{"id":257,"date":"2015-03-22T07:37:28","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T07:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sevenseasadventure.net\/blog\/?p=257"},"modified":"2015-03-23T15:32:36","modified_gmt":"2015-03-23T15:32:36","slug":"joshua-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventures.liviupetri.com\/?p=257","title":{"rendered":"Joshua Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"

We went to San Diego to visit a very good friend of Alina, and because there were a number of things to do from the 22 things-to-do list, that my friend Stuart, compiled for our trip to the US.<\/p>\n

We called Alina\u2019s friend, and she said: \u201cOh! How nice you\u2019re here! You have six hours to drive to our place! Come and visit us, we\u2019re waiting!\u201d Jaw dropped! Alina, convinced that her friend was living in San Diego didn\u2019t bother to see that she moved a year ago, just a bit south of San Francisco.<\/p>\n

We changed plans, visited San Diego Zoo, and other places around and the drove into Arizona desert, to Joshua Tree National Park. At the park entry, with a 20 USD bill in my hand to pay the fee, the ranger asks:<\/p>\n

\u201cWere are you guys from?\u201d<\/p>\n

I said: \u201cOh! Romania!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you living here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t seem very happy and returned to the kiosk at the entrance. Then he came out with a notepad and said:<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease put your wife\u2019s name on the list and ask her to sign.\u201d<\/p>\n

We did so and returned the list. He handed us a plastic card and said: \u201cThis card will allow you to visit all US national parks for free, for life. It is because your wife\u2019s handicap. I should give it only to permanent residents, but I don\u2019t care. Enjoy your visit to Joshua Tree!\u201d<\/p>\n

Wow! We didn\u2019t ask for any discount nor did we mention Alina\u2019s handicap. He saw it and was a very nice guy. I\u2019d wish there are more people like him back home.<\/p>\n

Joshua Tree was beautiful: the desert, the rock formations, the scattered trees, everything. We walked for an hour or so, we had a picnic and in the evening we set off towards Nevada, on the famous Route 66.<\/p>\n