MEMORIAL DAY

MONDAY, 30th MAY.

Memorial Day today, a federal holiday in remembrance of those Americans who died in their country's service.

In the just over two weeks we've been in this country, we've made a few  OBSERVATIONS.  They are :

1.  American people we've met have been warm and welcoming, friendly, cheerful, helpful, polite and honest.

2.  As in parts of Europe, speed limits and some road rules seem to apply only to foreigners, locals tend to blithely ignore them!

3.  Tipping has not been an issue, it appears to be up to the individual whether to tip or not.  We have done so on a couple of occasions...our choice.

4.  Light switches operate in reverse to ours, i.e. to switch on, flick up...it took a little getting used to!

5.  America is much the same size as Australia, but with about ten times more people it's obviously more densely populated
but as in Australia, there are great distances to travel between points of interest, sometimes with little in between, just like at home.

6.  Tax is not included in the displayed purchase price of items (as it is Down Under) but is an add on at the till..catches us every time but I guess we'll get used to it.

7.  The motels here don't have electric jugs....so we bought a cheap one from Walmart!

8.  It is legal to turn right against a red light at an intersection, providing it is safe to do so.

9.   We are so glad we came....we love it here!!

Today will be a day of rest for us, we plan to do very little other than catch up on emails, do a little 'homework' and decide where we will go next.