WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 12, 2017 8:03:53 GMT
Immigration is no longer as grim as it was, if my three 2014 experiences in Atlanta are any guide. There are new machines that enable returning ESTA holders to complete the formalities in under two minutes (provided you don't jam the camera by being, ahem, too tall for it) followed by a brief interview with an officer at the desk. Even if, as a first-timer, you don't qualify for a machine, the number of people who do will shorten the queue considerably.
But do be patient and courteous, however long you've had to wait. Even a little, non-gushy word about being pleased to be there and what you're looking forward to will go down well; officialdom does attract the odd blowhard but most of them love their country in a healthy way, and are pleased that we enjoy visiting it. Buon viaggio!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2017 12:42:06 GMT
Get a feel for current waiting time at immigration here: awt.cbp.gov
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2017 15:11:12 GMT
That's all good advice from Otto. Generally my experience is to be a honest as possible and you will be given huge leeway, especially with a British accent. We arrived in Newark Airport with food from home still in our carry on bags. I went to customs (or whatever name it had) to declare I had non-US food on my person. They were glad we asked and did not require us to dump it.
There is little lane discipline on motorways in the US. Lots of middle lane hoggers and overtaking is done anywhere and everywhere, especially on 3+ lane highways. Just go with the flow.
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Post by Hofmeister on Apr 12, 2017 16:55:21 GMT
That's all good advice from Otto. Generally my experience is to be a honest as possible and you will be given huge leeway, especially with a British accent. We arrived in Newark Airport with food from home still in our carry on bags. I went to customs (or whatever name it had) to declare I had non-US food on my person. They were glad we asked and did not require us to dump it. There is little lane discipline on motorways in the US. Lots of middle lane hoggers and overtaking is done anywhere and everywhere, especially on 3+ lane highways. Just go with the flow. There is lane discipline, its just different from ours. Their rule is "don't weave between lanes" It works well enough. Better than ours sometimes.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2017 17:33:23 GMT
I might be needing some tips from Otto soon. I may be visiting his fair city in a few months time to do some work for a customer over there. Bromp, we lived in Austin for four years and still have friends there so if you have any specific questions fire away. You are going at the best time of the year. In spring the temperature is usually pleasant and the hill country bursts into colour with wild bluebonnets and mexican-hat flowers. Take a decent camera with you but don't pick the bluebonnets, it's the state flower so it's illegal. If I were you I'd travel light and pick up a new wardrobe while you're there. You can pick up hardcopy of the state travel guide from Dept of Transport offices but here's a link to softcopy: www.traveltexas.com/assets/files/pdf/eng/ENG_TG06_complete.pdfThe following two sites also give some good info about travelling around Texas and the motoring dos and don'ts. www.txdot.gov/driver.htmlwww.texashighways.com/The weekly free newspaper has details of what's happening in and around Austin. www.austinchronicle.com/If you like sunsets with a cold Margarita take a trip to the Oasis on Lake Travis ( oasis-austin.com/ ) Fredericksburg and New Braunfels might be worth a visit if you are travelling around. San Antonio is a nice place. The River Walk is nice and cool during the day and there's a large mexican market in San Antonio if you're into that type of thing. Houston might not be too sweaty at this time of year but there's not a lot to see other than the Space Center. The gulf coast towns are a bit like english seaside resorts but luckily you've missed Spring Break by a week or two.
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Post by bromptonaut on Apr 17, 2017 3:10:37 GMT
Thanks to all for the advice/hints/tips above. Arrived OK at Houston yesterday after a smooth and uneventful flight. Loved the A350 and Singapore Airlines service was immaculate. Immigration a breeze, just a few questions, fingerprints and photographs and we were away. Note to self for next time to pay more attention and book first night hotel with bar and restaurant. Wingate by Wyndham was like a French BB chain establishment - rooms and unlimited breakfast. Courtesy bus took us to diner conjoined with Holiday Inn and saved us from microwaved meatballs on offer from vending machine.
Now in Austin where we've a nice studio suite just off 6th/Guadeloupe. Couple of walks round the locale. Nice pizza for dinner and then stood on S Congress bridge to see the famous bats. Judging by bugs on my hire car's windscreen (see post in EIII's car hire thread) it's breeding season and species that mate on wing are 'flying united'. The bats get a bogof treat!!
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 17, 2017 10:52:48 GMT
Sounds great, Bromp. You're certainly well placed for entertainment and sightseeing in that part of Austin.
