introduction

On a fateful day near the end of 2001, I found myself in posession of a dreaded pink slip. As a result, I suddenly had a degree of freedom I could only dream of just moments earlier. A long ignored wish soon asserted itself: I wanted to go away, someplace new and different.

The west coast was my desired destination all along, and I almost opted for San Diego at first. But another place had been in my mind for years, and eventually I realized that Seattle, rainy or not, was were I really wanted to make my next home.

So in December 28th, 2001, I left Boston and the Atlantic shores where I had spent all my life at one latitude or another, on a one-way journey towards the Pacific Ocean and the great North West.

These are the photographs I took along the way.

I decided to make the east-west journey mostly through the south. Most of the places I wanted to see were there, with the benefit of avoiding the icy, snowy north. My plan was simple; start with a rough outline, then decide my specific itinerary along the road to maximum advantage -and it worked, because I saw everything you'll see here in just 10 days. -Well, actually I'm not counting the eight hours from Boston to D.C., and the few days spent in D.C. for New Year, which was mostly a parenthesis for purposes of visiting my sister and brother in law.

I hope you enjoy this photographic diary of my journey, and forgive the many errors and rough look of it (-wait, I know, let's call it a "beta 1"!) Eventually I plan to make it into a more polished website. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments, questions, or notice any errors.

I hope you find it entertaining.

-Albert