US Roadtrip
In September of 2006, my brother and I packed up all my stuff in a uhaul and drove everything I owned cross-country from Los Angeles to New York. Needless to say, after seven days of 10-13 hours of driving and 7 hours of sleep a night I arrived pretty exhausted. I had done long trips before across numerous states, but it was my brothers first time. Our route took us through California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and finally New York. We did not take the most direct route because there were places we wanted to see along the way. The Grand Canyon was our first major stop and it was breathtaking. I have seen photos before but the first time you stand on the edge and see it in person you realize that photos don’t capture how “grand” it really is. We continued on through Utah, which consisted of reddish brown rock formations and deserts and Colorado, which had snowcapped mountains and pine trees. We went up through the bottom tip of Wyoming to hit our next major stop to see Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. I am glad that we stopped there because it was a site to see with your own eyes. It is impressive that they could complete such a monument almost 70 years ago. We continued on through Minnesota and Wisconsin in which the trees were all starting to change to fall colors. I love this time of year on the east coast because the colors are so vibrant. We went through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania next and I saw corn, corn, and more fields of corn. This was the toughest part of the drive because I swear at times the redundancy was enough to drive you crazy. I know these states have more than just corn but not anywhere near the freeway I was driving on. The terrain changed for the last part of Pennsylvania back to the beautiful fall colors. New Jersey was nice and quick and before you know it I was coming upon my new home: New York. Every time I see the skyline of Manhattan it makes me smile. Never was I so happy to stop driving, give up my car, and go on foot around the city.
The Grand Canyon
Hanging out in the Grand Canyon
My brother Gabriel
Hanging out with the horses
Open Road
Rock formation in Utah
Colorado…I think this place is beautiful
Mount Rushmore
Wisconsin
Pennsylvania
Home sweet Home
To see more photos from this trip, visit www.ariagiovanni.com
July 11th, 2008 at 6:44 am
The Grand Canyon is rather Grand eh? I agree that it is much more awe inspiring in person. The corn states are horrible to drive through, just horrible. When I travel from Chicago to Ohio or Indiana, I try to fly because the drive is so boring. I have a vacation home in northern Wisconsin, and the fall is my favorite time. It is so virgin and beautiful up there. I am leaving to go up there tomorrow for some r & r. You will be happy to know tv’s will not be turned on for two weeks!
Thanks for sharing. Do you ever get back to New York, or have you cut those ties?
July 11th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Your pictures of your travel are breathtaking ..it certainly was a long journey ..I wonder if you have any regrets about making New York you base home ..I guess home is where the heart is ..and I feel thats true ..I have read that you love New York and always enjoy arriving back there …Do you think that in the future when you might want to settle in one place a little New York would be that place?..
Because I spend a lot of time in Canada and travel back and forth to Scotland a lot I miss having a pet ..I love animals and would love a dog or cat to share my home in Scotland with me but its impossible because I am not there long enough ..funny I know but thats a big regret I have .
Hope you have a lovely weekend
Regards Vivienne x
July 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Great pictures. I haven’t been to many places. Washington DC has been my favorite place in the USA. So far.
I liked the museums in DC.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Except you’re not around “Home sweet Home” much, are you? Then again, with summer days of humid subways, I’d rather be elsewhere as well.