Transitions, Changes and Americus the Beautiful
And then we waited … And waited… And … We were at loose ends after we submitted our application in late August to the Portuguese Embassy in Washington D.C. for a long-term visa. According to the fine print in the application, the review and approval process could take up to three months. (The fact that we received our visas in under two months could be seen as testimony to the alacrity with which the Portuguese bureaucracy can move when it sees a couple of prime candidates for immigration.) But given this gift of free time, and we did after all have a car again, we decided to take a road ramble with only a loose itinerary, following our inclinations with no particular place to go.
Wyoming
Our time in the US could have been measured in the places we stayed: one rental apartment, two housesits, six guest rooms with friends and family and, lastly, fifteen hotel rooms. We could have counted our time in miles spent crisscrossing the USA: approximately 5800 miles. Or the number of states we drove through, seventeen, from Texas through Colorado to Washington and Montana and then through a part of the midwest and the deep south to Florida and finally to Georgia where we left our car with family. Or tallied the airport flight connections and boarding areas we sat in from the time we left Portugal in mid-July to our return in November, a mind-numbing seventeen. We could enumerate the number of photos of old friends (friends old in the longevity of our association as well as longer of tooth) and family with whom we spent time catching up, laughing and playing “remember when?” or the countless pictures of breathtaking scenery and small town life as the miles rolled by.
Montana
Florida
During our sojourn we fell in love with our home country, this time as travelers seeing it from a new and different perspective after our three years spent out of the US. The vast road system woven throughout the states, driving Interstate highways around the big cities and state highways through small cities and towns with their flags and banners displayed. Friendly clerks at countless gas stations, waitresses greeting us with smiles and refilling our cups of coffee time after time, places where people take pride in their hometowns.
Livingston, Montana
We whiled away an afternoon in Livingston, Montana where the Yellowstone River flows north from its headwaters in the Park through the Paradise Valley flanked by the majestic Absaroka Mountains. We stayed one night in Americus, Georgia and visited the site of nearby Andersonville Prison, a name synonymous with the horrors of the Civil War in our own country.
Andersonville Cemetery
In nearby Plains, Georgia, yards had signs showing their support: “Jimmy Carter for Cancer Survivor.” Meanwhile, a Confederate flag hung side-by-side next to an American flag across the street from the Secret Service sentry booth outside President Carter’s family compound. In the other direction and a hundred miles or so down the road was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s summer home, “The Little White House,” in Warm Springs where he showed people that America and the world could be fixed again and hope could thrive.
Watching the nightly news and the Republican and Democrat debates told us what was wrong with the US – in divisive and contentious language and finger-pointing accusations. But our travels showed us another story: what was positive, strong and right with our country. Many things may be broken but there’s a lot that works and a lot of which to be proud.
Alabama
We left the US this time with a deep appreciation for what it represents but glad to be resuming our lives in Europe, with the opportunity to learn about new countries and cultures, art and architecture as well as to meet new people and hopefully, become a part of a community. And here we are, finally and barely a week into setting up a new life in Lagos, Portugal, transitioning from full-time nomads to traveling expats with a home from which to venture forth and return.
Anita and Richard
I have the same feeling when I am back home. I feel more at home when I am in a new place.
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Sometimes we feel that way also. It’s an interesting feeling to see your country through the eyes of a tourist!
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Comgratulations on the start of your new life in Portugal. My husband and I often think of the Algarve as a great place for a home base when we retire, it is particularly apealing because I speak Portuguese. Like you guys we also want to do a lot of travelling. I will be following your blog to see how you get on with life in the Algarve. Enjoy!
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Thanks for dropping by our blog Gilda and best of luck following your travel dreams. Learning some Portuguese is one of our priorities – you’re way ahead of us since you speak the language already! We think the Algarve will be a terrific home base and are really looking forward to exploring more of Portugal and the option to go anywhere in Europe too.
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Great to hear more of your adventures! I think it is so lovely that your perspective changes after being gone for so long. All of the little details seem to come to the surface.
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The road trip was a great success that we’re eager to repeat again following a different route next fall. We lived in Montana and Idaho for many years and I don’t think until this visit that we fully realized what beautiful places they were (mostly we just remembered the bone chilling winters!) Our perspective really did seem to be changed with the years we’ve spent traveling and we noticed and appreciated so many things that we’d taken for granted when we lived in the US.
