Monday, May 30, 2011
Road trip to California... from Chapel Hill, NC to New Orleans, LA
I’m going to highjack this blog site for a little while to talk about something other than Haiti. I didn’t really intend for this to solely revolve about that country anyway but my work there is so central to my life that it’s kind of what it has turned into… a blog about Haiti that is. But here we go… some of the tales of my roadtrip to California. My dad actually asked me to do this but I think it’s a good idea because something cool might happen and someday I’ll probably lose my memory. Besides, I’ll probably tell him about it and he’ll forget in a couple of days so he needs to be able to read it. Just kidding Dad.
Anyway! I started off in Chapel Hill. Packed everything I could fit into my 4Runner and then threw away/ gave away/ stored everything else in my sister’s attic. Thanks Candace… I know I said only a few boxes but it is kind of difficult to get rid of everything when you have a whole house full of things. I think I did a pretty good job…
So with the 4Runner packed to over flowing with the exception of space for me and my doggy Bagheera, surfboards strapped on top, we got on 40 West and headed to Nashville, the first stop. I decided that I wasn’t going to commit to being in any particular city in any particular timeframe. My only goal is to get to Ventura by June 11th. Orientation for residency starts the 15th so that will give me plenty of time to settle in to the one bedroom I’m renting in a house 11 houses from the beach from a single mom and her two kids- ages 14 and 9. I’m really excited about that actually, a family waiting for me. Hopefully Gheera will win their hearts and they won’t want to kick us out because I think it will be a great place to live.
So Nashville. I have quite a few friends that live there actually so the night I got there I sent out messages to find what people were up to. I got scolded by Derek and Abby for renting a hotel room (my original plan was to camp but Dad didn’t like that idea so much since it’s just me and the dog) but they still made time for me anyway, making clear that if I ever came to Nashville again and got a hotel instead of staying with them, I was in big trouble. I know Derek and Abby from high school and they’ve lived in Nashville for a long time. They are currently raising five, yes five, adopted teenagers. Derek showed me around the city and I got to see their place and meet their kids. Love all of them! Derek and Abby were leaving for Asheville that evening so I met up with another friend and hung out at Centennial Park. We went to check out the nightlife and all the honkey tonk bars, listened to some great music and saw the most colorful characters. Nashville is a fantastic people watching spot, particularly at night.
I headed to Memphis the next day after a slow and relaxing morning, and breakfast at Pancake Pantry (line out the door, and the BEST pancakes I’ve ever had in my life by far). Oh, the other thing to mention about Nashville is the cicadas. Seriously, like a plague. I’m talking Moses times. Waiting in line at the Pancake Pantry was hysterical as a result. Watching everyone freak out every time a cicada landed on them, perfect strangers swatting at each other (yes the people behind me helped me out when one landed in my hair) and lots of screams and running. So, I suppose I should thank you, cicadas, for keeping me entertained. But I DO NOT like you dive bombing me.
Memphis. Not a bad drive from Nashville. Scenery kind of reminded me of driving around NC and the trip from Chapel Hill to Nashville, minus the mountains as you drive through the Asheville area. I stayed at a pretty ghetto hotel outside of Memphis but enjoyed seeing the city. I dropped Gheer-face off at the hotel and headed down to the Mississippi river to watch the sunset the night I got there, which was beautiful. There also happened to be a performance down there by the Memphis symphony. I didn’t get a ticket to go see them but I could hear it from the river walk- awesome. The BEST music though was on the Beale Street. Live music EVERYWHERE, just like the tour books say. I ended up parking myself in front of one particular set of performers though. I’m going to try to post the video clip. INCREDIBLE jazz, and some harmonica playing like I’ve never heard in my life. I really hope I can upload the clip because I can’t describe it. Some old fat dude with long hair, a cut off jean shirt and tattoos covering his arms politely asked me to dance with him. I politely declined and he told me that I was missing out because he has moves like Patrick Swayze. I have to admit, he may have actually looked like an older, fatter tattooed version of the man. Maybe I should have said yes.
The next day Gheera and I went and walked around the city so I could see it in daylight. I think someone was filming a promotional video of the city because he wanted footage of Gheera walking down the street. She (and my legs) might be famous.
