At 3.00 a.m. GTM+1 o'clock we left our house, mom's boyfriend, our dog and 6 cats and Slovakia behind.
I have to say I'd wanted to travel to the U.S. since I was 8 or so. I can't explain it, I just wanted to so badly... Lol.
We headed for Vienna airport where we were supposed to be 3 hours before the flight. Seems it was just right, because they have a new system of checking-in, people are supposed to do it themselves in machines that are stupid and it takes sooo long! We had problems so it took us 1 hour (shame on us). Eventually, we made it, then the other steps, and were free to go into the waiting zone (how's it called?). We were happy to find Starbucks there, so me and my sister had a coffee. Yummy.
At about 9 o'clock our plane landed in Paris, it was a smooth flight. In Paris I completely lost my nerves. We couldn't find our flight (to Atlanta), cause there were lots of others, but none to Atlanta at 10:40.We found our flight number and it said it's flying to New York JFK. It'd be okay if somebody was able to explain that they made a mistake. But we asked like 10 people, each of them claiming something else. Fortunately, we managed to make to the gate in the boarding time; I don't know why they didn't change the mistake and didn't rename the flight. At the right time everybody was onboard and everybody was waiting for the plane to leave, but- people responsible for handling of the luggage and loading it into the plane went on strike.
We had to wait two hours, which meant we were late for our next flight. The flight from Paris to Atlanta took about 9 hours. The plane landed shortly before 4 p.m. EST in Atlanta. Everybody had to undertake the Visa and I-don't-know-what control, plus passport control. The officer took our fingerprints and asked where we were staying and where we are from and this kind of questions.
As we didn't make it for our connection flight we had to wait for another one, but this time without any other difficulties. We landed in Fort Myers at 9:30 p.m.
Florida is truly amazing. The nature is really unique and breathtaking. On Friday our friends suggested us to go with them to Miami, where we were supposed to spend some time. We agreed and that's why we went ''on holiday on holiday''; therefore we had to pack our luggage again. Then we made a reservation in Miami Best Hotel and by ten p.m. we were on our road.
The next morning was rough, as we hadn't get more than seven hours of sleep. Hadn't it not been holidays, I wouldn't mind. Of course, as always, all my mom wanted to do first was to find a beach and rest. So we got a map, and a GPS that didn't work because the car-charger didn't want to work, and headed for the beach. Thanks God my sense of directions is quite good, or else we wouldn't be able to find South Beach. The beach was beautiful, but not as much as some Mediterranean I've been to. The temperature of the water was amazing, as it was about 24 degrees Centigrade, if not more.
We spent our entire weekend lying on beach or looking for one. We'd visited Miami Beach, Golden Beach, and I don't remember the names of the others, but I was amazed by the endless number of hotels that surrounded them. The jet lag was soon to be forgotten.
On Monday, however, I was eager to get in the streets and watch celebrations, as it was the Independence Day and I'd been looking forward to see it. Pitily, we went shopping first, to a nice mall called Sunset Place, where I was startled by the Barnes and Nobles bookstore. I had to buy three books.
After spending some time in the shops we hopped back in the car and went to the South Beach, where large numbers of cars were heading. There almost wasn't a single parking place, but we'd been lucky to find a garage for suitable price. We'd spent the entire day lying and sunbathing; the fireworks were supposed to start at eight p.m. There was a stage near the beach and some music was being played, along with some free Monster energy drinks being handed out.
When the fireworks started, we sat down on the sand and watched them. They reminded me of the celebrations of New Year's Eve, those fireworks. We could see three of them at different places. After they ended, we stayed in the streets for a while, then went back to the hotel.
At 8 o'clock on Tuesday we were loaded in the car, again, and our next destination was Key West, the southernmost point of the US. It looked so close on the map, and yet we weren't able to arrive before two p.m. We found a motel where we could stay for a night, then went- oh, again- to the beach, which was small and the water was a bit dirty. In the evening we walked around the town, found the Hemingway's museum, bars and shops and restaurants and whatnot. It was great to see some 'American' nightlife, after all. The motel was neat and nice.
The next morning we visited the Hemingway's museum and some other shops, then we were back in the car and heading for the city of Lehigh Acres.
The next days went by pretty much like this: we got up at about ten o'clock, ate breakfast, then went to the beach. We've visited Naples' Vanderbilt beach, Marco Island beach, Sanibel beach, Fort Myers beach, Bonita Springs beach. Also, we were lucky enough to see dolphins swimming just few metres away from us {at first I thought it was a shark, fortunately it wasn't}.
We went to Everglades national park and for the air
boat trip. The trip was fun, and the gators not so scary as they had seemed first. More 40 miles towards Miami and we also visited Miccosukee Indian Village.
The last week approached and the only other thing we wanted to see (okay, not the only one, I'd love to stay on Florida and travel around the USA) was Orlando and its parks. Unfortunately, we only visited Sea World and Aquatica park, as those two, especially the Sea World, were too big and took lot of time to look around. I was a bit disappointed ´cause there weren´t as many animals as I thought there would be. The other day we headed for Cape Canaveral. Yep, to visit Kennedy Space Center, and I liked it very much. I've tried the shuttle launch simulator, which was amusing. I'm just pissed {at myself} and sad that I haven't seen the real shuttle launch, for I missed it. Sucks.
What we also enjoyed was shopping in many, many shops that can be found literally everywhere- all those malls with hundreds of shops, one cannot decide which one go to. Even though it wasn't that cheap as everybody said- you can buy loads and loads of clothes for just 5 bucks, if not less, bla bla- the outlets were a bit cheaper than in Europe, especially American brands, like Guess or Victoria's secret.
