism.
The flight went very well (we traveled with Northwest Airline), and to 19:30 on Sunday September 15 touch the ground at the International in Detroit! A real thrill for the first time in mitici USA.
We take our friend, Gina, and now practices docanali go by car to his house. Be prepared to answer at least three to four times the same questions "where you go, stay as you have tickets for the return 'to the canonical and the famous" you belong to fringe of Nazi fighters, have been a member of the Communist Party, etc.. " . Also armed with patience because the controls are really hard luggage and thorough.

The impact is truly disarming: the greatest cars, roads to four lanes in the direction of travel and distances measured in hours ... street!
We stayed from our friend in Ann Arbor (about half an hour from Detroit). A very pretty town with a university famous and expensive ($ 70,000 per year for membership), many locals, many young people and especially lots of shops.

We made a day trip to Detroit or what it is ... it is a ghost town, completely deserted, shops closed, many homeless and a lot of crime. The inhabitants are refusing to turn in the road at night and is dangerous to be found around after sunset ... the leading cause of death according to the statistics for firearms!
Do a lot of sadness to see this wounded giant, with its huge skyscrapers (the beautiful GM) but emptiness in his soul, with no pulse. They say that 20 years ago was a city in its full splendor of her life with General Motor engine (in all senses!) Backbone of the region and country. Today with the crisis of self, the whole city is abandoned to itself .... and are the chills to think about what might happen to our Torino ombellicale cord attached to the Fiat ...

 

Toronto (Canada)

After a couple of days September 17 rent a Chevrolet Metro, and go to Canada. We travel on these huge freeway, endless highways where the limit of 70 miles is respected by all ... except that the trucks sfrecciano impressive speed.

Another thing that struck us was the huge number of motels along the highway ... there are many, many chains (vi segnalo Days Inn, Motel 6, Super 8, Comfort Inn, but the chains are hundreds ) with prices starting at $ 35 per room up. They are all very clean and comfortable, and you can help especially when you drove for 4-5 hours in a row and the view there is starting to tarnish? We head to Toronto and after having crossed the border at Port Huron and answering questions from the usual Canadian customs official ( "you are going to look for jobs in canada, bring weapons etc..") Filiamo to the state capital of Ontario . Nothing more distressing to us along the road, interspersed with motels, gas stations and police cars still on the road with police armed with laser gun to check compliance with the limits (in Canada the limit drops to 65 miles, just under 100 km / h).

Tired from the trip we arrive in the suburbs of Toronto and we have a small soropresa a devastating traffic! To exit the city and reach their homes clogged roads huge five-lane ... luckily we got into town and the traffic flowing and slightly more! We head towards Yonge Street, but we have the second surprise ... but first there is a short foreword. The directions are not like in Italy ... when you come on a road (or even better on a motorway) there is an indication to the nearest town or on the direction ... towards Milan, Naples, Genoa etc.. In the U.S. there is an indication of the road (expressed by a number, 95, 82 etc..) With an indication of the direction given by the cardinal points and then you will find signs like 85 or 25 North East ... then look to the direction because it could be back pretty hard ... We head towards Yonge Street the main street in Toronto without knowing who has a particularity: it is the longest street in the world with its 1900 km up to the state of Alberta.

We take the wrong (of course) that is north to south instead and then spend an hour to get downtown in the city. In the end we manage to park in a multistorey car park (it is impossible to leave the car on the street, you're definitely fine) and going to the Tourist Information Center which is located inside a large shopping mall, "Sears." Here we show a nice little distance, the Hotel Victoria. Pay C $ 105 (C $ 1 = 0.70 euro) a night for a beautiful room, with air conditioning, television, iron, super luxury bath and breakfast! The only sore point is the parking lot since we are forced to pay the parking well 15C $ per day.

We do a little tour of orientation and then we go to bed exhausted.
The next day (18 / 9) we are dedicated to sightseeing, we visit the port (with its parks and housing residenzaili) and the CN Tower, the highest building of the world with its 553 meters.! The visit of up to 2 / 3 of its height is 18 C $! Another (nice) surprise is that the exhibits are not what you pay! In fact, prices do not include taxes but pay at the time of the account! For each thing, so keep in mind the fees. The nice part is relative to the reimbursement of fees at the time of leaving the country, for all documented expenses for hotels and purchase of goods (not for food and for entertainment, nor of course to a garage and petrol). So always ask your receipts and put aside everything.

