United States 1973,74

Alb-73 - Trip through western USA and CANADA (province of Alberta) Date of travel: Sep 1 - Sep 14, 1973 ITINERARY: This trip was done by my car Ford Mustang 67 through western states of USA starting in California (Los Angeles), through Nevada (with stop in Las Vegas), Utah (stop in Salt Lake City), Wyoming (Yellowstone Park) and Montana (with Glacier Park) between Sep 1 and Sep 6. It continued to CANADA and its province of Alberta (with visits to Calgary, Edmonton plus Jasper and Banff in Canadian Rockies) between Sep 6 and Sep 11. It was followed by return through western American states Idaho, Nevada and California (with Death Valley back to Los Angeles) between Sep 11 and Sep 14, 1973. Travel office: no travel office was used, we traveled by my car and slept in motels Who took part: I traveled with a childhood friend Frank Z. (Aramis). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BC-74 - Trip through western states of USA and CANADA (province British Columbia) Date of travel: Aug 31 - Sep 16, 1974 A trip with my car Ford Mustang 67 through western states of USA starting in state of California (from Vista at San Diego and going north across Los Angeles and past San Francisco to Red Bluff, Mt. Lassen Park and Mt. Shasta), continuing in state of Oregon (Crater Lake, Portland, Columbia River with Bonneville Dam) to state of Washington (to visit the World Exhibition in Spokane, to Grand Coulee Dam and North Cascade National Park) that between Aug 31 to Sep 7. From there to CANADA and its province British Columbia (with sightseeing of the city Vancouver, of Vancouver Island with the capital of BC, Victoria, and the famous Butchart Gardens), all this between Sep 7 and Sep 11. Back to USA in state of Washington (Coast Highway, Olympic Park), Oregon (Coast Highway, Klamath) and California (Eureka and to Vista) from Sep 11 to Sep 16, 1974. Travel office: no travel office used, we were driving my car and slept in motels Who took part: I traveled with my childhood friend Frank Z, (Aramis) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AF-02 - This trip was to the heart of West Africa with Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin in 4WDs Date of travel: Feb 27 - Mar 20, 2002 ITINERARY: On Feb 27 by a rented car from Vista to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) and then by overnight plane to New York (where I visited the American Museum of Natural History in the Central Park). Another night flight to FRANCE where Mar 1 (sightseeing the center of Paris). It was followed by a flight to Bamako, MALI. From Mar 1 to Mar 8 we were in this country visiting: Timbuktu (flying there, having a Blue Man of the desert, a Tuareg, as the local guide and took a camel ride in the desert), flight to Mopti (where a boat ride on Niger River). From here we continued in 4WDs to Djenne (probably the most interesting city in Mali), then we spent some 3 days exploring the unforgettable Dogon Country. Last town visited in Mali was Segou. Then we crossed border to BURKINA FASO (used to be Upper Volta) where from Mar 8 to Mar 14 visiting: Bobo Dioulasso, Banfora, Gaoua, local villages and the capital Ouagadougou. On Mar 14 the third country BENIN (used to be Dahomey). This is a voodoo country, has fascinated villages and a royal history. We visited places like Natitingou, a royal town Abomey, Cotonou, Quidah and Lake Nokoue, where people live in villages on stilts. Late on Mar 19 overnight flight to Paris then New York and LAX and by rented car back to Vista, where Mar 20. Travel office: Spector Travel of Boston Who took part: Total of 7 people traveled in Mali, 6 in Burkina Faso and 4 in Benin. In addition an African guide was with us in all 3 countries. Two 4WDs and their drivers in the first two countries and only one in the third.