from Celina-Marie Kuehne /
In the summer of 2019, I was to get my first taste of this great country where I would soon be living….
On Independence Day, July 4, 2019, we arrived at Houston International Airport to begin a four-week journey through what my parents called “The West.” I couldn’t really imagine what to expect.
FROM TEXAS …
Our first stop was at the fantastic beaches of Galveston Island and the Gulf of Mexico! I’ve never been this far south (geographically at the level of Cairo!). The sun was hot in the white sand, and I enjoyed every minute, but we also wanted to visit the NASA Space Center in Houston. I had never been involved with space travel except for some Alien movies… But climbing the Space Shuttle and visiting the Mission Control Center was so interesting. I learned a lot about the history of American space programs.
Galveston Island
NASA Space Center, Houston
We continued our way to San Antonio with the beautiful River Walk and the famous Fort Alamo. But, of course, a little bit of history is a must…
Our next destination was Austin, TX. This is the capital of Texas and the city where my parents want to live. My first impressions were not so great, but now that I live in this fantastic “heart of Texas,” it is one of the best places in the world!
… ABOUT OKLAHOMA / TEXAS …
We headed north to explore some history on the famous Route 66. The old charm of the historic buildings and the old neon signs is so beautiful. The people there restored many of the old-fashioned buildings. A very cool place where art and fun come together is Cadilac Ranch near Amarillo. Some old cars are partially buried in the ground and anyone can paint the sculptures with color spray! I loved this place! We then spent the night in Tucumcari, the area from the animated movie Cars.
Route 66
Cadilac Ranch, Amarillo
… TO NEW MEXICO / ARIZONA / UTAH …
Via Gallup, we reached New Mexico with a different culture, different landscapes, and the first influences of the Native Americans.
Once in Arizona, we drove off the interstate through the Navajo reservation. This was a little strange for me. People live so far apart; no towns, just small settlements where people live in family clans. The landscape changed. If you drive what feels like 100 miles through barren desert landscapes in New Mexico, it totally changes in Arizona. The forests there seem endless, but then it changes again into a more barren landscape, with breathtaking rock formations the further you get towards Utah.
And then I was to explore my first canyon! Canyon the Chelley is a national park. We were there in a lodge of the Navajo. They are very close to nature and believe in spirits. We saw the old cliff dwellings in the canyon that are more than 2000 years old. Some of the older people still live in so-called hogans, small round buildings made of clay oil and wood, with no windows, only a small entrance and a vent for the fireplace. I couldn’t believe it … without electricity, water from the well, TV and all our modern conveniences.
But the biggest impression on me made the wild horses everywhere! I never expected this, but I will ride such a great horse the next day!
My mother’s favorite place was the next destination. Monument Valley, between Arizona and Utah, was an incredibly unique place. Originating from a primordial sea and formed by erosion over a thousand years, massive red rock formations tower into the blue sky. And in this breathtaking landscape, we took a ride on the trails through the valley. I really felt like a cowgirl! This was an adventure I will never forget!
But we had to start the way back to the south. So we stopped at “Four Corners,” the only place in the USA where four countries (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico) border at one point.
Then it was through forest and mountain landscapes via Santa Fe into the desert of New Mexico. Miles and miles of nothing … just a long, straight, empty road, for hours …. nothing. I never thought there could be “nothing” but grassland and sometimes a few cows for so long.
… NEW MEXICO AGAIN…
Finally, we reached Roswell. I have never heard of it, but it is famous for an alleged UFO crash in 1947! Everything there is designed as an alien: Street lamps, pictures on the walls, even the dolls in the shop windows. There is also an Alien Museum, and every year a festival where people from all over the world come to Roswell to celebrate the UFO crash… Strang thing…
Back in the south, we also visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This is one of the largest cave systems in North America. It is almost 835 feet deep, which is the height of the Empire State Building in New York. Thousands of Mexican bats live in these caves and go out every evening for their hunt.
… BACK TO TEXAS
The last stop was back in San Antonio. Here I had another great adventure that I never expected. We visited Sea World! Here we saw shows of many sea animals, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and sea lions. I had never seen an orca before! They are so big but so beautiful! And then I got a surprise: I could swim with the dolphins! Wow, what a great experience.
So many new impressions! So many different places I have seen! Places where many others will never be. These were four great weeks with incredible adventures!
And here is our route – about 3,000 miles / 5,000 km!