When they leave the country go to the customs and get back around 7% of your costs. Not bad, huh? It seems that only 10% of visitors requires the refund of fees ... so do not be over!
At the port there are many boats that do tours of Lake Ontario and the visit of the Center Island that faces Toronto. The tour is a must because only in this way you can ammiorare the skyline of the city and I assure you it is beautiful. We have requested $ 25 C to do this tour but you do not give in to temptation as we do ... ... there are ferry line linking Toronto and the island main return ticket costs .... C $ 5 ... if you valued it!
Center Island is fantastic ... it is a naturist park, well kept with dozens of squirrels (some constant 'throughout North America), geese and ducks. In addition many services (you can rent bikes, canoes etc.). Or have a picnic in the open air!

Another attraction in Toronto is Casa Loma (entry 10 C $ C $ 7 + parking). A castle on the northern outskirts of Toronto built at the end of a very rich character of the time and now managed by a private association. The price of the visit is high but the castle truly deserves the ticket and also includes the electronic multilingual (including the Italian!) That will help in understanding and explanation of the mysteries of all the rooms of the castle!
Another thing that you can not do is ... shooping. There are many malls and shops along the streets of Toronto and the prices, thanks to favorable exchange rate, are cheap (this is a rare thing for us with the Italian lira which we have never had an easy life!) But if you really want to do shopping you have to go cheap at the outlet mall, shopping centers outside of major cities, where prices are very low and the choice is almost endless.

I will point out a long the way for Niagara Falls, where you can buy Levi's C $ 30, Nike 60 C $ e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Unfortunately, these are countries where consumerism is a constant and be much less than the duty ligi not able to resist the temptation.

Niagara Falls (Canada)

On 19 / 9 we are moving towards the Niagara Falls, it takes about an hour's drive (traffic permitting). Arriving at the city of the Niagara Falls Tourist information directs us to the outskirts of Niagara Falls where there are hundreds (seriously say) of motels of all kinds and all prices (some have the signs that advertise the Jacuzzi in the room ... ). The prices are very competitive and we have stayed in fine American style motel with a pool of 60 C $.
Stowed luggage, we went to see the waterfalls (there were 6 in the afternoon by now) and the spectacle that we see before us is nothing short of breathtaking ... two beautiful waterfalls on one side and the other American, the largest on the border Canadian - American. In fact the waterfalls are located on the border of two nations that are united by the Rainbow Bridge (the bridge of colors) and two cities that are looking face to face and have the same name, Niagara Falls!

The noise, the dust of us are taking the wind ... it is really beautiful emotion. We decide for the next day to take a cruise to admire from below! But the possibilities are infinite (for all pockets): you can choose to do a tour by helicopter, to sleep in a big skyscraper hotel chain (of your choice Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, etc..) Chamber that overlooks the waterfall. .. and then in the evening the great show ... when the night falls the falls are illuminated by a colorful play of light ... white, red, blue, yellow ... from 20.30 to 24.00 over the color This spectacle of nature.
For that you do not eat spoiled dela choice, the city of Niagara Falls is a kind of Las Vegas of the north, with dozens of restaurants of all types for all tastes ... souvenir shops of entertainment e. .. each type (museum of horrors, house of dracula, museum of Guinness Book of Records, etc..).
20 / 9 make the trip under the falls by boat (cost C $ 25 inclusive of water - very useful). E 'indescribable emotion. There are beautiful views from above but below is a shocking spectacle, the boat reaches a few tens of meters from the point of falling water with no hesitation ... the more crazy the Japanese are (dozens) that take any crazy thing understood in the draft.
In the afternoon we move to Detroit and we come across a crazy time on the road, not far from the border with the U.S. ... we stop at a motel (Comfort Inn chain by paying C $ 99 a room equipped with every comfort) to about an hour's drive from the border.

Detroit and Ann Arbor

On the morning of 21 / 9, after a hearty breakfast, we are approaching the border, entering the USA through the bridge which links Detroit to the Canadian side (you pay just over a dollar). We spent a couple of days to be friends, we did enjoy the life of the American Midwest (missed the chain Starbuck's where you can enjoy a fabulous chocolate frappucino - a sort of coffee granita with chocolate and cream).

