I'm Back!!

[cybereye (Mario)]

Hello everyone!!

Well haven't I had fun in the last month!! I went to the USA, both west and east coasts, and I thought I'd share some of the highlights of my visit with you.

After spending some time in San Diego, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, my family and I headed to Washington and New York. In Astronomical terms, this is where the fun began for me!

In Washington we headed to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum and it blew my mind! The first three pictures I've attached were taken there and include a mock-up of an Apollo Lunar Lander, the actual Apollo 11 Command module and Herschel's 20' telescope. I must admit that I did get very emotional being so close to the Command module as it was such a big part of my childhood. At another of the Museums in Washington - I can't remember because we went to so many! - I was able to see Maria Mitchell's telescope which again I've attached a photo of.

From there we moved up to New York and visited the Natural History museum where I got to see this 34 ton meteorite up close (see attached). I think that would make a nice mess of your bonnet if it hit your car!! Try explaining that to your insurance company! Whilst in New York, I visited B&H camera store to pick up some much needed astronomical supplies.

Now I was expecting a small store - what greeted me was perhaps the biggest camera/video/audio/computer store I have ever seen! The number of people in there was incredible and above the crowds were conveyor belts that were moving numerous green boxes to the dispatch section of the store. Their astronomy section was good and they were able to provide the Cheshire Collimator that I was after. While I was buying it my wife wanted to know if I needed anything else while I was there. However as I was totally overcome with this store I said "No". How stupid am I!!! A blank cheque from my wife and all I could say was "No". As Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does!".

Which brings me to my last photo, one of me in front of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company on the Santa Monica pier. Of all the restaurant chains in the US, this would have to be my favourite. To think that from one film a whole chain can grow is amazing.

Anyway, it's good to be home and now I can get back into taking some more nighttime images!!

Cheers,
Mario

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Welcome back Mario

I lived in both New York and LA/Irvine for a number of years while on assignment to the USA. I loved them both. It's a great country.

Originally Posted by cybereye

I must admit that I did get very emotional being so close to the Command module as it was such a big part of my childhood.

Been there... done that. I had precisely the same emotions seeing it there in front of me. It's quite a visceral experience, and not one you'd predict for yourself beforehand. I'm glad I've seen it with my own eyes.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Hey Mario'

I am not ENVIOUS really I am not oh I am ENVIOUS I can't lie about it any more AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHH. But seriously folks great pic's

[Ric]

Great holiday photos Mario, it sounds like it was a great holiday.

I hope to get to the Smithsonian myself one day.

Welcome back.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Hey Mario. We would have nearly crossed paths. Spent all of Sept in the US and eastern Canada, had a ball. The Air and Space museum is fantastic, next time we go we are heading out to the other annex at Dulles, they should have one of the space shuttles set up there by then.
It's kind of spooky because every one of the places and things you saw we went to as well. I also popped into B&H. Checked out some astro prices but the items I was interested in were actually slightly cheaper here in Oz. The camera stuff was definitely cheaper, but thought I might struggle to get a new 5D past the SWMBO.

Malcolm

[cybereye (Mario)]

Malcolm,

We obviously both did the "astronomical tour of the eastern US"!!

We were going to go out to Dulles but having spent quite a bit of time sitting in traffic getting from the airport into town we decided against going back out there.

Cheers,
Mario

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Actually it was almost no astro stuff involved in my trip, managed to see stars just once in Lancaster, spent half an hour picking out some of the Northern constellations. That was it apart from the Air and Space, the visit to B&H, and odd bits in other museums.

Malcolm

[cybereye (Mario)]

Malcolm, that was the extent of the astronomy in my trip too. Did you pick up a Space Chess set at the Smithsonian?

Mario

[bartman (Bart)]

Awesome!!!!
Apart from the science stuff..........love the Bubba Gump pic!
Bartman