Sounds like you made a visit to BookPeople, a revered Austin independent bookstore. One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to check out the local bookstores and libraries. Sometimes a bit of a city or town's legacy culture and vibe still exist in such places.
Indeed, but unfortunately my wife does not care for them. Something about calories and carbs… But we do look for local places. There’s a website called “Roadfood” which is helpful if you are doing highways. https://roadfood.com We used the book in our early travels.
One thing I like about going to various places in the USA is just seeing them for their own sake. I don’t need to go back to Buffalo but I’m glad I saw it, you know. It’s all so curious to me.
I'm so glad you were able to feel better relatively soon. I've had a few bouts of vertigo and it is really really awful. I hope you learned a little about what might have triggered it. It can be such a mystery.
Americans are terrible drivers, but you’ve noticed that by now. When you see someone with a wrist casually slung over the tip of the steering wheel, the other hand out of sight, casually doing 80 mph on the freeway, you’ve seen the apex of American stupidity.
However, we have good points too, and fat bear week is one. Excellent pizza is another. Glad the vertigo is gone. It’s an awful feeling.
As an American who has lived abroad for over a decade now, one of the most intense reverse culture shocks I experience whenever I come back to visit is all the pickup trucks now. EVERYWHERE. You'd maybe stereotypically expect them in Texas, sure. But these jacked-up, supercab monster trucks are also clogging up the suburban Target parking lots of very not-rural states like Maryland. Idling in traffic on the smooth asphalt or concrete of metropolitan highways with a single occupant and not a hint of cargo on the back.
It's hard for us to remember that today isn't what it used to be. But the pickup truck in the United States was really a niche vehicle until the 21st Century. And the mind boggles that people spend so much money on such a perfectly unsuitable automobile for the purposes they're actually using them for! Even that other brash new entrant to the American garage, the SUV, now generally offers more ride comfort, fuel economy, safety, occupancy, and even cargo capacity. Meanwhile, in Europe, tradesmen like my BIL use working vans, station wagons/estate cars, or even just little sedans with trailers to accomplish all the "hauling" over poor backroads that American pickup drivers seem to fantasize about more than actually do.
I like Matt Yglesias’ term for them: “lifestyle trucks.” I also see them everywhere, and those with “off-road” capabilities never seem to have a scratch or speck of dirt on them.
So sorry about the vertigo. Hope you’re better soon.
I live a bit south of Austin in Wimberley. Austin has changed dramatically since Silicon Valley and Hollywood moved there, but it has kept some of its old character as a college town and hippie haven. Unfortunately, the skyrocketing prices are driving out most people who have less than a six-figure income—like college kids and hippies.
While fried chicken is good, BBQ and steaks are more what Texas in general is known for. But each area has its own cuisine.
So sorry you came down with vertigo! I experienced it a couple years of ago and it was truly disorienting and, yes, nauseating. (I didn’t know what it was at first, so scary as well.) Glad you found meds!
I spotted delivery robots like this in a small town in Finland! Haven’t seen them here yet, but then, I don’t think their response-times would be speedy enough to navigate the crowds in NYC.
Another vertigo sufferer here. Very sorry that you had to experience that, especially away from home. Not pleasant. Just in case it's of use for anyone, my current working hypothesis is that mine may be related to low vitamin D levels (there are a few journal articles to this effect, which I can probably dig out if needed, and I had blood tests that showed me as below normal range close in time to both recent attacks). Anyway, it's weak evidence but I take a good vit D supplement now, and also try to ensure I sleep on my back and don't roll over in bed (in theory the geometry of the ear means any crystals that do become loose shouldn't then be able to escape into the canals and cause havoc). Only time will tell if this solves it. Good luck to anyone else having to deal with it. May you all be free of spinning.
Vertigo sucks. I’ve had six experiences and do not wish to have any more. I’ve been told it’s not only crystals in the ear that can cause the spinning. It seems like allergies can also be a trigger. Perhaps there’s something in the air or in the hotel room that you were allergic to.
I enjoy reading your observations on America and its American ways. I lived in England for two years and enjoyed it but found it also very hard as an American to be there long term. It was isolating in some ways. This was probably because I lived in London, an amazing city that is very expensive and extremely competitive. I sometimes regret that I didn’t take a tour of England or other parts of the UK. Just saw portions of the South but never made it to the North or West.
Vertigo is one of those things that pops up out of nowhere and ruins your whole day. I’m surprised you were able to get out of bed. The manoeuvres are so ridiculous and I always feel like such a fool when I have to excuse myself to “do my manoeuvres.”
I hope you have a speedy recovery.
I love that you were able to make a vertigo connection to Swift, that was a very Henry Oliver thing to do.
lol it was one of the first things I thought of
Sounds like you made a visit to BookPeople, a revered Austin independent bookstore. One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to check out the local bookstores and libraries. Sometimes a bit of a city or town's legacy culture and vibe still exist in such places.
Yes I liked it there a lot
Bookstores / Little Free Libraries, hot dog / BBQ stands, resale shops & minor league baseball. See the real America!
And may I put i a vote for diners?
Indeed, but unfortunately my wife does not care for them. Something about calories and carbs… But we do look for local places. There’s a website called “Roadfood” which is helpful if you are doing highways. https://roadfood.com We used the book in our early travels.