Florida, we are coming!

We leave with great nostalgia Sun September 22 but the destination will stimulate not just in Florida ... let's go for a fabulous tour of Olrando, Miami to reach the islands Keys ...
We arrive at Orlando International after 2 ½ hours of flight (and after 2 hours of monitoring, that on domestic flights are very much more severe than on international ones) about 19.00 us crazy humidity ... 85% humidity, 28 ° C air temperature, a tropical cyclone that seems to have shot down on the area an hour before we land ... it is truly amazing ... the scenery still collect your luggage and we head all'autonoleggio Thrifty to collect the car we had booked from Detroit. The controller that we just sene Italian improvised skit in an Italian because it has been two months in Italy on vacation and he went very well ... we are cute and then gives us the same price a car-class ... nothing evil! The surprise is on the money ... the cost basis of the car for 7 days is equal to 140 U $ prerzzo finish including taxes and insurance 420 U $!!!! Here we have a suspicion of the "mind" (as a deacon in Rome). In fact, the guy tells us that the price including taxes is 200 U $ qusto price but there are no assurances of any kind, even civil liability. Also tells us that if you steal the car we are going to pay the same. This alarmed us and then we do all our brave Insurance (salted) and the price becomes quinid said that before ... I think (even think) that if we had documented in Italy, all this would not have happened ... and then all of a council check the total cost.

Also because in the U.S. auto insurance is not mandatory or better ... it seems that the Americans provide the person and not the car then Mr. Ken Smith is insured and can drive any car and will be covered by his insurance .. driving a rental car, driving a car provided by friends or otherwise. However .... swallowed the toad's starting to search, and go just outside Orlando. There is a road (International Drive) where there are dozens of hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.. open all night, every budget. Let's go to the Days Inn (U $ 35 per night) with pool and air conditioning (no deaths would be!). Dinner at a Mexican restaurant and via a nanna.
PS so far I have put on a small local particoalre Americans. There is a free-refill or purchase a soft drink and drink what you want ... then you fill the glass continuously ... really cool but attentive and there are inflated as a puppet of Michelin!

Orlando and Miami

23 / 9 go to Universal Studios in Orlando ... we pay the ticket ($ 54 a head U + U $ 7 for parking) and go! The heat is oppressive, the feeling of sultriness reaches unbearable levels ... drink a liquid quantiotà unthinkable to try to survive ... the studios are not really a big thing. There are shows again a few hours of the day ... the cowboy stuntman, the performance of ghostbusters, then that of the Blues Brothers ... see simulations of hurricanes (twister), earthquakes (heartquake), ET and some other little something ... but honestly it is more a park for children rather than adults. Maybe it was the best park's Island of Adventure where it was more fun ... or maybe it was better eviate to spend this money and go somewhere else.

The next day (24 / 9) we head to Miami and you here the journey begins to make interesting ... let's go down with direct Turnpike (Highway dedicated to President Reagan), where you pay a mileage. Avoid it is better to take the strda freeway that skirts the ocean (which you will never see) is a little 'longer but surely the fact that it is free is a blessing .... however we come to Palm Beach and open sky .. an emerald green sea, sun, hot water and on beaches bendiddio. How much youth, how beautiful people! Let's go ahead and arrived in West Palm Beach take a refreshing dip bellismo ... you will see huge pelicans fly over your heads, seagulls walking on your towels (I swear!) .. Let's go further down and we stop in North Miami Beach will have to find a very nice motel, with pool, private beach and a truly accessible price (U $ 60 including breakfast). Is 10 min. drive from Miami Beach and costs half. I strongly recommend it! We enjoy the nice weather (which fortunately, as we hear news about the number of hurricanes Isidore, Lilli etc..), The water and the wonderful little people in the evening ... andiamoa Miami and do a tour of Ocean Drive, South Miami , Little Havana, etc.. In fact, the sera of these places are far less attractive during the day, where there is more animation and more people around. In the evening the situation changes, plenty of police to curb the high crime (say) to the tourists, many immigrants that run on machines improponibile but little happiness ... the only way is worthy Roard Lincoln where there are restaurants and shops open until late. We hope to return here during the day to enjoy the best city!

