Not much of freedom

Lets start with the photos.


I'm relaxing in a nice porch, uploading pictures. Occasional small stones fly here from about 10 meters away as Mark, our host, is trimming grass from the area next to the street - he doesn't own it, but has to maintain it otherwise on Thursday he'll have to start paying a nice $2500 fine - 2500 every day of violation.
We're relaxing after some shovelling - dykumos molį kasti tai rūpūs miltai, nežinau, kaip juos laidoja, like we say in Lithuania. Mark has to finish a fence as well, obviously if he doesn't all the neighbours get disturbed. Same fine.
It makes me think of all the freedom we have back at home - there's always one crazy lady who takes care of a small garden in front of a block and feeds cats around. If a house doesn't have such a lady - then oh well, not a big deal. But then not many people live in separate houses.
Why do you poor Americans have to trim weeds if it's a desert? Shouldn't you be glad to have something growing in your landscape? Of course yellow is beautiful, but why not to have it natural? Palm trees are not native for Phoenix, perhaps you should trim it too.
Our host Grace told us people desire to keep it very deserty, that's why they also put plastic into the ground - to stop everything from growing. That's how their yards stay clean from plants.
Plants and people belong to different family groups, but I have to mention the law 1070 allowing police in Arizona to check people's passports to see if they're legal - without any reason. Of course they mostly check Mexican people, or anyone with darker skin and strange accent. As quite a lot of white people in Phoenix are racist they're happy with police doing that forgetting that the land used to be Mexican and due to the USA and Mexican governments Mexican people haven't got any other choice for surviving - just to emigrate and try to work and live illegally in the US.
Well, basically that's all I wanted to mention today:)

Wild TX

Yes, they wear hats and they have lots of guns. I saw one – and the first thought was – phh, my father had a similar gun before he displeased the whole family spending lots of money for that good one. But it was meant to be used for boars. I didn't get scared of the double-barrelled thing at the time and good for me as the gun was taken for dealing with rattlesnakes, not the Lithuanians doing America. I prefer people using them to... send rattlesnakes to the better place as I find boars and Lithuanians quite cute – but then I thought of a rattlesnake living in a desert and not giving a damn about people. It just wants to be left alone and take care of its own business, and here comes a man who doesn't like it and simply shoots it down (down?). I guess I would shoot it and dance on its grave if it came to my bed in my house – but when it's about the deserts – well.
At least there should be a fair duel. You know, like Americans like.
Indian Indian, what did you die for? And Indian says, nothing at all.
I love Texas though. We've been to a pub called „Good Times“. Went there to get some water – we got 5 beers each and lots of cake (it was three people's birthdays) and refused to drink more. At some point men were getting confused because it wasn't clear who's paying – everyone was paying and obviously we are slow drinkers. But then I said – 'Justinka, it's all nice, but look at them - I can't tell that I like any of these guys.' 'Weeelll, have a look at that one with a hat', - shrugged Justinka the Friendly. 'But I don't wanna guy with a hat!' - said Marta the Arrogant. 'Marta, - said Papapinka. - We're in Texas. You wear a hat!'
So I guess we oughta go to Arizona. Getting up at 6 am and hitching to Phoenix. A man outside 'The Good Times' told us to be extremely careful as this place is messed up. To be honest, I'd avoid such men.
Love.


Justinka listening to a cowboy telling us to leave as soon as possible; very concerned; I'm also very impressed; I'm so impressed my tongue got blue;

Texas, Mexico

11 pm, sitting in a jacuzzi under a starry sky in Del Rio, Texas. I know, I'm horrible.
Today we've been to Mexico for a couple of hours, bought a bad version of a sombrero or a good version of a Lithuanian straw hat. The town is called Ciudad Akuna, in the day light it didn't seem as dangerous as people on the American side of the border talk. But then, isn't it strange - so close to USA and women are not welcome to bars - they can only go to so called 'Lady' bars and hang out there. I stepped into one and ran away, which is not something a lady would do.
Lack of women rights bounds exploring interesting places. But it's very colourful and warm even though every one expects you to buy something. Apparently it's hard to park there too:)
Tomorrow to the desert. Still haven't seen any horrible animals, perhaps I should had bought a statue of Mary to keep me protected.

Go away you scorpion

- There is one rule for the desert. Everything tries to kill you.
- Ahaha, did you hear that? I hope you're fallowing every word.
- Yes, I heard it, oh I did indeed.
- If it's a plant - it will hurt you, because it's a cactus. If it's a small plant - it will hurt you too, because it will leave some stuff on your hands and it will be itchy. If it's a small animal, it's probably a scorpion and nothing hurts more than a sting of a scorpion. If it's a bigger animal, it's a coyote, and it woooon't...kill you, well, it will try, but... actually it might kill you. And sun is always trying to kill you. That's the beauty of it.

He's Benn Jordan, if you're also going to Austin, Texas, you should go and see his gig (because we found him on the craigslist and he's taking us all the way to Austin, and he's on wikipedia - yep, that's why you should go to his concert). Benn used to work like the one who finds out about tornadoes, I don't know how you call this interesting occupation. We're now in Oklahoma, where tornadoes in March happen three times a week. It's really windy outside, and leaves fly around in circles, believe me!
I showed him Aiste Smilgeviciute's 'Strazdas', 'Welcome to Lithuania' and 'We are the winners of Eurovision' to introduce him to Lithuanian culture. It didn't seem to impress him, I don't know what to think about it, these are my best shots normally.
Our motel's receptionist took my ID and said - are you from ... what, Russia?! I said, no, Lithuania. She didn't understand what I was talking about, so I pointed in my ID - Republic of Lithuania. It's in English. She said, eeeh, how do you say it?
I tried again - Li-thu-a-nia.
- You go girl, - she answered. If there was a real tornado, I'd go and hide under her skirt, such a momma.