Kevin mentioned New Braunfels, which is probably the most German of a lot of small German-inspired towns in that part of Texas. Also home (in 1991, anyway) to the only roundabout I saw on that entire nine-week trip. The locals seemed to cope with it; out-of-towners, not so well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2017 16:08:33 GMT
Bromp, if you are in Austin tomorrow evening (Tuesday) consider going to the Continental Club on South Congress. It's a 5 minute taxi ride or a 15 minute walk from where you are staying and Toni Price plays at 7pm on Tuesdays. Usually a small cover charge or a bucket passed round for contributions afterwards.
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Post by bromptonaut on Apr 18, 2017 2:58:52 GMT
Thanks Kevin, rather like that sound but we'll miss it. Last night in Austin is today (Monday). Hill Country beckons tomorrow.
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Post by bromptonaut on Apr 22, 2017 3:23:00 GMT
The Odyssey continues... Now in San Antonio for the academic's gig that seeded idea of this US visit. So far we are, to use the US vernacular, having a ball. Before leaving Austin we decided to base ourselves for 3 nights in hill country and chose Fredericksburg. Booking for a double bedded poolside room at the Peach Tree Inn www.thepeachtreeinn.com/ turned out to be a self catering apartment with kitchen etc all for less than $70 night including breakfast. A day round the town itself and another visiting LBJ's ranch. Fredericksburg was birthplace of Admiral Nimitz and is home to museum of the Pacific War. Huge amount of detail and while accessibly presented far too dense to fully absorb in the afternoon I'd set aside while Mrs B caught up on preps for this weekend. Needs another day to fully explore. The'Texas White House' was more straightforward but equally fascinating. Had his own airstrip and 'Air Force Half' (A Lockheed Jetstar) to ferry him in. As a plane buff found the opportunity to board and view flight deck etc was great. What is it that aircraft of that ers smell of? The VC10 at Duxford has exactly the same aroma. Part of display included de-classified recordings of LBJ's phone conversations with other leaders/politicos including a chat with then candidate Nixon following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. People so friendly and hospitable. Stopped in a place called Lano where the local courthouse dominates the town centre. Peeked through door and the bailiff, complete with side arm, invited us in and showed us the courtroom and when we passed in a corridor introduced us to the county attorney. Self catering introduced us to local Walmart. Huge store but choice, or rather variety, of food much less than in UK or the equivalent Intermarche in a small French town with an extensive rural hinterland. Several varieties of cheese all of same texture and similar flavour, same with cold smoked meats. Beer with no evident indication of ABV and restaurants with no externally displayed menu are another enigma. Gotten used to the car now and US signage and protocols. Wouldn't want and auto of my own though and attempts at left foot braking only result in risking sending Mrs B through the windscreen. Driving standards rather better than UK or France particularly observance of pedestrian crossings and separation in traffic etc. Very popular area with bikers, mostly Harleys but smattering of Hondas and Beemers. Surprising number ride without helmets. Striking out on my own tomorrow - still Friday here - either in car or local equivalent of Boris Bikes. Should get down to New Braunfels later too while the boss is conferring.
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Post by Hofmeister on Apr 22, 2017 17:45:29 GMT
Self catering introduced us to local Walmart. Huge store but choice, or rather variety, of food much less than in UK or the equivalent Intermarche in a small French town with an extensive rural hinterland. Several varieties of cheese all of same texture and similar flavour, same with cold smoked meats. Beer with no evident indication of ABV and restaurants with no externally displayed menu are another enigma. American food, is by and large, Plastic. In taste and appearance. There is no need for ABV quoted on american beer, most of it has no A to mention.
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Post by bromptonaut on Apr 22, 2017 18:02:36 GMT
My son likens it to sex in a canoe:
F*cking close to water.....
One or two nice IPA's though, local brew Hoppadillo is one example.
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Post by Hofmeister on Apr 22, 2017 18:19:11 GMT
My son likens it to sex in a canoe: F*cking close to water..... One or two nice IPA's though, local brew Hoppadillo is one example. If you can find a good Micro Brewery thats different, But National Beers? Nah forget it. (But even Micro Breweries wont be high ABV's, but they will have more taste)
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 23, 2017 7:13:12 GMT
Careful what you wish for. Odysseus took ten years, lost his entire crew, and eventually made it home to find only his dog recognized him. Honda used it once as a name for a school-run mummybus, which, as names go, is about as appropriate as King Herod Babysitting Services.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 12:40:26 GMT
People always used to think that US beer was weaker /lower in alcohol than European beer. In fact it wasn't. From [potentially flawed] memory a Buweiser was about 5.0%ABV and a Bud light about 4.2% Even a Coors Light was around 4.6%
The misunderstanding was caused because the US used to measure ABW (by weight) whereas Europe used ABV (by volume) and the beer companies had to label accordingly. Thus a beer sold as 4.1% in Europe would appear as only 3.2% in the USA,
I think they've moved across to ABV now, though not everywhere - State dependent perhaps.
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