Sunday, November 1, 2009

Yellowstone, Vancouver, Texas, Panama, Seattle...

It has been around 12 hours since my fligth from Amsterdam landed to Helsinki-Vantaa airport. I’m pretty exhausted from jet lag but the trip was definitely worth it. It’s been awhile since I’ve been without my computer or mobile phone for a month. I thought that it’s not possible but actually I got use to it really soon and I can’t say that I would have missed my electronic tools during the journey.

To recap a month journey to Canada, USA and Panama it included 12 flights, driving car for 5000 kilometers, 10 hotels ranging from rustic bamboo hut to all inclusive –resort and 9 different states in the USA and Canada. I traveled the whole time with my ex-flatmate from Sky Bar Tero Iso-Kauppila and we had a lot of funny experiences.

Yellowstone National Park

My original flights were from Helsinki to Seattle via Amsterdam and we drove to the night towards Yellowstone National Park directly from Seattle-Tacoma airport. Our road trip group topped up to five as Kevin and Bee joined from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Yellowstone National Park is situated in Wyoming and its area of 9000 km2 includes over half of the world’s active geysers, plenty of wildlife and beautiful nature. The unique feature of American national parks is that it is possible to drive around with a car and our journey was often stopped by bisons crossing the road. On our way to Yellowstone we also hit a deer driving around 100 km per hour but fortunately we survived but the car and the deer didn’t…


We were also stopped by police twice and I have to admit that the officers in the States are pretty cool. Idaho police said that our driving looked like the driver is sleeping so she gave directions to the nearest McDonalds for some coffey. Washington police officer explained how he has had all other Scandinavians except a Finn and despite of speeding for 20 miles he gave us thumbs up for returning to Vancouver without a speeding ticket.

There were some good sights on the way but I can’t really see what is there to do in states like Idaho (sorry Nicoleta), Montana or Oregon. Especially Americans consider each state like a separate country and these countries would have a lot of marketing to do to bring in the tourists. Or than we just didn’t see enough which would be justified by dozens of different motels and hotels scattered around those states. I just can’t understand how all of the accomodation places can make money with cheap prices and demand exceeding supply.

Vancouver

I stayed for a week in Vancouver and it would be a perfect place to live. Vancouver is extremely beautiful with great ocean and mountain views, sports opportunities are countless, people are friendly, things are working, people speak English but are still international, and living costs are decent.

Tero has been working for Simon Fraser University since June and now I got my own sight for Canadian lifestyle that I pretty much like. Canadians are crazy about ice hockey and each Canucks home game is sold out. Ice hockey is everywhere in life and it’s always a great way to start a conversation. I thought that my home town Tampere is a legendary hockey town but I got it wrong. We got premium seats to NHL game Canucks-Canadiens and witnessed Canucks 7-1 win over NHL:s most legendary team. We also went to see a Western Hockey League game Vancouver Giants-Kelowna Rockets where the crowd of over 6000 people cheered for potential junior stars. That is hockey culture!


I witnessed one weird occasion that proved how valuable human life is to Canadians. I was crossing over the main bridge of Vancouver, Lions Gate, as all the traffic was suddenly stopped during a rush hour. Not even the pedestrians were allowed to continue and there were a lot of police cars around one man who planned to attempt a suicide by jumping to water from the bridge. Soon the case was already in the news and copters were flying above us. Incident took around 1,5 hours and finally the police was able to talk the guy out from there. I walked pass and saw a total boozer surrounded by policemen offering him light for his cigarette. Unbelievable! Vancouver’s traffic was closed down for 1,5 hours just because this one selfish guy might have jumped to water which actually doesn’t mean he would have been killed as there were rescue boats in the water already. This action I wouldn’t call efficient or wise either as it only promotes more similar attempts after all the publicity.

At the end of Canadian adventure Tero ran a Royal Victoria Marathon to his personal best 3.40 in a beautiful island of Victoria next to Vancouver and I also did the half marathon resulting to 1:40. So our steps were not the steadiest when next day we headed for Seattle to catch our flight to San Antonio, Texas.

