Sometimes it takes reading a laundry list of All-American highlights written by someone else (an Australian who’s currently roadtripping from Florida to the northeast, in this case) to realize just how exotic my own country looks through an outsider’s eyes. So I’m cutting and pasting said Aussie’s random, rambling and spot-on impressions below. It made me smile and brought back some fine memories of my own US roadtrips this morning. In true stream of consciousness style, she writes:

“The US to date..! Grits, Biscuits and Bacon, pancakes in Deleon Springs (Florida), Country Fried steak & Gravy, Salt water taffy, Joe’s Crab Shack, A reading in Cassadaga (Florida), Male strip club, Drag show, $1 Bills, bagels, Proper bloody Marys, A perfect wedding, A beautiful Bride, The perfect Day, The gator crawl, Horse drawn carriage, Florida Keys, Deland FL, Saint Augustine FL, Savannah GA, Charleston SC, Sun baking in grass, bonfires, oysters, minorcan Chowder, MOONSHINE, Key lime pie, Conch Chowder, She crab soup, Blackened redfish, conch fritters, Lobster roll, pecan praline, caramel popcorn, Hot dog hat, markets, Historical inn on ghost tour, 1923 Buick touring car, Long Island Iced Tea…!, Driving on the WRONG side of the road, Outlet Malls, Smoking BBQ’s, Blueberry Pie, vOmIT:-(, Free pour drinks (read: unlimited refills), Road Trips, Waffle House, Great roads, Cobble stone streets, Flea Markets, Awesome architecture, Great People, Great company..! A big thank you to all the beautiful friends that have put us up..! A ripped, black-blue bridesmaid dress, A country of convenience, leprechaun’s hat, homemade datil pepper sauce, Dancing, Collard greens, Hushpuppies, Cornbread, Blisters. Some more VomiT, Cheap Ciggis (cigarettes), Sore Body..! PBR Beer, beautiful weather.”