26.11.2009 - From Los Angeles (CA) to Phoenix (AZ)
The return information about the smooth arrival of our son in Dusseldorf reached us in Long Beach, north of Los Angeles. Here we had spent two days on the Pacific, before we said goodbye to the ocean for some time.
Our next destination was Arizona, the desert state, known for its pleasant winter climate. There, where many wealthy North Americans live in the winter we also wanted to take a break from traveling. After 30,000 miles and lots of beautiful experiences we needed not just recreation, but also the rest to do all the things that had come in the last few weeks too short.
After the mad Transport in the Greater Los Angeles was behind us, we were rolling pretty relaxed east. Even in California, is covering the 3200 km ² Joshua Tree National Park, the yucca trees in the back here already higher-lying semi-desert large areas. The road from Joshua Tree through the so rightly called Wonderland of Rocks.
On the border with Arizona, California, were once the border guards and controlled the import of food and agricultural products. We were left on the exit lane to pass unmolested. Shortly after the border on both sides of Interstate many campers were in the desert. We introduced ourselves to and spent our first night in Arizona. Only on the next trip, we saw the many clues that warn of poisonous spiders, snakes and scorpions. We will now be very careful.
The further course of Interstate 10 was rather spectacular - mostly just barren empty land with the typical Arizona cacti, which can be over 4 meters high and grow here like weeds. Fences along the highway mark the land owned by Indian tribes. More than 25 percent of Arizona's land is reserve land, living in the 22 indigenous tribes with a total of about 250,000 people. Arizona has the highest indigenous population of the entire United States.
In the Phoenix metropolitan area to change the picture suddenly. Although situated in the Sonoran Desert, it blossoms in all colors. Extensive fruit and vegetable plantations, lush green gardens and magnificent golf courses are just as natural as the numerous private pools. The city is spacious, the few skyscrapers stand in the center, unlike the other large buildings with new and historic buildings, shady parks and cultural and sporting venues. For land, it seems, nor as to the lack of vital water. The water comes through a complex channel system of the surrounding lakes and the Colorado River. Environmentalists have long warned of the consequences of this Water waste, but to date there is little water meters in homes and the water is used generously.
Greater Phoenix is located in the so-called Valley of the Sun 'with more than 300 sunny days a year. Here there are innumerable RV Parks and winter resorts. For a whole day we visited various resorts and compared. It was important to us above all to have a good infrastructure in the area, because our hobby was no longer insured at the end of November and decommissioned it.
In Mesa, we found the perfect resort with parking space under the palm trees and a beautiful heated pool with hot tub. In a healthy social community through the winter here only Canadians and Americans. We were immediately met with a very friendly and integrated, always had to report back from our trip to and from Germany and were invited to street parties and many a beer or wine over the "fence". So we spent a wonderful Christmas season in Mesa. A positive side effect was that we talked every day and much could thus improve our colloquial English.
12/24/2010 - Christmas on American
Christmas in the U.S. is not comparable to the contemplative Christmas in Germany or in our native Erzgebirge. Everything was sharp and colorful.
Huge colored lights were out in the gardens and the roofs, white plastic trees with colored lights and Pappschneemänner in all sizes were almost on every house and lighted reindeer moved in front yards. Santa Claus perched on the roofs blown up or just came on on one, six-span of deer-drawn carriage. All the lights blinked, and often even the beat of Christmas music played in the background and the streets at night rather resembled a fairground.
The shopping crowds in the stores, however, was not so excessive as ours. Everything went quiet from here. Maybe it was because that the big department stores are open seven days a week around the Clock. Even on Christmas Eve we have not felt much contemplation. Of 24.12. here is a full working day, and so were the streets late into the night full of cars. The ubiquitous fast-food restaurants were open all night and could not bring himself to few customers, mostly elderly people who complain. Just a normal day.
We would like to visit on Christmas Eve, an American church had also to our difficulties. There was almost no church in Mesa a Christmas Fair, strangely in this so devout. But then the evening was saved but still. On the internet we had read about the Candlelight Christmas in a modern-denominational church, and then were surprised when we found ourselves again in a concert hall rather than in a church. A large, formed with headlights illuminated the center stage of the hall and on the huge screens that hung on the walls ran advertising Bible Church for this. In the foyer of the modern dome building was a Harley, which was to win the top prize of a lottery.
link to Phat Strad - Las Vegas
with tape and the Electric String Quartet Phat Strad from Las Vegas began the evening. Modern plays classical, rock and gospel heated up the "community" and many did not consider More on their seats, dancing and singing along. After a short prayer that more resembled the speech of a show host, was the light in the room cleared, and the priest burned at the first candle. Of these, go out the candles, which everyone had received at the entrance, set off by hand to hand. The common Christmas song sung a cappella Silence Night (Silent Night) and the hundreds of candles did bring me a little Christmas spirit to us.
It was a beautiful evening and a great experience that churches can be very modern style and unconventional. Incidentally, in a modern American church the collection of course, be paid by credit card.
The 1 Christmas Day is for most Americans, a non-working day on which the gifts are then distributed and held a festive Christmas dinner. A 2nd Christmas Day, there is not and so went on that day to put everything as usual.
For us it was very enlightening to experience the Christmas traditions here in America is so close. It was our first Christmas without our children and we were glad that everything went so little ceremony, and we fell into gloom.
05/01/2010 - Last errands and start heading east
The days here in Mesa flew by - and we had to do so much. A new car insurance was required and our tax return had to be prepared for a complete cleaning of our hobby was overdue and the purchase of two new tires to stand. In the latter case, our confidence in the unlimited America's capacity disappointed. None of the major tire dealer in Mesa and Phoenix our tire size was available. We did not believe it and were on the internet for days looking for suitable tires - without success. Even the direct contact with several major tire manufacturers are only confirmed the sad fact that there is not in our North American tire size.
addressed to the hobby mail with a request to mount an alternative tire sizes, there was immediately forwarded to the service department. After 2 days we had a confirmation by e-mail that "our" Tire by air to Phoenix on the go.
Our start was now no more obstacles. Fortunately, because I was a little uneasy for some days - I wanted to get back on the road. " Unfortunately we had to be planned visit to Bryce - Grand Canyon and then finally give up. Freezing to minus 15 degrees Celsius, always snow and cloudy weather had spoiled the joy of this great national park. Up zuletzt hatten wir auf eine Wetterbesserung gehofft – aber es sollte wohl nicht sein.
Der Abschied im Park war ein richtiges großes Ereignis. Mit vielen der netten Menschen waren wir mittlerweile sehr vertraut und fast alle kamen und wünschten uns, den Germans in ihrem kleinen Motorhome, noch eine gute Fahrt und viel Glück.