Key Biscaine and Key Islands

The next day (25 / 9) go to visit the island of Key Biscayne, with its flagship of South Florida. E 'uno spettacolo ... white beaches, warm seas and blue ... to enter the island you pay a toll of $ 1 U ... to arrive in the park where the lighthouse is still paying (and we miss more) ... if I remember correctly 2-3 U $. If the day is fine I assure you that it is worth. You can make a bellismo bath, sunbathe and have a picnic. There is indeed a beautiful area designed for parking, with a barbecue!
But the island of Key Biscayne is also famous for hosting the aquarium, the Miami Seaquarium. Inside (U $ 25 ticket) you can enjoy wonderful shows with seals, dolphins, killer whales, alligators. There are also some great aquariums. It 'a beautiful show, if you have children is mandatory if you have not and .... you feel like children then we can not do without .. ah, forgot to tell you that the parking fee! For the visit and to attend all the shows you have to calculate at least 3-4 hours ... the shows are staggered throughout the day and are repeated twice, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Do not enter it if you are past the 14.30 otherwise you may not see some shows .. then take good references!

In the evening we proceed directly to the Keys islands, passing through Coconut Grove. There we waited a beastly traffic, even had the ring road at peak then and arrive in Key Largo to 21.00
At night the show is not exactly the most, do not see anything, and everything is dark. Find accommodation at Best Western Key Largo (U $ 90 for a two-storey apartment With breakfast included). This lodge is well suited for those who prevde to stay a few days to do the diving. In fact we have a beautiful kitchen, two bathrooms and two bedrooms. In addition, the lodge has a jetty from where daily excursions into the sea, toward the barrier reef (price starts at U $ 25 excluding freight of equipment).
We have given up for lack of time, but I assure you that we will return ... after a deserved Lauta and dinner based on fish in one of the many restaurants on the island we collect for a just stop!

This is the 26/9...giornata interlutoria .. we go to the islands until you get to Islamorada, where we find a beach white ... but with great surprise the sea is very dirty and unattractive. The idea is to be arrived in a place esasperatamente tourism, where there are dozens of nightclubs, pubs on the beach and shops of all kinds but the sea is practically equal to that of Ostia! Nasty surprise even more going forward even where there is a sign indicating the prohibition of bathing!
At this point we ask explanations in a shop, but we are told that beauty is close to the reef, so if there is not we better go back or go to Key West. But the length of the islands Keys (157 miles!) Does not allow us to tackle the crossing, because we must be closer to Orlando to go back. Then invert the route and we aim to Miami.

Last days!

We arrive to 14.00 doing a good turn for Miami Beach (Ocean Drive and South Miami Beach) and then we head to our old motel for a good swim and a dinner restaurant!
The next day (27 / 9) is a day dedicated to the transfer, in fact we must go back on its feet to return to Orlando the next day where we have a flight to Detroit and then to Rome. Then we go directly to the north and we decide to make two stops: one in Cocoa Beach (beach loved by surfers) and the other at Cape Canaveral (home base of NASA).

In the morning we pass the last to take the sun and into the starting 11. We arrive early afternoon at Cocoa Beach. Dozens of surf shops, dozens of young muscled that go around the table under the arm ... but the waves are very small and hence the performance offered is not exactly what one imagined. In short order anything from 5 meters, but small waves that these young people prancing ride aboard these boards without any enthusiasm. However we do not lose their nerve and we are approaching Cape Kennedy. 17:00 arrive at Kennedy Space Center, and with great surprise we discover that we have to pay to come to visit the Space Museum! U want $ 27 a head, and considering that the museum closes at 18.00 we decide to go away, stealing a few photos of the shuttle from the outside ... but not to hide a sympathetic policewoman all our surprise at the price too high for a museum visit National! Sad and dejected we move to Orlando.
Our vacation is coming to an end and therefore that there is return the car and head towards the airport. From there a flight to Detroit and the connection to Rome.

Spoiled but happy we get to Rome. The experience that we had was beautiful and for days we remain speechless, thinking they might return. However if some of you wanted to exchange chat, opinions, and impressions, we find well-prepared!
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