Bakersfield, Marriott, local time 09.03. Easily adjusted to the time zone, I pulled out my tablet to share with you the experiences I've had over the past 30 hours. A race of hundreds of miles to some of the most spectacular places on the west coast of the USA.
"Your permit is not valid in the US"
As you probably read in the first article , this vacation was scheduled for 2020, but the “friend” SARS-Cov 2 decided to upset our plans. Although all reservations were reconfirmed for 2021, we mentally prepared ourselves for various problems, especially since the rules regarding the pandemic are different depending on the state you arrive in. The first unpleasant surprise was right at the car rental center. A lady, with braided pigtails, got stuck when she saw my driver's license. She turned it over, started filling in the data, checked it again in an online system, turned the passport over and over, and finally exclaimed “your license is not valid in the USA ”. I was sure that the lady had never seen a Romanian driver's license before in her life, so I requested the presence of a manager, but in the meantime I also prepared myself with the official regulations announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the website (http://mae.ro/node/3749) "The international driver's license is not mandatory in the United States, but it is to a certain extent, better received than the Romanian license, being more common. During their stay in the USA , Romanian citizens can drive vehicles based on Romanian driver's licenses. Local law (of each state) recognizes their validity for a maximum period of 6 months, after which their exchange for American driver's licenses becomes mandatory (if the stay in the USA exceeds the temporary nature of a stay for the purpose of visit/business/tourism). The use of the Romanian license for commercial activities (transport of people or goods) on US territory is not allowed, even if the Romanian license provides for this category of vehicles. For additional information, we recommend accessing the page website http://www.dmv.org/.”
After more minutes of checks, the lady was convinced that I had the right to drive, and the journey could continue. If you've never traveled to the US before or driven a car here, I urge you to google it to find out some traffic rules that only apply here. And pay attention to the speed at which you drive - remember that miles apply, not kilometers, and the Romanian rule of exceeding the limit by ten units can cost you several hundred dollars.
A road to the most beautiful sunset seen so far
Since we have more West Coast sights on the map, we decided to stay somewhere mid-range to what we wanted to see. The distances are not small at all and you refer to hours of driving. It's hard, especially since we haven't adjusted to the new time zone in two days, but think that you don't come every day and it's worth the effort.
So the morning found us ready for a trip to what would turn out to be a drive to the most beautiful sunset we've seen yet. We left Bakerfield with over 30 degrees Celsius in the thermometers, arrived in the middle of the desert in almost 40 degrees to stop on the shores of the Pacific Ocean at only 14 degrees. Part of the journey was through an arid area where, at one point, I found that I was the only car.
Monterey, 17 Mile Drive and Carmel by the Sea
The first stop was in the old fishing town of Monterey. A mix of buildings with Mediterranean architecture, a wooden pontoon with dozens of terraces beckoning you with seafood and hundreds of Americans celebrating Labor Day. We didn't realize that we would find ourselves on a day when almost all Americans are out on the patios and walking, and we couldn't find any restaurant seats on Old Fisherman's Wharf. So I enjoyed a seafood salad and a Pacific Ocean salmon sandwich from my feet.
The next destination was actually a visit to one of the most spectacular nature reserves on the west coast – 17 Mile Drive. A coastal road takes you through an exclusive residential area with multi-million dollar homes built right on the Pacific Ocean in a forest of cypress trees, some of them extremely oddly shaped. Access for a car costs $10,75 and is paid in cash only. There are 17 points of interest on the map you receive at the entrance. The winding road has parking areas set up for the most spectacular photos.
The area is RV-friendly and can be parked on the side of the road, but only on the ocean side. Remember, you are actually in a neighborhood of people who don't want to be disturbed and whose properties are stunning. The main attraction is The Lone Cypress. A tree, at least 250 years old, grown on top of a cliff as if specifically for Instagram posts
For those who do not want to travel the road by car, there are several centers in the area where you can rent bicycles. The recommendation is to have water and food with you because the only restaurant or shop you will find is at the exit from 17 Mile Road. And definitely, a jacket or sweater because the temperatures do not exceed 14 degrees, at least in the afternoon. And now….I don't know if you're a believer or not, but you can pray for the luck of a clear day where the wave of fog doesn't cover the entire coast.
Carmel, the town led by the mayor actor Clint Eastwood
Yes, it's not a mistake! In 1986, the famous actor Clint Eastwood won the mayoral seat following the elections held in Carmel. Having become famous, the resort/locality of Carmel became a tourist attraction. Dotted with houses that seem to have been detached from the Mediterranean coast, the narrow streets of Carmel lead you to the beach of the Pacific Ocean.
Thousands of people come here to admire one of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. Among them, and us!
Carmel is a place where you can find your inspiration, as they well said in the presentation of the town. The center is dotted with local restaurants, wineries serving only California wine, art galleries, painting and architecture workshops. The words of the two Romanian women who read the message written on the wife's blouse - "Give it back!" at Carmel.
You will find the holiday air all year round because the geographical location of the city of Carmel ensures a constant temperature all year round, and you can spend Christmas and New Year's Eve on the beach, at 14 degrees Celsius.
The journey to the USA continues! If you want to follow us, follow our instagram account—> https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fadi.gorpin%2F%3Fhl%3Den&is_from_rle
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