doreyme: April 2010

After traveling (with steadfast driver-husband David + the very well behaved Angus) on our dog-cation through Ogunquit, Maine then York Beach Maine to Boston Massechusits then to New London Conneticut across a ferry to Mystic, Long Island NY to Sag Harbor another little ferry to Shelter Island NY then to Montauk NY through the Hamptons to Coney Island then Asbury Park, New Jersey then to Cape May + back up again to Wildwood + Atlantic City, New Jersey then back down to Cape May + across a ferry to Lewes in Delaware + then south to Virginia Beach in Virginia then north to West Virginia then into Maryland to visit the Civil War battlefields of Atietam + then north to Hagerstown Maryland + then over to NY through the beautiful Hudson Valley + then finally back into the La Belle Province That Never Forgets a few things stand out...

1) I'm sorry but a lot of Americans are really, really overweight. Like out + out fat. This includes way too many young people. I didn't take any pictures of overweight Americans. (Hey, 250 lb 16 year old with arms the size of Virginia hams. Mind if I take a picture of you? Really, are there any Canadian Diane Arbuses?)

2) But not so much wealthier looking people or their kids. They tend to look pretty trim.

3) There are A LOT of wealthy people in America. As we were following for a great while the Atlantic Coast or other bodies of water we saw many many many HUGE very very expensive looking houses, cottages, mansions, etc along the shores.

4) Some rich Americans (this seems to include corporations, clubs, etc.) own beachfront+ put up fences + barriers so people cannot even SEE the water.

4) Americans, especially Virginians, really love dogs + allow them in (outdoor) restaurants, parks, many beaches, even Hallowed Grounds. (Note: dog laws change after Memorial Day in many States. We were traveling off High Season.)

5) Some beaches, eg. in Virginia,even allow larger animals.

6) Unlike in Canada, many B+Bs, motels + hotels welcome dogs. Angus stayed in 7 different ones. From the very dog friendly chi-chi Gazebo Inn, Ogunquit , Maine

to the more humble, utilitarian Oceanside Beach Resort in Montauk, NY

where Angus could hear the breaking waves + see wild...

+ fairly close, the motel Andy Warhol bought in 1972 + the Stones stayed there + wrote a song about it.

7) Some parts of America look as if they are really hurting. There are many "For Rent" signs. Empty abandoned malls. Grocery chains, closed. Construction sites, on hold.

8)There are many Hispanic people + many bilingual signs + signage about.

9) Food proportions are HUGE. One plate of anything could easily feed two really hungry Canadians. (One place we stayed in had GRAVY at breakfast. I thought it was cream of wheat but it was white gravy for the bacon, sausages, waffles, pancakes + some cornbread thingy.)

10) Vegetarian menus or options are scarce once you leave really affluent or yuppy areas.

11) So are salads + real fruit juices.

12) If you are lucky enough to find an establishment that features salads on the menu, the average salads almost always include cheese. Or bacon bits. Or bacon bits in the dressing. Or bacon drenched croutons.

13) America is a photographer's dream.