Love these reflections on America. We love when Europeans observe us :)
One thing I like about going to various places in the USA is just seeing them for their own sake. I don’t need to go back to Buffalo but I’m glad I saw it, you know. It’s all so curious to me.
As a frequent vertigo sufferer I highly recommend mastering the Epley manoeuvre
That’s what I did this morning. Godawful
My wife has periodic bouts of vertigo. Never heard of this so I looked it upm& sent here an article about it. Thanks!
Yes, exactly.
I'm so glad you were able to feel better relatively soon. I've had a few bouts of vertigo and it is really really awful. I hope you learned a little about what might have triggered it. It can be such a mystery.
I think it was the flight?
Ugh ... Fingers crossed it never happens again!
I had BPV once - truly awful! Does it make you better to learn that the ear crystals are made of the same ingredients as pearls? Probably not
Haha I do like that
Americans are terrible drivers, but you’ve noticed that by now. When you see someone with a wrist casually slung over the tip of the steering wheel, the other hand out of sight, casually doing 80 mph on the freeway, you’ve seen the apex of American stupidity.
However, we have good points too, and fat bear week is one. Excellent pizza is another. Glad the vertigo is gone. It’s an awful feeling.
Thank you for bringing up fat bear week. It's not done enough, and it's a shame.
As an American who has lived abroad for over a decade now, one of the most intense reverse culture shocks I experience whenever I come back to visit is all the pickup trucks now. EVERYWHERE. You'd maybe stereotypically expect them in Texas, sure. But these jacked-up, supercab monster trucks are also clogging up the suburban Target parking lots of very not-rural states like Maryland. Idling in traffic on the smooth asphalt or concrete of metropolitan highways with a single occupant and not a hint of cargo on the back.
It's hard for us to remember that today isn't what it used to be. But the pickup truck in the United States was really a niche vehicle until the 21st Century. And the mind boggles that people spend so much money on such a perfectly unsuitable automobile for the purposes they're actually using them for! Even that other brash new entrant to the American garage, the SUV, now generally offers more ride comfort, fuel economy, safety, occupancy, and even cargo capacity. Meanwhile, in Europe, tradesmen like my BIL use working vans, station wagons/estate cars, or even just little sedans with trailers to accomplish all the "hauling" over poor backroads that American pickup drivers seem to fantasize about more than actually do.
I like Matt Yglesias’ term for them: “lifestyle trucks.” I also see them everywhere, and those with “off-road” capabilities never seem to have a scratch or speck of dirt on them.
I drive a "lifestyle" Kia minivan
I’m sorry Austin didn’t leave the best impression, I think it’s a fine place to live but I’m not sure what a visitor would find very interesting.
One thing is for sure, whoever was hosting you should have taken you to get some good Mexican food instead…
I had a delicious taco
So sorry about the vertigo. Hope you’re better soon.
I live a bit south of Austin in Wimberley. Austin has changed dramatically since Silicon Valley and Hollywood moved there, but it has kept some of its old character as a college town and hippie haven. Unfortunately, the skyrocketing prices are driving out most people who have less than a six-figure income—like college kids and hippies.
While fried chicken is good, BBQ and steaks are more what Texas in general is known for. But each area has its own cuisine.
I'll get a steak next time
So sorry you came down with vertigo! I experienced it a couple years of ago and it was truly disorienting and, yes, nauseating. (I didn’t know what it was at first, so scary as well.) Glad you found meds!
I spotted delivery robots like this in a small town in Finland! Haven’t seen them here yet, but then, I don’t think their response-times would be speedy enough to navigate the crowds in NYC.
We are seeing them in Chicago - the city, not “Chicagoland”.
Wow!
Another vertigo sufferer here. Very sorry that you had to experience that, especially away from home. Not pleasant. Just in case it's of use for anyone, my current working hypothesis is that mine may be related to low vitamin D levels (there are a few journal articles to this effect, which I can probably dig out if needed, and I had blood tests that showed me as below normal range close in time to both recent attacks). Anyway, it's weak evidence but I take a good vit D supplement now, and also try to ensure I sleep on my back and don't roll over in bed (in theory the geometry of the ear means any crystals that do become loose shouldn't then be able to escape into the canals and cause havoc). Only time will tell if this solves it. Good luck to anyone else having to deal with it. May you all be free of spinning.
I also meant to say, I'm really enjoying your observations on US life. Very atmospheric.
I may have missed it but what caused it? Mine lasted days. Cause? Food poisoning. Terrifying.
Is there no Fat Bear Week in England? Then where do you get your fat bears?
Vertigo sucks. I’ve had six experiences and do not wish to have any more. I’ve been told it’s not only crystals in the ear that can cause the spinning. It seems like allergies can also be a trigger. Perhaps there’s something in the air or in the hotel room that you were allergic to.
I enjoy reading your observations on America and its American ways. I lived in England for two years and enjoyed it but found it also very hard as an American to be there long term. It was isolating in some ways. This was probably because I lived in London, an amazing city that is very expensive and extremely competitive. I sometimes regret that I didn’t take a tour of England or other parts of the UK. Just saw portions of the South but never made it to the North or West.
Thanks for sharing.
Vertigo is one of those things that pops up out of nowhere and ruins your whole day. I’m surprised you were able to get out of bed. The manoeuvres are so ridiculous and I always feel like such a fool when I have to excuse myself to “do my manoeuvres.”
Hope you feel better soon.