Finally, the Pacific

Guille and i drove into Portland on wednesday afternoon. I know, its been a while since i've updated this... my dear friend Gyka called me out on it today. I've made a promise to myself to ALWAYS take her advise, because most of the time she is right on.

Not that i'm writing out of fear right now...

;)

That night we drove to a cool little street in a cool little neighborhood in the northern section of Portland, and we had our first (and only) great meal of the trip in this italian restaurant that served me my first glass of wine in 3 weeks. The next day we walked all around the city and i bought myself new clothes and books. Much needed city life, i must say, after so much road...

You have to understand that both Guille and i are soccer fans to really appreciate the fact that on friday morning we awoke at 7 AM to drive to seattle in time for the european supercup final. We watched the game in an irish pub near the harbor. I missed the first half because i locked my car keys in the car with the excitment.

I know...

It all worked out. I got my keys thanks to this guy named Mike, and Barcelona won 1-0 in the last minute of the game. It was great.

We walked down to the water, to take a picture proof of our coast-to-coast success:

(Seattle WA)

Seattle is beautiful. And it is where i said goodbye to Guille. I drove him to the airport on saturday night, hugged him, told him that it had been amazing to have him with me, and watched him walk slowly through security. It was then when the first stage of this trip ended. I walked towards the other end of the airport, and sat reading my book. Amy landed half an hour later, and it was then when the second stage of this trip started.

We drove back into Portland yesterday morning. We are staying with her wonderful friends in North Portland. Their hospitality has been incredible, and we are sleeping in their luxurious tent trailer that is parked in their driveway.

Tomorrow we drive to Eugene, where i have my first PhD interview. I'm excited, and a little nervous. The west coast will be very different than the cross-country driving, and i am ready to experience, and keep being impressed by this vast and beautiful country.

(me, reflected on a Seattle bus)

Eastern Oregon

So today driving towards La Grande OR on I-84 we ran out of gas.

I know.

...

The sun was bright as hell. Ramón on the side of the highway, Guille reading inside. Me playing baseball with the rocks, waiting for the AAA guy to show up. It took a few hours for him to find us because we told him the wrong location. I ran a mile down the highway looking for the nearest mileage sign with him on the phone. You guys know how long a mile is?? Jesus. Guille and i were talking politics for 150 miles and forgot about the gas. Its all Hugo Chavez's fault.

I actually loved the experience.

:)

So, no pictures because my camera ran out of battery yesterday. But we did climb a volcano in the middle of Idaho (who knew). We also crossed another yellow Ford Festiva on our way to the volcano. No Joke. It was so unreal. Amy told me today that we should have stopped and hugged.

Tomorrow, Portland.

Idaho

We left I-90 on Friday to make our way into Cody, WY and haven't gotten back into a highway until today. The last two days have been filled with small roads, up and down mountains, buffalo, national state parks, and beauty. I must say, these lands are empty of civilization. You don't think you need to drive up a dirt road for gas until you actually have to.

(somewhere in WY )

The last time i was in Cody, i was six years old. I don't remember well enough to compare. I have the feeling it hasn't changed much, though. Guille and i were both shocked at what a cowboy city actually looks like. Horses and cars, cowboys (with guns on their belts) and tourists (with cameras, like us) all strolling down Main street.

(Cody, WY)

After this, Yellowstone and Grand Teton were nature porn. Ramón behaved more than correctly (including today, when we climbed the Grand Teton mountain pass on our way into Idaho). By the time we left Yellowstone we had seen so many buffalo, we were actually hoping for a bear to feed our adrenaline.

(Yellowstone, WY)

I swam in a glacier lake in Grand Teton and i wish i had words to explain the feeling. I was the only human in sight.

I can't believe we've made it this far...

