Some Thoughts on America

I never had the inclination to visit America. It held no attraction for me. It was big. Very big.And it was very far away.
And then a few years ago my interest in American history was awakened. In particular history in relation to the Native Americans and the Civil War.

In 2012, I realised that the TFP held an annual weekend meeting in Spring Grove in Pennsylvania, and that this was not far from Gettysburg.
I began to look at the possibilities. Using Google maps I studied the area. I had driven in Canada, and so driving in the USA would not be totally new. My GPS had USA and Canada on it. So that took care of most map reading.
My wife was quite happy to let me travel. She was not sure her back would be up to the journey.
So I made my preparations, and in late October that year, I flew from Glasgow to Newark, and from there to Baltimore. I picked up my rental car and set off. I had a most enjoyable week long stay in York Pa, and spent 3 days in Gettysburg. I even experienced a sudden an unexpected snow storm with 10 inches of snow over the first weekend.

I went back again in 2012, and travelled a bit further, spending some time in York Pa, and some time in Fredericksburg VA. I also experienced my first USA hurricane - Sandy.

And now I am back from a third visit, where I travelled even further, about 1600 miles in 12 days, visiting 4 States. So, what do I think of America? How do I see it.

I love it.It is big. It is colourful. People are generally helpful and friendly. Driving is ok, though the freeways can be scary with the drive- in- any- lane and overtake- on -any -side. .
Gas is so cheap! Automatic cars so easy to drive. Such light steering. And U- Turns!
Eating out such fun. A huge variety of places to eat. Friendly service everywhere.People use forks much more than knives,and sharing from a large dish at the table. And I loved the steak and the ribs. Applebees! Outback Steakhouse!
 Prices so much cheaper than here in the UK, though taxes are not shown in the prices and added at the end. I was able to buy a card reader for my I pad at much less than the UK price.
But like many countries, there are the rich and the poor. Leaving a Walmart, there was a man begging for food from passing cars.
People in beautiful houses, people in run  down trailer homes. Sleek cars. Rusty cars.
Huge shopping Malls spreading out on both sides of the highway. Having to drive everywhere. Sometimes even to cross the road you have to drive!
Whenever I have attended Sunday Mass, the church has always been full, with people of all ages and colours, whereas here at home Churches are so empty.

So, my love affair with America goes on. I am already wondering if I can get enough supply work to fund another visit next October.
Keep watching this space.

Gettysburg 2

Two of my favourite films are about the Civil War. They are both made by Turner Films, and I have mentioned them before. One is "Gods and Generals", the other "Gettysburg."
Having visited the actual battlefield adds to my enjoyment and understanding of events as I watch the films. There is a small documentary about the site on the Gettysburg DVD.
I know that there is an annual re-enactment, but I am not sure I could manage to be there at that time.

The last few photos are of the town of Gettysburg. I have not explored it much but after 3 visits, have yet to find a nice coffee shop.

National Parks..Gettysburg

In my visits to the USA, I have visited a number of National Parks connected to the Civil War.
I find them all both fascinating and moving. There are audios you can buy to self guide, Park Rangers to walk you round, and in larger sites like Gettysburg, bus tours.
Personally I prefer to self guide.
I have now visited Gettysburg 3 times and have spent a total of 5 days on the battlefield. I have not yet seen it all.
It is an extensive site. Some locations are often busy, some are often quiet. The information boards are excellent at summarising what happened and what you can see.
And the enormity of what happened here cannot fail to move you.
Statues and eloquent monuments to people and events are everywhere. And the silence in the War Cemeteries is seldom broken. More than once I was moved to tears and prayers when confronted with the countless markers arranged across the lawns.
There are horror stories, stories of courage and bravery,of self sacrifice, and stories of soldiers moved to help even their enemies.
And these stories are repeated in every Battle site....Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Antietam...and the list goes on, North and South of the Mason Dixon Line.

Though I have studied this war, I struggle to make sense of the Geography of it all. You are overwhelmed with information as your mind forms images of what it must have been like.

It would be momentous to be present at the re-enactment of one of these battles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg

uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A9mSs3G73FtUAU4ABfRLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsYWhiN2NvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkAw--?_adv_prop=image&fr=fpc-comodo&va=gettysburg

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg.html

http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/gettysburg-national-military-park