hi everyone,
Just back home (Belgium) from what was one of the best vacations I had in years
-we did some very nice multiday backpacking trips in some state parks (Red Butte wilderness - Mount Jefferson wilderness - Three Sisters ...) -- a close encounter with a black bear scared the s**t out of us
the campgrounds maintained by the US forest Dept. are just an amazing concept. camping in the middle of nowhere without seeing a human being for a couple of days is almost impossible in Europe (and especially in overpopulated Belgium)
-redwood national park is just amazing
-we climbed Mount Shasta (14162 ft) -- snow conditions were pretty bad so it was hard work to reach the summit - i'm probably also the first Belgian who climbed it without gloves -- don't believe a word what they are saying in the Lonely Planet about the climb, it's a pretty strenuous climb
-the IV - IV+ rafting trip we had on the Upper Klamath was the best I ever did. loads of fun
-Portland is a very nice, relaxed city -- lot's of good bars -- we also went to the Oregonbrewerfest (some very nice microbrews)
-we also stayed a couple of days in SF (Fisherman warf is just a tourist trap -- pier 39 is fun because of the sea lions). we were staying in the youth hostel in Ellis st. Some weird homeless people scared the s**t out of the tourists staying in the hostel and the nearby hotels and motels. not the best neighbourhood to walk around at night
-we stayed also a couple days on the southern oregon coast -- amazing scenery
-we met a lot of interesting and friendly people
-went to see a baseball game in SF (Giants vs Pirates). We had a great time but we didn't understand why:
1)they stopped the game in the 5th inning to sing "god bless america" (strange concept for us)
2)people left the game in the last inning when it was like 4-4 and the best part of the game had yet to come. when we asked why they left the game they said to us "we don't want to be stuck in the traffic" (another strange concept for us - when you go watch a game, you want to know the outcome)
a couple of other (strange) things we noticed as europeans
-a lot of american flags everywhere but I guess that has everything to do with 9/11
-you guys have a lot of discipline in traffic (unlike here, riding on the highway is a relaxing thing to do and you guys actually stop for pedestrians -- two thumbs up for that)
-you guys don't show a lot of international news on the TV news
-American girls seems to like the fact that we also speak french
-when attending the baseball game in SF there is a limit of the amount of beers one person can buy
some funny questions and quotes we heard of americans in that one month period
"do you have cars in belgium" (the very friendly wife of a forest ranger)
"I was in Belgium last year, very nice city" (cashier in the supermarket)
"do you guys have a democracy in belgium?" (our rafting guide)
"do you also have a lot of problems in europe with mexicans like we have here in california?" (a 21 year old dude we spoke with on a camping ground)
"why do you guys come to oregon to do some "mountain" hiking and climbing -- don't you have the Alps in Belgium?"
anyway -- we had a great time and we are looking forward to explore the rest of oregon and california one of the next years -- maybe i'll post some pics later
cya
Just back home (Belgium) from what was one of the best vacations I had in years
-we did some very nice multiday backpacking trips in some state parks (Red Butte wilderness - Mount Jefferson wilderness - Three Sisters ...) -- a close encounter with a black bear scared the s**t out of us
the campgrounds maintained by the US forest Dept. are just an amazing concept. camping in the middle of nowhere without seeing a human being for a couple of days is almost impossible in Europe (and especially in overpopulated Belgium)
-redwood national park is just amazing
-we climbed Mount Shasta (14162 ft) -- snow conditions were pretty bad so it was hard work to reach the summit - i'm probably also the first Belgian who climbed it without gloves -- don't believe a word what they are saying in the Lonely Planet about the climb, it's a pretty strenuous climb
-the IV - IV+ rafting trip we had on the Upper Klamath was the best I ever did. loads of fun
-Portland is a very nice, relaxed city -- lot's of good bars -- we also went to the Oregonbrewerfest (some very nice microbrews)
-we also stayed a couple of days in SF (Fisherman warf is just a tourist trap -- pier 39 is fun because of the sea lions). we were staying in the youth hostel in Ellis st. Some weird homeless people scared the s**t out of the tourists staying in the hostel and the nearby hotels and motels. not the best neighbourhood to walk around at night
-we stayed also a couple days on the southern oregon coast -- amazing scenery
-we met a lot of interesting and friendly people
-went to see a baseball game in SF (Giants vs Pirates). We had a great time but we didn't understand why:
1)they stopped the game in the 5th inning to sing "god bless america" (strange concept for us)
2)people left the game in the last inning when it was like 4-4 and the best part of the game had yet to come. when we asked why they left the game they said to us "we don't want to be stuck in the traffic" (another strange concept for us - when you go watch a game, you want to know the outcome)
a couple of other (strange) things we noticed as europeans
-a lot of american flags everywhere but I guess that has everything to do with 9/11
-you guys have a lot of discipline in traffic (unlike here, riding on the highway is a relaxing thing to do and you guys actually stop for pedestrians -- two thumbs up for that)
-you guys don't show a lot of international news on the TV news
-American girls seems to like the fact that we also speak french
-when attending the baseball game in SF there is a limit of the amount of beers one person can buy
some funny questions and quotes we heard of americans in that one month period
"do you have cars in belgium" (the very friendly wife of a forest ranger)
"I was in Belgium last year, very nice city" (cashier in the supermarket)
"do you guys have a democracy in belgium?" (our rafting guide)
"do you also have a lot of problems in europe with mexicans like we have here in california?" (a 21 year old dude we spoke with on a camping ground)
"why do you guys come to oregon to do some "mountain" hiking and climbing -- don't you have the Alps in Belgium?"
anyway -- we had a great time and we are looking forward to explore the rest of oregon and california one of the next years -- maybe i'll post some pics later
cya
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