Texas

I couldn’t imagine how Texas would really be but from the movies I expected big cars, cowboy hats and warm weather. I guess I saw around five men wearing cowboy hats on a first sight coming out from airport so I wasn’t truly wrong. Everything in Texas is big and actually I liked the relaxing atmosphere of Texas. People are friendly and harmless, highways and shopping malls are huge, food is greasy and the most common apparel is the one with Texas Longhorns sports team logo on it. After Texas I also got a slight idea how it is possible that George Bush served two terms in the office and why Americans in general are overweight.

The biggest reason for our stop-over in Texas was Carlsbad Caverns that is situated in New Mexico around 600 kilometers from San Antonio. Carlsbad has the second largest cave chamber in the world and the caves were just impressive. After few days on classic Texas roads it was time for our main destination Panama.

Panama

We arrived to Panama during the rainy season and sitting in a crowded local airport bus when it rained heavily outside made me think whether we came at the right time. However, we only witnessed few showers during our 10-day trip so looking back it was a good idea to take advantage of low-season rates and lack of tourists. During the first weekend we stayed in capital Panama City to do some partying in local radio station anniversary party and with my friend Alberto who runs casinos in Latin America. Funny thing was when we met few locals at the club that took us to Panama’s air traffic control center the next day to see how everything works and also told some juicy stories about Central American air traffic.

After parties we took a van and boat combo (actually once even a combination of a van in the river) to take us to San Blas islands that is a homeplace of Kuna tribe. San Blas paradise islands were just the thing I needed and it was great to relax in ocean with only worry how to open a coconut. We also met some interesting people who were touring around Latin America for time periods exceeding to two years. Me and few other backpackers decided to test our swimming skills and swim to nearby island and back. Not a good idea because the waves were against us on a way back and we barely made it. And not especially after hearing from local tribe people that they have never swam there as the sea is full of sharks…


After few days in basic accommodation and food we got a great deal in the Panama’s best resort, Royal Decameron. It was all inclusive package so we had three days to enjoy the service of dozen of restaurants, pools and bars. Unfortunately, Tero got sick on a worst day so it was me who had to eat for two than. I tried horse riding and wind surfing for the first time, and I think that my horse didn’t like me the way he dragged me to trees and bushes and raced with other horses on airport tarmac. Stars were on my side and I could head for night party after some minor bruises.

I could add Panama to the places I could imagine living in. Everything is near as the country is small, and for instance it is possible to swim in both Atlantic and Pacific oceans in one day. Panama uses dollars, people generally understand English, country is safe compared to other Latin American countries, and activities are countless. Few downsides are capital’s heavy and congested traffic, lack of service culture and unhealthy food scene.

Seattle

The last two days we spent in Seattle relaxing, dining and walking around. Being the homeplace of Starbucks Seattle is really a city of coffee shops and bookstores, and it seemed that everyone is reading while waiting a bus, dining or sitting in a park. However, I was surprised how quiet the downtown area is and it reminded more of my hometown Tampere ona Monday night than large American metropolis. It was even hard to find a restaurant that would serve dinner past 10 pm. We recapped the journey over a dinner in Space Needle which has great views to Seattle skyline. I just love the city with skyscrapers, sea and mountains and with this trip I saw two in Vancouver and Seattle.


My former bosses and work colleagues have said that I’m really American which I haven’t subscribed to. This journey proved that I like many things that North America is offering. In general everyone is given an opportunity in life and entrepreneurship is highly promoted. Americans do know what good entertainment is and for instance I was hooked on watching American football broadcast just because it was so well done and entertaining. And things really work in North America. Highway system is just great, stores and malls have large sortiment, accommodation places are good and clean, and the thing I really value: Service level is superb in both quality and friendliness!

This trip also proved to me that traveling is often a good investment. Of course for everything there is a marginal utility but in general traveling gives new experiences, friends, conversation topics, and time for innovation and to oneself. Especially with current flight and accommodation prices it would be wrong not to travel at least once a year if just anyhow possible. There will be some changes in my life in upcoming months and I will keep you updated when I get a final confirmation. However, it looks like I won't be in Finland for the whole winter time...

2 comments:

  1. Your blog is very informatics related to hotels industries. Nice information!!!! I am also dealing in Online hotels booking services. If you need any assistance then you are welcome.

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  2. I also love to travel and sightsee. Great information! Yellowstone is one of my favorite places so far..

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