Welcome to America
We arrived in America at the same time an unseasonal cold snap. So back on with the chimney for the first time in over a year and we soon had a lovely log fire roaring (with offcuts scrounged from the local building site).
Newport is a pretty town, based largely around the yachting industry and tourism. The first thing we noticed were the trees – huge, green and everywhere you look. The houses are mainly wooden construction, lots of T&G cladding and shingles. Some date back 200 years.
We met up with friends who showed us around by car - taking us to the out-of town shops and the second-hand boat store. We got new chains for our bikes, the old ones had seized solid after the Atlantic crossing! On the Cliff Walk we passed some of the enormous mansions or ‘summer cottages’ that were built along the waterfront by the newly rich in the late 1800’s.
People speak English in America but everything is slightly different.
The date is written backwards - 06/01 is 1st June not 6th Jan.
People are proud to fly the American flag.
You buy a phonecard but still need coins to use it.
You ask for chips and get a bag of crisps.
Even in a pub, you get waitress service...and are expected to leave a tip.
Cars are twice the size and boats have bigger hp engines.
Everywhere there’s a shop, there’ll be a ‘Dunkin Donuts’.
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road and navigation buoys are the opposite way round (red right returning).
We’re learning fast!
Newport is a pretty town, based largely around the yachting industry and tourism. The first thing we noticed were the trees – huge, green and everywhere you look. The houses are mainly wooden construction, lots of T&G cladding and shingles. Some date back 200 years.
We met up with friends who showed us around by car - taking us to the out-of town shops and the second-hand boat store. We got new chains for our bikes, the old ones had seized solid after the Atlantic crossing! On the Cliff Walk we passed some of the enormous mansions or ‘summer cottages’ that were built along the waterfront by the newly rich in the late 1800’s.
People speak English in America but everything is slightly different.
The date is written backwards - 06/01 is 1st June not 6th Jan.
People are proud to fly the American flag.
You buy a phonecard but still need coins to use it.
You ask for chips and get a bag of crisps.
Even in a pub, you get waitress service...and are expected to leave a tip.
Cars are twice the size and boats have bigger hp engines.
Everywhere there’s a shop, there’ll be a ‘Dunkin Donuts’.
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road and navigation buoys are the opposite way round (red right returning).
We’re learning fast!
posted by Katie at 7:12 PM
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