Year: 2004
Time of year:
Country: USA
Places / cities: Orlando, Daytona
Fattern was going to a seminar in Orlando, and I got to join as ballast. We stayed at the Gaylord resort, a name I chuckled to myself, apolitically correct as I often am. But it was a great place.
I promised myself that if I got into a conversation with Americans, I would NOT talk about politics or religion. What do you think happened? Yes, I had no less than TWO conversations about BOTH topics; once on the plane to Orlando and once at Universal Studios. And both conversations were actually pleasant conversations.
But the most memorable experience was when we visited the Daytona speedway. We drove in the car park outside the arena and we realized that the arena was closed to the public. But then we noticed a gate that was open. At the gate strolled a caretaker. We parked and almost tripped over to the caretaker to ask if we could come in and see what the track was like. We were allowed to do that.
I expected us to end up in the stands. But, no. We ended up in the middle of the asphalt! Although NASCAR is not "my" motorsport, this was so big that I had to put my hand on the asphalt. The warden was not as impressed; he knew that new asphalt was regularly laid on the track.
