As compensation for my now destroyed plans to visit Berlin and Prague over the Summer, I've spent this evening planning an altogether different trip to take after my Summer German classes end in mid-August. Trying to plan a trip around the United States is mind-boggling: there are simply so many places to visit, and so many different ways of getting from one place to another, and there can be such huge discrepancies in cost depending on where you want to go. As a graduate student of vaguely poor means (cue violins), I've let my budget largely dictate where I go. It is actually good to be restricted in one way or another, otherwise I'd never be able to narrow anything down.
My original plan was to head to Chicago, Minneapolis (the first place my feet ever touched American soil), and various other places around that area: Milwaukee, the comically-monikered Normal, Illinois, Toledo, Columbus, Kansas City. However, after this itinerary - and especially Toledo - caused James to collapse into hysterics (he said it was like him running up to me and happily declaring a plan to spend the Summer in Blackpool, Hull, and Preston), I've had a rethink. The biggest casualty is, unfortunately, Minneapolis; I still really want to go back, but no matter how I tried to work it, I couldn't make it affordable on this trip. I am, instead, planning a trip around the South. My new and very tentative route - I should add that this might seem like a rather eccentric route to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the geography of America, but, to reiterate, I am guided by my budget - is as follows:
New York-Chicago; Chicago-Memphis, Tennessee; Memphis-Tupelo, Mississippi; Tupelo-Birmingham, Alabama; Birmingham-Nashville, TN; Nashville-Athens, Georgia; Athens-Atlanta, GA; Atlanta-Savannah, GA; Savannah-New York.
Without having a map to hand, it is kind of hard to explain this route. Which is why I've provided one! According to Google maps, my journey will be just over 2850 miles. Here is the link. Unfortunately, for some reason I can't get it to hyperlink, so you'll need to copy and paste it into your browser:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109593592121057696411.00044dc958703ca375e85&ll=37.439974,-79.101562&spn=16.653772,29.707031&z=5
I aim to take this trip for under $500, which will be no mean feat. I haven't entirely decided on the method of transport between every city - I can, for example, either fly from Savannah to NY, or take the (16 hour) train for the same amount of money. I can also either fly from Atlanta to Savannah or take a bus for pretty much the same amount - but it shouldn't cost more than $300. Chicago-Memphis, for example, will be $10 by bus; Birmingham-Nashville is $29 by aeroplane. If needs be I can sacrifice a couple of places (Tupelo, Athens), but hopefully I won't have to. I plan to take as many overnight buses as possible because a) they are much, much cheaper, and b) it means I have somewhere to spend the night. Otherwise I'm not sure what I'll do about accomodation - just find places as and where I end up. It might sound crazy, but I'm really not worried about it - if worse comes to worse I can sleep in a bus or train station (I can hear my Mum's eyes popping from here), but I'm sure I'll find somewhere. One thing's for sure: I'm not going to freeze in Mississippi and Georgia in August.
So, this is the plan. I am already excited. In my research I found out that Tupelo - the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and the inspiration for two quite brilliant songs - has had a Jewish community since the C19th, and even has its own synagogue, which is remarkable for a Southern town of just over 32,000. There are 20 Jews left in the town - I just emailed the synagogue asking for advice. Hopefully they will take me into the warm bosom of their little community. Any and all suggestions and comments are very welcome.
Any thoughts?
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9 comments:
Ah, Boy; no wonder a big black cloud is a-coming. I really don't think that Chicago is where you first laid your size 11's. I think it was Orlando, but I guess that rather spoils the symmetry of the tale........
No, Father, I didn't say Chicago, I said Minneapolis, and that technically WAS my first destination in the US. Remember Mum interrogating the immigration people about that mall?
Ah Boy,
Mea culpa, mea culpa.
However, there's probably still a big black cloud a-comin' - trouble is, it's a-comin my way.
Well I think your trip sounds brilliant
How ya doing, Yif?
from Simon's old Dad
Please do not sleep in any bus stations.
Sam
OK then, bus station are out. My sister already made me promise not to sleep anywhere public; I had hoped that bus stations were a grey area, but I'll defer to those with greater knowledge of these places than my own.
If you're going to sleep in bus stations Boy, best idea is to kip on the top deck of a bus - it's warm and fairly comfortable. Do they have buses with top decks in America? Is Woody Guthrie still alive?
i agree. no bus stations, at least not in chicago. if you need contacts here, let me know. i'll be in ny by then.
- isabel
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