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Post by centoventicinque on Sept 30, 2020 5:27:35 GMT -5
hello everyone !
I've noticed this forum is mostly frequented by Americans !
I'm in love with your country, i've been there for 40 days during my honeymoon and I traveled driving from New York to Miami,Miami to Huston, Phoenix, Flagstaff ( which was my favorite ! ) , yosemite park, San Francisco and Los Angeles .
Often my wife and i talk about what we miss since we don't know how things works ( for example took me a while to understand how to pump gas, it's wired but is totally different from Italy and Europe in general ) .
speaking for myself i feel we missed places because we mostly travel on highways !
This make me feel like there are not small cities ( i mean between 5000 and 10000 residents ! ) ,am i wrong ?
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 30, 2020 7:13:09 GMT -5
You've been here 40 days and I've been here 40 years and you've seen more of the country than I have. lol There are tons of small towns and cities across the US. You just don't see them if you spend your time on interstate highways. It does vary depending on what part of the country you're in. I live in a town of 700 and mostly do things in towns/cities with populations of 5,000-50,000. I only go to the nearest big city (Baltimore, MD) for emergencies pretty much (like needing specialized care that local hospitals can't provide). The largest city that I frequently visit is Ocean City, MD. It's a tourist town though, so it has a population of around 7,000 and that's pretty much all that is around in the winter, but in the summer tourists take the town up to about 350,000. www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33.html |
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Post by centoventicinque on Sept 30, 2020 7:40:23 GMT -5
You've been here 40 days and I've been here 40 years and you've seen more of the country than I have. lol There are tons of small towns and cities across the US. You just don't see them if you spend your time on interstate highways. It does vary depending on what part of the country you're in. I live in a town of 700 and mostly do things in towns/cities with populations of 5,000-50,000. I only go to the nearest big city (Baltimore, MD) for emergencies pretty much (like needing specialized care that local hospitals can't provide). The largest city that I frequently visit is Ocean City, MD. It's a tourist town though, so it has a population of around 7,000 and that's pretty much all that is around in the winter, but in the summer tourists take the town up to about 350,000. www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33.htmli've been in baltimore too and i've to be honest : i didn't feel safe
another thing i need to understand is how Americans eat at a restaurant and buy groceries !
in flagstaff we rented a small house and we cooked our dinner after visiting a walmart and we were confused ! we can't find anything!
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Post by pinkscoot on Sept 30, 2020 10:16:13 GMT -5
I lived in Baltimore and some parts are not safe and others are beautiful. Next time you're here get off the interstates and see the small towns and cities.Make some friends here and go visit them.
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Post by centoventicinque on Sept 30, 2020 11:22:16 GMT -5
I lived in Baltimore and some parts are not safe and others are beautiful. Next time you're here get off the interstates and see the small towns and cities.Make some friends here and go visit them.
when all the covid stuff it's gone i'll be back for sure !
may sound really strange but where americans go when they need meat ?
i've visited dozen of walmart and i've never seen fresh meat !
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Post by jloi on Sept 30, 2020 11:39:47 GMT -5
I think you were here before Walmart " expanded" . seems like I remember they didn't even have food at all in the beginning ; or at least not "fresh food " - meat , veggies , butter, milk , dairy etc . . always had plenty of sugar though , candy , chocolate etc . .
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claydoh
Scoot Enthusiast
Posts: 172
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Post by claydoh on Sept 30, 2020 11:42:57 GMT -5
I lived in Baltimore and some parts are not safe and others are beautiful. Next time you're here get off the interstates and see the small towns and cities.Make some friends here and go visit them.
when all the covid stuff it's gone i'll be back for sure !
may sound really strange but where americans go when they need meat ?
i've visited dozen of walmart and i've never seen fresh meat !
Sure Walmart, and all supermarkets sell fresh meats, but in most they are not cut or packaged locally very much.
For that you need to find an actual butcher shop, which are not as common as they were. Or a more premium supermarket.
So, instead of the meat traveling thousands of miles/Km to get to the store, and the store cutting it up, it is cut at the source, as I understand it. It is what it is (saves money I assume), but vastly better refrigeration and much faster delivery times probably helps a lot here.
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 30, 2020 17:52:43 GMT -5
may sound really strange but where americans go when they need meat ? i've visited dozen of walmart and i've never seen fresh meat !
I do pretty much all grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, especially since COVID. There are different Wal-Marts. Some don't have much grocery or anything fresh, many do. I just go online and shop. Pull up and have them load the groceries. No charge for pickup vs going in and shopping and you don't have to get near anyone. The only negative for me is not choosing meats and produce. That can be a little hit or miss. Anyway, there are plenty of grocery stores with meat sections. I live a few miles from a butcher that will butcher whatever you need. A lot of people around here get deer butchered during hunting season. Some of the local stuff is really good. I like their sausage better than any major brand stuff that I've had. The problem is, local and really fresh tend to be expensive so I never really go to local butchers. Heck, I live around a bunch of corn fields and a neighbor is one of the biggest produce growers around with a stand maybe 1/4 mile from my house. The local Wal-Mart sometimes sells corn as cheap as $3/doz and it's $7/doz grown all around my house. The local stuff is bigger and tastes better than the Wal-Mart stuff though. |
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Post by michimoper on Sept 30, 2020 18:33:48 GMT -5
I live in a city with a major University. Population about 100,000. About 35 miles from Detroit. Last few years I've only gone to Detroit for a baseball game. And try to get away from my city as often as I can. I like to spend time in rural Northern Michigan, my kids and grandkids live there. I love to go to Michigan's upper Peninsula as well. I've lived in Florida and Wyoming. Spent time in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico. Also have kids in California. Except for the current political crap, this is a great place.
