Hello everyone, welcome to my report of my happy travels. I'm short in time, so I'll cut the story up in pieces. That way I can use cliffhangers and all. Yeah Awesome!
I'm sorry.
Hmm, where to start? Well, it all starts in Brussels International Airport one week ago. I've traveled by plane several times and I've obviously been many times in that airport before. But, I never had to worry about a thing since my parents took care of the whole ordeal. Now I was on my own. So I get there and of course I spent first half an hour to find the right check-in desk. Once I found it - and it still wasn't the one - I discovered you need to give an address if you are to travel to the glorious nation of US and A. Surprise! Of course I didn't have one. So, I paid 6 euros to look on the internet for a random address in Austin in order to actually enter the U.S. Then, at the correct check-in desk I am given a first taste of the madness of America's jolly security measurements. I'm there, standing in line, minding my own business, when this over friendly guy comes up to me and starts asking me silly questions. First off: "Who is the owner this luggage you're carrying? Is it yours?" - Ehm, no, it's my dog's. "Do you carry any object that can be considered or can be used as a fatal weapon?" - Perhaps my nail trimmer? And so and so on. It got better when I landed in Atlanta. After that interesting inquiry I went up to my gate and tried to catch some sleep because basically I hadn't slept all night. Of course not. I prefer to pass my last night in Belgium with friends than in bed and then risk the danger of not waking up in time. Oh dear, self-knowledge is the key to wisdom.
On the plane I'm immediately introduced to typical Americans receptiveness. A nice fellow tried to convince me to go to Nashville instead of Austin. He even gave me his phone number and address. He was friendly, only I stayed cautious. He was telling me about 17 and 18 year olds from Europe coming to his house to study or something. "Aaw, there all so grown-up now", he said with a disturbing smile. That's when I started thinking. Or maybe I'm just talking nonsense and this guys really has no bad intentions. Hmm, it's sad that this cruel world has shaped my thoughts like that. But you know, you can't be to careful nowadays.
Whatever, don't take it too seriously.
In Atlanta I didn't have that much time to catch my other flight to Dallas. But thanks to the increased security measurements I arrived at my gate just 10 minutes before take-off. Now, I understand that fluids can be an important ingredient or a potential bomb. But prohibiting me of taking a bottle of water, yes, WATER, to the aircraft is not fun. Moreover, it is a violation of a basic human right. But then again, I guess that charter of Human Rights is worth an empty jar of expired peanut butter at customs. Oh, and the coolest part of wandering in a U.S. airport is one, you get to take of your shoes so you lose more time and two, your fingers and eyes are scanned so that you wind up in their list of foreign visitors who can be potentially dangerous for the safety of U.S. citizens. How about that? Oh well, I suppose it's all necessary for our safety abroad. I tried to look at it with some humor. But that's kind of difficult if you have only ten minutes to catch your flight.
Once in Dallas, I encountered a wholly new adventure. Namely, finding the bus station. Luckily the bus drivers were all very friendly once they saw the lost stranger look in my eyes. It even got to the point where this bus driver called Jason helped me out with finding that bus station. He gave me a free ride AND a day-pass to cover all transport. "You know what, take this. To help you on your journey." That is a very pleasant way to start a trip, I must say. So I got to the bus station in Dallas and booked the first ticket to Austin. Sometimes it felt like Mexico already. Mexicans are everywhere. And Negroes too. A lot! (My apologies to anyone who feels offended by that choice of word. I just like it. I think a "colored person" is more offensive.)
In that bus station I spent my very first dollars on a bottle of water that I didn't get. Those damn machines... Anyway, I arrived in Austin at around midnight and didn't know where the fuck to go. The surroundings told me I wasn't anywhere near the center. I walked around and looked for a good place to sleep. Luckily it was still pleasantly warm so it wasn't really a bummer.
Eventually I slept in a secluded corner of a parking lot. I figured starting the next early would be a good idea of finding a place to stay for few days. And thus, I get up and take the first bus downtown. "Do you go to the center of the city, sir?" - "Huh? What? Oh, Downtown you mean?", "Uhm, yeah whatever." So I hop on and 40 minutes later the bus driver tells me that's how far he can take me. I managed to find one of the main avenues ánd something that could be a considered a city map. I had an address of hostel which by then was my only reference point. So I start walking in what I thought was the right direction, until suddenly a girl accompanied by a hispanic type asks me from behind my back where I'm from. We start smalltalking and after five minutes I had scored a place to stay. Well, I didn't do much actually. The girl, name: Sammi, offered me to stay at her place instead of the hostel. I couldn´t have been more lucky. There I was, at 7 AM, not knowing anybody or anything, and suddenly this guardian angel appears from out of the blue. Was I extremely lucky? Was it Karma? Or pure coincidence? Anyhow, it was the best that could happen to me.
The next ten days I stayed at her place. I hung out with her friends, explored Austin's magnificent Green Belt and smoked a lot pot thanks to Casey, who I like to refer as Mr. Bong. Austin has it all: a cosey center mainly around Sixth street, lots of bars, live music everywhere, little shanty markets, preppy show-off girls 'n boys, bizarre characters that talk to themselves and nature. Yes, green nature. In Texas. I was surprised too. When I think of Texas I think of desert, rednecks with a heavy accent and a good sense for retarded politics. Well, that's everything Austin is not. But mostly I was amazed by its green beauty in and around the city. One has to drive maybe 15-20 minutes to go swimming in a creek totally secluded by lush trees and high hills. It feels like you're far away from urban area, but it's not. Instead, you can go camping in the woods, swim a little, hike for miles, return home, take a shower and go out at night to catch a premium local band in of the many live music bars around. And in Antwerp they closed a very fine live music bar because of noise pollution. Jeezus, what are we? An Amish community?
Well ladies and gentlemen, that's about it for now. More is to follow for sure. Yesterday I arrived in Monterrey, my beloved Mexico. The bus ride from Austin to here is worth a whole post so stay tuned for more! I hope y'all enjoyed the first part. Sorry if you think it's too long. But you know, ... whatever.
Hasta la proxima!
P.S.: Oh right, pictures will follow shortly.
