Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 66 – Santa Fe to Flagstaff, USA

    Friday 14 January 2000
    Highlights:     Palace of the Governors, San Miguel Mission

    A change of plans meant we got a chance to explore Santa Fe.  Santa Fe is the oldest surviving town in the USA that was part of Mexico originally.

    We visited the Palace of the Governors that was for a long time the longest serving centre of any Government in the USA from the mid 1650s until 1906.  It currently houses a Museum covering its and New Mexico’s history.

    We also visited San Miguel Mission the oldest in the USA and the oldest house. The most fascinating thing about Santa Fe was that for a short time the Native American Indians expelled the Spanish and Mexicans and took over the town and surrounding area.  This is the only time Native Americans successfully took back their land via force.

    Our bus trip to Flagstaff left at 8.05 pm for a long overnight ride that is scheduled to get arrive in Flagstaff at 5.15 am.

  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 65 – Santa Fe, USA

    Thursday 13 January 2000
    Highlights:     Barely surviving a 23 hour bus trip 😦

    Barely surviving a 23 hour bus journey we arrived in Santa Fe around 3.50 pm and walked down to the Thunderbird Inn to spoil over selves instead of staying in the local hostel.

    Santa Fe is just a stop over point before getting to Flagstaff.  We walked around the city and had a nice Italian dinner but really saw little of the town.

  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 64 – Deadwood to Santa Fe, USA

    Wednesday 12 January 2000
    Highlights:     Mt Rushmore, Custer Park.

    We managed to visit Mt Rushmore today, it only took a taxi ride to Stargis, a bus ride to Rapid City and a short term car rental to get there.  Driving in the USA takes some getting used to (right side of the road)  but I had some experience from my 1998 trip.  Jon got to experience this for the first time and did quite well.

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  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 63 – Deadwood, USA

    Tuesday 11 January 2000
    Highlights:     Visiting graves of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill

    Today we visited the historic sites of Deadwood.  But first the locals greet us as we walked around the small town.  This was surprising but apparently getting to Australians in town was news, we must have made an impression playing blackjack last night!

    Deadwood is famous for James Butler Hickok aka ‘Wild Bill‘ who was shot here playing poker ( the dead man’s hand) and Calamity Jane (Martha Canary).  It snowed overnight and again during the day and it sure made a beautiful sight, and was very slippery!  We visited the W.C. Adams museum which covered Deadwood’s varied history.

    After a careful climb we visited the local cemetery which has over 3,000 graves, Deadwood currently has 1,800 live residents. Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are both buried here. The cemetery also gives you a great view of the town.

    We then tried to win car rental costs, for our visit to Mt Rushmore tomorrow, at Saloon 10, the one were Wild Bill was shot.  Nothing so serious this time 🙂

  • World Trip 1999-2000: Day 62 – Deadwood, USA

    Monday 10 January 2000
    Highlights:      Wild West Gambling!

    After 25.5 hours of travelling, five bus changes, three bus companies, two time zone changes and a cab ride we arrived at Deadwood and our hotel (no hostel stay this time).

    South Dakota is basically very bare and dusty.  Wind storms were very evident. However Deadwood itself was covered in snow and looked like the amazing small west town I had imagined.

    I managed to call home for my birthday, a few days late but still the effort counts.  Mum and Reagan sounded very busy and they had just experienced a blackout before I called.

    After a very welcome hot shower Jon upped his Burger King gift to a streak dinner which I really enjoyed to celebrate my 26th birthday.  I wonder how many times I’ll be travelling outside of Australia on my birthday in future years?

    We then experienced Wild West gambling visiting the Gold Dust Casino, one of many casino allowed in this historic town but only with limited stakes, a maximum of a $5 bet.  Jon won $25 while I generously donated $10 to the local economy.