Three weeks went by so fast it's unbelievable. Despite the hot weather {which I'm not very fond of} I had a great time. Can't wait to come back! :)
I have to say I'd wanted to travel to the U.S. since I was 8 or so. I can't explain it, I just wanted to so badly... Lol.
We headed for Vienna airport where we were supposed to be 3 hours before the flight. Seems it was just right, because they have a new system of checking-in, people are supposed to do it themselves in machines that are stupid and it takes sooo long! We had problems so it took us 1 hour (shame on us). Eventually, we made it, then the other steps, and were free to go into the waiting zone (how's it called?). We were happy to find Starbucks there, so me and my sister had a coffee. Yummy.
At about 9 o'clock our plane landed in Paris, it was a smooth flight. In Paris I completely lost my nerves. We couldn't find our flight (to Atlanta), cause there were lots of others, but none to Atlanta at 10:40.We found our flight number and it said it's flying to New York JFK. It'd be okay if somebody was able to explain that they made a mistake. But we asked like 10 people, each of them claiming something else. Fortunately, we managed to make to the gate in the boarding time; I don't know why they didn't change the mistake and didn't rename the flight. At the right time everybody was onboard and everybody was waiting for the plane to leave, but- people responsible for handling of the luggage and loading it into the plane went on strike.
We had to wait two hours, which meant we were late for our next flight. The flight from Paris to Atlanta took about 9 hours. The plane landed shortly before 4 p.m. EST in Atlanta. Everybody had to undertake the Visa and I-don't-know-what control, plus passport control. The officer took our fingerprints and asked where we were staying and where we are from and this kind of questions.
As we didn't make it for our connection flight we had to wait for another one, but this time without any other difficulties. We landed in Fort Myers at 9:30 p.m.
Florida is truly amazing. The nature is really unique and breathtaking. On Friday our friends suggested us to go with them to Miami, where we were supposed to spend some time. We agreed and that's why we went ''on holiday on holiday''; therefore we had to pack our luggage again. Then we made a reservation in Miami Best Hotel and by ten p.m. we were on our road.
The next morning was rough, as we hadn't get more than seven hours of sleep. Hadn't it not been holidays, I wouldn't mind. Of course, as always, all my mom wanted to do first was to find a beach and rest. So we got a map, and a GPS that didn't work because the car-charger didn't want to work, and headed for the beach. Thanks God my sense of directions is quite good, or else we wouldn't be able to find South Beach. The beach was beautiful, but not as much as some Mediterranean I've been to. The temperature of the water was amazing, as it was about 24 degrees Centigrade, if not more.
We spent our entire weekend lying on beach or looking for one. We'd visited Miami Beach, Golden Beach, and I don't remember the names of the others, but I was amazed by the endless number of hotels that surrounded them. The jet lag was soon to be forgotten.
On Monday, however, I was eager to get in the streets and watch celebrations, as it was the Independence Day and I'd been looking forward to see it. Pitily, we went shopping first, to a nice mall called Sunset Place, where I was startled by the Barnes and Nobles bookstore. I had to buy three books.
After spending some time in the shops we hopped back in the car and went to the South Beach, where large numbers of cars were heading. There almost wasn't a single parking place, but we'd been lucky to find a garage for suitable price. We'd spent the entire day lying and sunbathing; the fireworks were supposed to start at eight p.m. There was a stage near the beach and some music was being played, along with some free Monster energy drinks being handed out.When the fireworks started, we sat down on the sand and watched them. They reminded me of the celebrations of New Year's Eve, those fireworks. We could see three of them at different places. After they ended, we stayed in the streets for a while, then went back to the hotel.
At 8 o'clock on Tuesday we were loaded in the car, again, and our next destination was Key West, the southernmost point of the US. It looked so close on the map, and yet we weren't able to arrive before two p.m. We found a motel where we could stay for a night, then went- oh, again- to the beach, which was small and the water was a bit dirty. In the evening we walked around the town, found the Hemingway's museum, bars and shops and restaurants and whatnot. It was great to see some 'American' nightlife, after all. The motel was neat and nice.
The next morning we visited the Hemingway's museum and some other shops, then we were back in the car and heading for the city of Lehigh Acres.
We went to Everglades national park and for the airboat trip. The trip was fun, and the gators not so scary as they had seemed first. More 40 miles towards Miami and we also visited Miccosukee Indian Village.
The last week approached and the only other thing we wanted to see (okay, not the only one, I'd love to stay on Florida and travel around the USA) was Orlando and its parks. Unfortunately, we only visited Sea World and Aquatica park, as those two, especially the Sea World, were too big and took lot of time to look around. I was a bit disappointed ´cause there weren´t as many animals as I thought there would be. The other day we headed for Cape Canaveral. Yep, to visit Kennedy Space Center, and I liked it very much. I've tried the shuttle launch simulator, which was amusing. I'm just pissed {at myself} and sad that I haven't seen the real shuttle launch, for I missed it. Sucks.What we also enjoyed was shopping in many, many shops that can be found literally everywhere- all those malls with hundreds of shops, one cannot decide which one go to. Even though it wasn't that cheap as everybody said- you can buy loads and loads of clothes for just 5 bucks, if not less, bla bla- the outlets were a bit cheaper than in Europe, especially American brands, like Guess or Victoria's secret.
Three weeks went by so fast it's unbelievable. Despite the hot weather {which I'm not very fond of} I had a great time. Can't wait to come back! :)
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