We were in front of the White House but we didn´t meet Barack Obama. I admired a woman demonstrating since 1981 for PEACE.
There were many monument former presidents, however the Roosevelt Monument was very intresting.
There were many ideas written down by famous Presidents about freedom and equality but it took till the end of the 60s when black and white people were aloud to ride on the same bus or attend the same school.
Northwards on our trip, Rock'n Rolling and Countrymusic were to be heard in the bars from Memphis and Nashville over and over again.
Moreover, in Memphis we visited the Graceland house of Elvis Presley which serves now as a museum. I was also very impressed at how successful he was at the many different types of genres (Hall of Fame for Rock´n Roll, Rockabilly, Country, Blues, Gospel) he performed in.
On the journey by the APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS I particularly liked the green hills of the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.
In the swamps of New Orleans, alligators can be fed by hand if you are brave enough! If you feel daring enough you can stroke them, too.
However, New Orleans is wellknown for its bars with live music and street musicians of every kind.
"There is a house in New Orleans..." (The Animals) has everybody in the ears. There are some of it, particularly in the animated Bourbon Street. For me the nicest houses of the USA stand here in the French Quarter.
On Saturday evening there was a Mardi Gras atmosphere about, this was because there was a pirates´ meeting.
The Half-Ironman was also held on this day. On my way into town, I was invited by some people to eat with them on the street. It was very amusing.
Real flying objects we could admire in Houston in the NASA Visitors Centre.
After a long journey passing wide fields with cattle and oil pumps we came to San Antonio. There we really liked the RIVER WALK. In a bar we had a lot of fun with waiters in a good mood and a cool band.
We saw none, but much "evidence" of their existence was present in the International-UFO-Museum of Roswell, New Mexico.
We drove on straight roads stretching to the horizon through wide flat countryside.
At Carlsbad we visited one of the biggest caverns in the world - at least, 13 football fields would fit inside.
We came back just in time to the camp site before a violent thunderstorm started.
Again there was snow when we awoke, but this time we laughed at how small the snowfall was. In true Navajo fashion as Carlos instructed, I washed myself with snow.
On our way we went past an old dwelling of Native Americans, in which around 600 years ago more than 500 people had resided. We were even able to go from one room to the other in the dwelling.
In Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, we found this same 600 year old architectural style influencing a modern town.
In the morning we were glad to see a marvellous sunrise.
Later strong winds whirled up so much dust that we didn´t see the sun for the rest of the day.
Nevertheless, we visited a former rock settlement of the Anasazi in the Mesa Verde National Park. The Anasazis 800 years ago built Pueblos with multifloored houses from clay and stones. It was interesting for me that the entrances were at the roof.
Lightning has destroyed over and over the woods at this high elevation (nearly 3000m).
In Monument Valley nature has made gigantic sandstone sculptures. Richard, a Navajo brought us to the most fascinating rocks (e.g., the eagle head) and told us stories about John Wayne and other stars who have made movies here.
In the evening Carlos reported about the former life of the Navajo, the expulsion and life on the reservations. Occasionally he drummed and Richard danced. We were very impressed.
We spent the night in a Hogan.
On the way to Grand Canyon we drove along historic Route 66 and stopped for lunch. Some of the others had Buffalo Burgers at the diner.
I felt overwhelmed by the flight on the helicopter over the Grand Canyon.
Also on my hike the next day I had to stop over and over again watching, astonished. Unfortunately, it was still cold.
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