Well, I certainly hope you get a chance to do all this traveling someday. All of those places sound wonderful to me, and I've never been to any of them, except for Los Angeles and over the Golden Gate Bridge. It sounds like you've done some research, which means you're already on your way to someday getting here.
I suppose in some ways the US is very different, but in other ways, not so much. We are still human, with our human failings, and unfortunately, we the people seem more interested or caught up in our daily lives that we're not paying enough attention to the road we're on.
I suppose as long as there are some who are kind and good, we will be preserved, but it's not like we have to go to the brink of self-destruction in the process.
I know that might sound a little exaggerated to you, depending on your own circumstances, but all governments are not representative of their people, and I think ours has not represented us for most of my lifetime, if not more. The people, however, are for the most part, still decent, but I'm afraid they, we, are losing ground, too.
@glenalbrethsen, I agree with you on many things. Governments are not representatives of the people. Even the recent football championship has proved this in many ways. Because many people who went to our country had a very different idea about us and about our country. This way allowed us to debunk many of the myths about us. I'm not a big football fan myself, but I specifically visited the fan zone to have more communication with people from different countries. It was a great experience for me. No government can impose on us their opinion in personal communication with each other . In our trips and travels, we make up our own opinion about the people, traditions and way of life in the country we visit. Of course, I hope for a better outcome regarding the visa regime between our countries. I really read a lot about the places I'm going to or ready to visit.
I think that's the best way to go about it. Read or learn as much as you can before you go. Helps with preparation and knowing when it is best to go where.
It sounds like you had a great time. I'm glad it was a positive experience. I'm much more of an American Football fan, but I think it would be fun to mix in with fans from other countries.
re: governments
Yeah, I know. Right now we've got the whole Russia meddled in the election thing going on and it's like, well, it's probably not the first time, and it's not like we don't do it too. So, instead of trying to make something out of what probably didn't amount to anything anyway, just let it go and quit trying to stir things up.
re: visas
It would be nice if all of that could be straightened out. There's places I'd like to go someday, too, that would probably need more than a visa change.