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Post by Mr Dave on Sept 30, 2020 18:58:59 GMT -5
Hey there,,, I live in a small town right about in the middle of your right palm,,, That's how most of us Michigan folks, tell people where were from. I grew up in the Capitol smallest big town in the state. But had to run far away when it was time to have my family. Here is a video of one of my other hobbies,,, flying my drone. Did this last year, but it's a good shot of my little village. Just 6 miles off the major highway. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_6-qP5uQlE&ab_channel=DavidPruitt |
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Post by ThaiGyro on Sept 30, 2020 20:44:29 GMT -5
I am old and have been everywhere except Hawaii and Maine. My biggest recommendation is to not travel on Interstate highways...the ones that show I-80/I-5/I-10 and like that. Travel the U.S. highways (or smaller) and stop at every point of interest. You will find adventure and fun!
There is nearly no good points of interest on Interstates anyway. They are fast, but so boring.
Here is an example of one you missed: US-93...it runs from near Las Vegas, North to the Canada border. Only three states, but WOW...desert to mountains. Watch out for elk and deer. Hint: drive during the day or go slow after dark.
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Post by centoventicinque on Oct 1, 2020 3:01:15 GMT -5
I do pretty much all grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, especially since COVID. There are different Wal-Marts. Some don't have much grocery or anything fresh, many do. I just go online and shop. Pull up and have them load the groceries. No charge for pickup vs going in and shopping and you don't have to get near anyone. The only negative for me is not choosing meats and produce. That can be a little hit or miss. Anyway, there are plenty of grocery stores with meat sections. I live a few miles from a butcher that will butcher whatever you need. A lot of people around here get deer butchered during hunting season. Some of the local stuff is really good. I like their sausage better than any major brand stuff that I've had. The problem is, local and really fresh tend to be expensive so I never really go to local butchers. Heck, I live around a bunch of corn fields and a neighbor is one of the biggest produce growers around with a stand maybe 1/4 mile from my house. The local Wal-Mart sometimes sells corn as cheap as $3/doz and it's $7/doz grown all around my house. The local stuff is bigger and tastes better than the Wal-Mart stuff though.
Corn field make me remember a funny part of my childhood !
it's some kind of a tradition in central italy but children about 10 years old during the end of summer, when corn is ripe , must go and steal some corn from the fields !
me and friends used to go super stealt, cross a river with our bicycle so we don't leave marks easy to follow , take 2 or 3 cobs and run back to our place and roast it
back in the day make us feel like we were super secret agents , now it's just a cute story !
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Post by centoventicinque on Oct 1, 2020 3:16:58 GMT -5
Hey there,,, I live in a small town right about in the middle of your right palm,,, That's how most of us Michigan folks, tell people where were from. I grew up in the Capitol smallest big town in the state. But had to run far away when it was time to have my family. Here is a video of one of my other hobbies,,, flying my drone. Did this last year, but it's a good shot of my little village. Just 6 miles off the major highway. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_6-qP5uQlE&ab_channel=DavidPruittthat's what i mean : i feel like i missed cities like that one !
next time i'd like to find a tavern in a city like yours, sit , drink some beer and meet nice people !
now a small list of things i figure out too much later :
-turn on red : i was honked by people dozen of times because i stop at traffic light , after many miles and traffic light i realize it's ok to turn right even wuth red
-cellphones while driving are ok ! if you do it in italy and whole europe you will get arrested !
-lane switching and overtaking on right lane : same as cellphones
-driving in New Orleans with Washington license plate on your car it's a terrible idea
-Alabama and Tennessee people are super nice
-Italian's super mega ultra giant sized drink are known as " small " in USA
-fountain drink
-tap water taste terrible
-the concept of salad it's totally different
-the existence of the concept of " topping "
-people use and are proud of their local accent ( took me a wile to understand " y'all " )
-no manual gearbox !
many more to come! i need to remember
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Post by ThaiGyro on Oct 3, 2020 15:14:11 GMT -5
Nice one cento...come to the west next trip over. I am currently near family in Montana. Fifth largest state, only 1.2 million people. Ten bazillion animals. We have wild turkey, deer, bears, elk and way too many birds in our yard constantly.
We have many, many breweries.
We can get wine
We eat tasty animals, but must hunt your own, or have good friends. I have good friends.
You can get lost...but so what?
People are very helpful and happy and look you in the eye.
I have a 5 speed and a 6 speed, both manuals.
Fuel is cheaper in Montana...regional pricing. Poor local economy.
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Post by jbjhillbilly on Oct 3, 2020 21:22:43 GMT -5
Cento,
Don’t feel bad about missing things - you’re talking about the majority of a continent. You see what you can and savor it.
I remember visiting Italy and being in my usual, American hurry-rush-rush to get to our dinner reservation. We got to the restaurant and the staff took a few minutes to decompress us. A couple or glasses of champagne sitting on the shore of Lago Magiore with chill you right out. God I miss that place.
I’m a native of Los Angeles, and live here, but I’ve lived lots of other places in the U.S., as well as Canada a couple of times, and Australia for a year.
For the most part, people are the same wherever you go (Asian countries have some quirks, but once you have a drink or a meal together, all the formalities drop).
I heartily agree with the others that the large interstate highways in the US are amongst the least scenic.
If you were to take Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to Monterey, you would see where I’m fairly certain God made for himself to rest on the 7th day. And if you make it to the giant redwoods much farther north, well...they are spectacular. Bryce, Zion, we have amazing National Parks.
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