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What a great road trip! Congratulations on the move!
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It was fun and we’ll definitely plan another road trip when we visit the US again next fall. And now that we’re in our new apartment we have to admit we’re enjoying being in one place for a while and recharging!
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it is great to stay still for a while, enjoy!
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We’re looking forward to putting down some (shallow) roots. There are so many places to explore in our own back yard that we have no fear of getting bored with being in the same place. Even in the slow season there are so many things to do, learn and see that we can be as busy as we choose to be!
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It is interesting to hear how you had a much different perspective touring the US after some long term travel abroad. We are very excited to do the one day soon. I am quite sure we will also have a different view exploring the US as a traveler. You used your “wait time” in a great way! Enjoy Portugal!
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You’ll love being tourists in your own country. Traveling long term in other countries has enabled us to see the US with a totally different viewpoint and greater appreciation of its many regions. And it’s so huge we’ll never have to do the same road trip twice.
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We’ve traversed the USA on 4 separate long distance road trips and I’ve always thought every citizen (and definitely every politician) should drive across country at least once. By doing so one becomes so much more aware of why our country is so divided. Why wouldn’t it be?! The USA is so vast and so diverse, different cultures and different dialects, all within the boundaries of the country. And, I can’t wait to get out there and explore more!
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During our working lives and the time off limitations of 2-week vacations per year we only took short road trips to visit various states. Now that we’re retired we view time as a huge gift and having only an end point of Atlanta, Georgia (where our car is stored) defined turned our driving into a spontaneous and fun adventure. We’re with you as far as planning more road trips for future visits back to the US. It’s great to be tourists in our own country!
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Sounds like a great road trip. I love how you’ve pointed out the little things that are part of defining a country.
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Thanks Donna. We both try to notice and point out the details that catch our eye and set a scene apart. In the case of a country as big and diverse as America (where there are a lot of forests versus the trees) it’s the little things that really help to define each region.
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You’ve made me want to do two things. One go on a 6 month road trip around America, and two see what Portugal might be like as a place for semi retirement – so wait your next posts with baited breath!
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That’s great Johanna. Isn’t it awesome to have choices? You could even do both! And we could say “Ditto, right back at you” as your descriptions and pictures of Australia are so interesting. We’ve wanted to visit your country for years. At least now we’re a little closer!
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What a fabulous road trip, especially for someone like me who has never been to America. Now I’m waiting with great interest to see how life in Portugal treats you … and wonder if it’s a good spot for semi-retirement for Aussie expats.
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We’ll start reaching out to the expat community next week now that we’re feeling a bit more settled and see what retirement in the Algarve is all about. Evidently the Brits and Germans love it here as there are large numbers of them in the area and the lower cost of living and weather are important factors. If we spot some Aussies we’ll be sure to ask them for an opinion!
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So much great stuff to see here in America. We have loved seeing as much as possible in our little RV. How cool to see it with a new perspective.
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There’s so much to see in the US that it’s hard to decide between all the places and choices. Maybe we’ll have to get our own BAMF like you two and really put the pedal to the metal!
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What a great road trip. I always feel the same way about Canada when I return and take the time to travel around. Sometimes I even make it to the States. North America has a lot to offer, and it is a great place to live. However, I still enjoy getting on the plane and returning to my expat life. Hopefully, I’ll be in Lagos this winter, and I’ll contact you to get together for a coffee!
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And we have to add Canada to our list of travels too! North America IS a great place to live but, like you, we’ve enjoyed returning to our expat life. It’s so much more interesting and fun to see different places, meet new people and observe life in other countries, finding out what’s done differently and what’s the same. Hopefully, we’ll be able to travel for many more years and save the same-ole-same-ole for much later!
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Lovely road trip, I need to visit more of the middle regions in 2016, looks like fun!
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We’d talked about doing a road trip for years and the journey exceeded our expectations. It always seemed a shame to us that our recent travel has been outside the US and we hope to add yearly road trips to our travel itinerary so that we can visit places we’ve never seen in our own country.