The last section of the drive from Memphis to New Orleans has been my favorite so far. This was yesterday evening. Probably because it’s unlike any scenery I’ve ever experienced before- the houses sitting on stilts in the marshy areas. The bases of trees all covered by water, the bridge that cuts through it all. Sort of an eerie beautiful. I loved it. Now I’m about to go into the city with my doggy. Will write more about New Orleans later! I’ve never been here before so I’m totally stoked. E-mail me or leave a message here if there is something that I should see/ experience during my few days in this city. Next stop will be Dallas. Get ready Kelley and Leilani!
Anyway! I started off in Chapel Hill. Packed everything I could fit into my 4Runner and then threw away/ gave away/ stored everything else in my sister’s attic. Thanks Candace… I know I said only a few boxes but it is kind of difficult to get rid of everything when you have a whole house full of things. I think I did a pretty good job…
So with the 4Runner packed to over flowing with the exception of space for me and my doggy Bagheera, surfboards strapped on top, we got on 40 West and headed to Nashville, the first stop. I decided that I wasn’t going to commit to being in any particular city in any particular timeframe. My only goal is to get to Ventura by June 11th. Orientation for residency starts the 15th so that will give me plenty of time to settle in to the one bedroom I’m renting in a house 11 houses from the beach from a single mom and her two kids- ages 14 and 9. I’m really excited about that actually, a family waiting for me. Hopefully Gheera will win their hearts and they won’t want to kick us out because I think it will be a great place to live.
So Nashville. I have quite a few friends that live there actually so the night I got there I sent out messages to find what people were up to. I got scolded by Derek and Abby for renting a hotel room (my original plan was to camp but Dad didn’t like that idea so much since it’s just me and the dog) but they still made time for me anyway, making clear that if I ever came to Nashville again and got a hotel instead of staying with them, I was in big trouble. I know Derek and Abby from high school and they’ve lived in Nashville for a long time. They are currently raising five, yes five, adopted teenagers. Derek showed me around the city and I got to see their place and meet their kids. Love all of them! Derek and Abby were leaving for Asheville that evening so I met up with another friend and hung out at Centennial Park. We went to check out the nightlife and all the honkey tonk bars, listened to some great music and saw the most colorful characters. Nashville is a fantastic people watching spot, particularly at night.
I headed to Memphis the next day after a slow and relaxing morning, and breakfast at Pancake Pantry (line out the door, and the BEST pancakes I’ve ever had in my life by far). Oh, the other thing to mention about Nashville is the cicadas. Seriously, like a plague. I’m talking Moses times. Waiting in line at the Pancake Pantry was hysterical as a result. Watching everyone freak out every time a cicada landed on them, perfect strangers swatting at each other (yes the people behind me helped me out when one landed in my hair) and lots of screams and running. So, I suppose I should thank you, cicadas, for keeping me entertained. But I DO NOT like you dive bombing me.
Memphis. Not a bad drive from Nashville. Scenery kind of reminded me of driving around NC and the trip from Chapel Hill to Nashville, minus the mountains as you drive through the Asheville area. I stayed at a pretty ghetto hotel outside of Memphis but enjoyed seeing the city. I dropped Gheer-face off at the hotel and headed down to the Mississippi river to watch the sunset the night I got there, which was beautiful. There also happened to be a performance down there by the Memphis symphony. I didn’t get a ticket to go see them but I could hear it from the river walk- awesome. The BEST music though was on the Beale Street. Live music EVERYWHERE, just like the tour books say. I ended up parking myself in front of one particular set of performers though. I’m going to try to post the video clip. INCREDIBLE jazz, and some harmonica playing like I’ve never heard in my life. I really hope I can upload the clip because I can’t describe it. Some old fat dude with long hair, a cut off jean shirt and tattoos covering his arms politely asked me to dance with him. I politely declined and he told me that I was missing out because he has moves like Patrick Swayze. I have to admit, he may have actually looked like an older, fatter tattooed version of the man. Maybe I should have said yes.
The next day Gheera and I went and walked around the city so I could see it in daylight. I think someone was filming a promotional video of the city because he wanted footage of Gheera walking down the street. She (and my legs) might be famous.
The last section of the drive from Memphis to New Orleans has been my favorite so far. This was yesterday evening. Probably because it’s unlike any scenery I’ve ever experienced before- the houses sitting on stilts in the marshy areas. The bases of trees all covered by water, the bridge that cuts through it all. Sort of an eerie beautiful. I loved it. Now I’m about to go into the city with my doggy. Will write more about New Orleans later! I’ve never been here before so I’m totally stoked. E-mail me or leave a message here if there is something that I should see/ experience during my few days in this city. Next stop will be Dallas. Get ready Kelley and Leilani!
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