(Grand Teton, WY)

South Dakota (Part Two)

Driving West on I-90, past the Missouri, something amazing happens: the Badlands National Park on one side, the Black Hills on the other. The green fields of South Dakota become the amazing wild west. Rock formations that remind me of the old John Wayne movies that i use to love as a child. Driving down the road (above), i feel very small, and humble. I think about how ironic it is that i keep looking for roads that lead to beautiful places, and at the same time i don't believe there is a marked road for me. And i take the moment to be kind to myself.

My friend Molly sent me all her Indigo Girls CD collection to the motel in Sturgis, SD. I love her so much for this wonderful gift. Before we drove in, yesterday early evening, we had been driving around the Black Hills:

(Mount Rushmore, SD)

What an amazing day yesterday. Two nights ago we camped in the Badlands National Park. Setting up the the tent was easy, and painless. We spent the afternoon driving around the Badlands loop, stopping at every viewpoint, breathing the west. The night was filled with stars, and cold air. The morning brought rain, and i awoke with gentle taps, and it was beautiful.

(the view from our tent)

South Dakota has proven itself. It is, by far, the most beautiful state we've seen since we left New York. Today we drive to Cody, door to Yellowstone. I will be sad to leave the dessert behind.

South Dakota

(The Mississippi, in La Crosse MN)

Driving through South Dakota tonight, i saw the stars like i have never seen them before. I cannot wait for the Badlands tomorrow, and camp under them, and get to stare and admire. I will think about my friend Molly, who wishes for stars everywhere she goes. Today we drove past a few local towns looking for a mechanic that would replace ramón's fuel filter. We had to wait until Sioux Falls to get the job done, going 55 on the highway.

(If you are ever around this area, and you need a car fixed, let me know.)

Yesterday we drove across the Mississippi. It was amazing. We stopped and took pictures. Tonight we are sleeping 500 feet from the Missouri. We drove in late night, so i haven't gotten a chance to really see it. Tomorrow...

Tomorrow - The Missouri, and the Badlands. The west turned pretty, somewhere, on I-90, and I can't explain it with words. We were driving North, and then all of the sudden, the compass flipped to West, and it was pretty. The green fields, the red sun, and an empty road.

Chicago, IL

i lived two years in evanston, north of chicago. it was a very long time ago, but i still feel a slight sense of being home every time i visit. evanston hasn't changed in the last 20 years. it's a little bit scary... but safe. so safe, in fact, we've decided to stay one more day. we drive away tomorrow, following I-90 to minnesota. today i worked all morning on my orchestra piece (done!), then we had lunch downtown and we picked up ramón from the wonderful bolivian mechanics who gave him a full makeover. it runs great. today i also got the license plates from my amazing friend megan, who waited in line forever to get them and send them to me. finally, all the paperwork is DONE. what an ordeal, seriously. thanks thanks amy and megan!

also - i bought a zombie book to read in the motels of the west.

(walking the streets of chicago, near millennium park)

New York - Chicago

(ramón parked in squirrel hill)

ramón (above), guille and i left brooklyn on monday afternoon. we passed the night in a super 8 near allentown PA, and drove to pittsburgh PA the next morning. i'm still getting used to driving long distance, so we've decided to not go more than 5 hours in one day. pittsburgh was great, and way too short (thanks molly and j.) left early afternoon on wednesday and drove to toledo OH, fighting trucks the whole way. guille forgot his comfortable shoes in pittsburgh and molly is sending them to a motel in south dakota... toledo's super 8 was a 5 star motel. not joking. i got obsessed with a tv show called "i shouldn't be alive, the amazon special". so fascinating that people kept walking into that damn jungle with no map looking for adventure and almost dying for it. in the morning we had our free breakfast (seriously people, 5 stars) and drove to chicago. the windy city is looking marvelous, and guille flipped out with lake shore drive. at a friends house until saturday - so no driving for me tomorrow. only to take ramón to the mechanic to replace the exhaust pipe. its cracked. not a big deal, just too loud for us...

the west awaits and i am excited.

(ohio sunset)