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The U.S. has so many regional differences that I can understand how we feel like foreigners visiting other cities and states. Sounds like a hell of a road trip!
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The feeling of being foreigners in our own country was exactly how we felt, especially as we moved into the midwest and deep south where we’d never been before. It was really eye-opening experience to see the US as a more seasoned traveler and appreciate the areas we drove through. And you’re right, it was a helluva road trip and we’re already planning to explore some more states when we visit again next fall.
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What a journey you are on. So sweet to read about the signs for Jimmy Carter. I had to read that sentence twice. One day I will get to Portugal……I’ve heard so many great things about it.
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Plains, Georgia was a really sweet little town and driving through in the fall was the perfect time with some cooler weather and fall colors. We loved the signs for President Carter, too and other signs throughout the town that showed their genuine liking for this man as well as their pride that a President of the US came from Plains.
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What a fine travel article, a zoom-out to talk about the forest rather than the trees (although a few of them stood out like Livingston, Americus and Plains which were also stand-outs for us). Will be eagerly waiting for your updates about Portugal! We are thinking about our next stage of travel, too!
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Thanks Carol. We left out a lot of towns and cities that made an impression upon us (Lubbock, TX was NOT a favorite!) but we’re glad you agree that the one’s we mentioned were also stand-outs for you. And when you start planning your next round of travels let us know if Portugal is on the list!
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We own a timeshare in Albufeira, Portugal and will probably be there in spring 2018!!!
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By then we’ll have lots of places to show you!
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What a lovely, bittersweet description of your trip around the US. It echoes the way I’ve been feeling about the US lately: I love it, despite the acrimony and polemics of its politicians, and that’s mostly because it’s actually a very friendly place.
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I think our travels about the US this fall showed us what a unique and beautiful country it is despite the inflammatory rhetoric and outright racism that’s occurring at this time. There are always idiots around – it’s just amazing to us the numbers of people who appear to support them! However, just like Dorothy says, and especially at this time of year, “There’s no place like home.”
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There is nothing in the world like living outside the country you were born and raised in to make you appreciate it.
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We definitely have to agree with you on that point, Lyn. Over the years we’ve lived in many places and it was an eye-opener to go back and experience them as a traveler. We have a new appreciation for the diversity of the landscapes throughout the US as well as the vast distances and spectacular landscapes.
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So glad to see you and know how happy you are. We are also very happy for you. Love you both
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Thanks Aunt Mary! It was great to see you and all of our Montana family while we were in the US. Hopefully it won’t be so long between visits next time!
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Congratulations! It looks like your travels through the U.S. were worth the long wait. Did you change themes? If so, I love the new theme you are using on WordPress.
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If you have to wait it’s much better to be busy doing something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time. We had so much fun road trippin’ that we’re already putting together a list of states to travel through when we go back for a visit next year. Maybe some day we’ll get to all 50! As for the theme, Dynamic, we’ve had it for about 2 years and really like how versatile it can be (although, usually we’re not!) Thanks for the feedback – it’s always good to know how it looks to our readers.
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Sounds like a wonderful road trip. And welcome to Portugal and your new life there. Perhaps we’ll come to visit one day 🙂
Alison
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We’re feeling very welcome indeed with all the smiles and days filled with sunshine. A meet up would be great, Alison and Don and hopefully we can act as tour guides and show you around. Consider yourselves invited anytime!
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Great to hear the bohemian tales! What will you occupy yourselves with during the winter months? How do you find the cost of living in the south of Portugal wher you are?
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Maybe not quite so bohemian as we go about setting up a base. As for keeping occupied we have whole lists of places to go and things to do. One of our priorities is to start learning some of the language. Portuguese looks difficult and the pronunciation very confusing but, while it might be a lot of hard work it’s sure to have some rewards, too. As for expenses, we track our daily costs and plan to put together a spreadsheet at some time in the future. It’s always an eye opener to see cost of living figures – we’ll hope these are favorable!
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I’m going to go google Lagos, and follow you along! Happy and safe travels – Susan
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So glad to FINALLY be here with our feet on the ground and getting into the process of settling in. There’s a HUGE difference between staying for a few weeks or months and actually setting up house. Banks, phones and internet, etc. Hassels galore but conveniences that are very nice to have!
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