Travels also greatly influenced our summer. I think there are few places where you can wake up and buy a ticket for the evening to Las Vegas or New York. A trip to the US capital, Washington, gave me the opportunity to get acquainted with American culture. We mainly visited museums and memorials. I immediately remembered Abraham Lincoln's favorite quote when I saw his memorial: "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion." - Abraham Lincoln. In Washington, I saw cherry blossoms, which I had dreamed of seeing in Japan. It was truly unexpected to see a cherry tree in Washington, so far from its homeland. Having learned the history, I found out that it was a gift from Japan as a sign of cooperation and friendship with America.
After reading Theodore Dreiser's book "Sister Carrie," I wanted to visit Chicago and see the scenes that arose in my head while reading it. Visiting Millennium Park and "The Bean" was my first and unforgettable impression of Chicago. But what struck me most was the Art Institute of Chicago, which I highly recommend visiting for lovers of aesthetics and innovation. The museum is famous for its collection of Impressionists and American art. The museum is very large in size and extensive in its selection. Everyone can find something for themselves there. And of course, visit the Willis Tower — the second tallest building in the United States. When visiting, don't forget to book in advance or buy tickets for the 103rd floor. And there, through the transparent floors and walls, you will be able to see all the beauty of the city, and for "lovers" of heights, this will be a real test of courage.
I had often heard about "Sin City," but I didn't expect to end up there so soon. Las Vegas is striking in its eccentricity and the number of casinos. Upon arrival, I was shocked that even at the airport, casinos are set up everywhere. And that in Las Vegas, the night seems brighter than the day. I saw the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and others in miniature. The famous Bellagio fountains, the Mirage volcano eruption - these shows are an indescribable spectacle. The city itself is located in the desert, and the cost of housing is very low compared to other states. This is mainly because all hotels have casinos, and the owners make money on the casinos, not on accommodation. So, feel free to go to Las Vegas and don't be afraid to spend a lot of money on housing. But make sure that you or your companions are 21 years old, as in many hotels you can only check in with a person who has reached this age. In addition, in a casino, you can never tell if it is day or night, and there are no time indicators. This is a policy so that people don't notice how much time they spend in the casino. Don't miss the chance to ride the monorail in Las Vegas. This way you can arrange a mini-tour of Las Vegas for yourself. In "Sin City," there is one of the scariest attractions in the world; for extreme lovers, I suggest visiting the Stratosphere – the tallest observation tower in the USA and riding the attractions.
The Grand Canyon, or the Great Canyon as I prefer to call it, is one of the deepest canyons in the world. The Grand Canyon is one of the most unusual objects on Earth, which was formed over centuries, millimeter by millimeter. I cannot accurately convey the whole palette of feelings that one experiences when seeing the Canyon. However, I definitely felt inspiration, a surge of strength, and pride for such beauty created by nature. At the Grand Canyon, we visited the "Sky Deck" - a transparent bridge that opens a view of the bottom of the canyon, and it creates the illusion that you might fall. This didn't impress us much; we had already had enough of the views we had seen. And we greedily absorbed them, as if trying to etch them into our memory forever. The Hoover Dam, an Indian village, and a strange magician we met - we encountered all this while visiting the Grand Canyon. For those who cannot stand the heat, it is necessary to take hats and plenty of drinking water, but the Great Canyon must be seen at least once in a lifetime.
