kwanzaabot
Athiest
Joined: 08 Oct 2009
Posts: 74
Location: live
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:10 pm |
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Hey guys, so I'm planning a trip over to the States sometime next year/early 2011. Depending on certain factors (such as taking time off from my studies and getting a work visa) I might be leaving sooner rather than later and I might get to stay there longer, but the trip's really in the early planning stages at the moment so nothing's really set in stone yet.
My basic idea is do start in LA, do San Francisco and San Diego (considering hopping the border to spend a day or two in Tijuana, but there's the whole drug war thing going on [or was recently, anyway] so I'm not sure how safe it'd be), then going over to New Mexico: I want to do the UFO tourist thing in Roswell, and my sister wants to see a Albuquerque Isotopes minor league game, then doing Chicago (involving eating Chicago-style hot dogs and getting free shit from Oprah), New Orleans (how's the reconstruction coming there? Would it be too depressing/dangerous to visit still?), followed by Miami, New York, DC, Boston and a week or so in Canada: Toronto and Quebec.
I'm also wanting to go to a taping of the Colbert Report. :D
I understand America is a big place, but I think LA and New York are the two cities I'm going to spend more than a day or two in, so my questions are really focusing on those areas, but if my questions apply to any other city, I'll take those answers too. 
Anyway, I have a couple of questions:
1. If I get the work visa, what sort of weekly expenses would I have? I'm talking rent, food, transport etc.
2. I don't drive (and I don't know how well I could adjust to driving on the wrong side of the road anyway!), so what's the public transport (buses, trains/subway) situation like on your side of the pond? How much does it cost in the various cities I mentioned, or does it exist at all?
3. Music! What are the best venues to see bands play and which outdoorsey music festivals would you recommend? I'd like to hear your personal opinions on this one, so I can go check out the bands in question beforehand, too.
4. Tattoos! Which shops in your hometown would you recommend? Which places should I stay away from?
5. What are the best beaches to go to? Mind you, I'm Australian, so any American beaches will suck by comparison, but what can you do. :P
6. What about food? What restaurants/street vendors should I absolutely not miss out on?
...that's all I can think of for now, I'll probably have more questions later.
Also, if there's any general advice you'd like to give, I'm all ears. |
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kwanzaabot
Athiest
Joined: 08 Oct 2009
Posts: 74
Location: live
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Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:19 pm |
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| Vice wrote: |
You have to book Oprah years in advance. Too many people want the freebies. I'd try Jerry Springer instead.
In Chicago try Portillos(for hot dogs/roast beef sandwhiches) and Fanny May (chocolates). Since I've moved to California I've missed them the most. |
Heh, I wasn't too sure I'd be able to get to see a taping, but years? Wow. I'd be so completely over it by the time I got to go.
Portillos and Fanny May, huh? Writing it down right now! |
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