A new trick we've heard - to shake your shoes before putting them on - to make sure there aren't any scorpions and spiders. I can not tell the new information made me ridiculously happy. I decided to stop being afraid of normal spiders and start being afraid of the brown spiders which can kill.
Oh, because we're going to the desert.
Hahaa.

- No, don't look at the other streets, we must be here.
- I'mmm not sure, there's nothing going on...
- No, it's Washington Street, it's the busiest one, here's the most fun...

Saint Louis actually rocks, depends where you go to. I was quite surprised though that anywhere you go, you always end up in a place called Llywelyn's or Patrick's, and there will always be lots of welsh/irish drinks, and even musicians. I asked one band to play me 'The wild rover' and I was the only one in the pub singing 'Nooo nay neverrr....'.
Those two islands seem bigger sometimes.
Yes, we saw the arch, that's what you need to see in Saint Louis. One lady in a metro told us it's quite a big thing - and literally it is. It was snowing, my back was still broken and we were very hungry, so we just took some photos and ran away.
Saint Louis is also one of the most dangerous towns in the USA, at least that's what the locals say. I guess as long as you're respectful with all the people and don't go North, you're fine. And why would you go North, if everyone should go South looking for sun anyway...
Thinking of ending up in welsh pubs I got quite upset as I'd like to end up in Lithuanian ones. I got especially home-sick in Chicago as it somewhat reminds me of Vilnius. In the school of the Art institute of Chicago we watched films on contemporary Israeli culture made by Amsterdam and Tel Aviv-based artist Yael Bartana. It was so interesting also because it spoke about European experience, Poland, and its connections with Israeli. 3.300.000 Jews gone away leaving a wound in their culture and changing Poland too.
I don't know how much jewish culture changed Lithuania but lithuanians did their thing in Chicago - that's for sure. You can find a Lithuanian museum, some Lithuanians (as I mentioned before - Lithuanians who honestly believe we wear national patterns and colours), something else written next to the Lithuanian flag on a sign on the way to Saint Louis (the car was going too fast to read it):)
In Chicago we went to a museum of contemporary arts, we've been to MoMA in New York too (I don't remember if I mentioned - no good places around MoMA to go to afterwards!). Apparently there's one interesting museum in Forest Park in Saint Louis, maybe'll go there tomorrow if we don't find a ride to Texas. Near Dali's paintings, in MoMA, I felt like fainting - so many people, like in a supermarket. We went out for a bit, I ate my sandwich, and then we went back to see a photo gallery in the same place. We reckon, people looking at photos are so much more relaxed.
In Chicago though we got really involved into the exhibitions, as some stuff invited visitors to touch it, sit on the art works, get into them, play. That's what keeps one awake and interested - games!
Still haven't had any waffles. I wish I had some.




Lake Michigan. Papapinka's pic

Down to Saint Louis

Waffles and ice tea – is basically what we're looking for in Saint Louis. On the road again, this time on the Route 66. If not the fact, I'd say – not a big deal. Because it's just a road. It's nice though to imagine all the crazy people hitching to California from here, but I don't know how much they've changed the road. Maybe these people used to stand where now's the middle of the road – also quite an exciting thought.
Of course, we found it essential to take some pictures of the road and especially the sign of the historical Route 66. Couchsurfer Greg, taking us to Saint Louis, couldn't not notice our desire to see Route 66 museum, situated in the same building with war museum pretty close to the road. The museum happened to be pretty boring.
Now I have a stiff neck after the last night - don't know what really happened, but it's hard to stay still and keep writing. I want to talk about museums and galleries in Chicago though. Not that I'm really going to describe all the artworks - who would read that. But I'll carry on tomorrow when I can sit.

Where do we start

Listening to „Weeping Song“ but not weeping at all. A kind gentleman keeps bringing us small bottles of wine and juice as it doesn't cost us anything and we're sort of people who don't like missing opportunities. First time over the Atlantic, highly enjoyable. Starting a new blog even though I don't reaaaally speak English – because it's ok. Hardly anyone does it anyway. Besides, I managed to tame 9 Lithuanian followers (mind that it's a pretty small nation!), which makes me believe it shouldn't be harder to get a few English readers. I might be too confident, I know, people have said it before.
Important to mention: I did wave to Wales, and I am very grateful for those buttons in my jacket – cheers, Pathsy. We haven't forgotten you yet. I found them – the buttons – pretty useful when Justinka Papapinka dragged me into the only carriage without heating as she was hoping there was a TV entertainment (it was also unavailable). As if we weren't going to fall asleep straight after the train moved forward for 3 inches.
At 4.30 AM I was still at Chelsea's house heaping up the last bits of our wealth. In the end of the Hay era we discovered that we've got much more stuff than we did when we first came here, and there is nowhere we could store it. I do remember myself convincing someone there will be only two tidy suitcases, but then, they're probably trunks rather than suitcases. And lots of more than that. I'm ever so sorry.
Got up at 6.45 as Juste ran into the room shouting something about the alarm clock we didn't hear. Souvenirs happened to stay forgotten in the fridge as we took the 7.13 bus.
Basically that's how Smartie and Justinka are starting to do America. So far so awesome.