The Big Trip in the USA
It’s been almost two weeks since I returned from a month vacation in the US (NY, Chicago, Washington and Philadelphia). I went there to visit Erin, my girlfriend, who lived at the time in Mundelein, IL. Needless to say, I had an amazing time. The privilege of taking a the time off from my regular job (and my freelance clients) was something I couldn’t take for granted.
The USA was amazing. The size of everything (Coronet Pizza in NYC), the variety of every menu, every store; the kindness of strangers (Yes, even in NYC, the politeness there blew my mind time and time again)… Every business, if it’s an NBA stadium, a museum or a simple pizza place is well thought of in terms of experience (Medieval Times in Chicago and Bill’s Pizza in Mundelein especially). Beauty and Creativity were in every corner, and even though I was with a camera all the time, I know I didn’t even capture a bit of that. Having said that, here are some pics that I did take. More pics are in my Facebook album.
The Big Trip in the USA
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4880.jpg]Lady Liberty](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4880.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4442.jpg]A place we didn't go to. And kinda regret about it.
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4442.jpg]A place we didn't go to. And kinda regret about it.](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4442.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4483.jpg]Bought a pair of snickers
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4483.jpg]Bought a pair of snickers](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4483.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_2011-12-14_14-52-18_806.jpg]Brooklyn Bridge. I think...
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_2011-12-14_14-52-18_806.jpg]Brooklyn Bridge. I think...](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/2011-12-14_14-52-18_806.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4438.jpg]Next to Brooklyn Bridge
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4438.jpg]Next to Brooklyn Bridge](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4438.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4313.jpg]Erin in Williamsburg, NYC
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4313.jpg]Erin in Williamsburg, NYC](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4313.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4538.jpg]Erin in the Moma
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4538.jpg]Erin in the Moma](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4538.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4394.jpg]From the top of the Rockefeller Center
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4394.jpg]From the top of the Rockefeller Center](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4394.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4413.jpg]Nicest fence ever
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4413.jpg]Nicest fence ever](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4413.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4325.jpg]Another Williamsburg thing
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4325.jpg]Another Williamsburg thing](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4325.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4297.jpg]Posters I saw in the street of Brooklyn
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4297.jpg]Posters I saw in the street of Brooklyn](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4297.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4337.jpg]Manhattan
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4337.jpg]Manhattan](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4337.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_2892.jpg]Santacon
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_2892.jpg]Santacon](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_2892.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4501.jpg]Super-Mario made of squares of paper on Laura's apartment wall
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_4501.jpg]Super-Mario made of squares of paper on Laura's apartment wall](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_4501.jpg){kind=link}
[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_20111228_140159.jpg]Me at The Bean in Chicago
![[img src=http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/thumbs/thumbs_img_20111228_140159.jpg]Me at The Bean in Chicago](http://gidivigo.com/wp-content/flagallery/the-big-trip-in-the-usa/img_20111228_140159.jpg){kind=link}
It’s also time to thank some people who made it great, by helping me feel at home across 3 different states: Thanks Carrie (and the parents), Laura and Alex, for letting us crash. Thanks Robin, you’re a cool mom. And last but definitely not least, thank you Erin, for being the best girlfriend ever :-*