I recently met a young Belgian who is traveling to the US for a vacation before embarking on a larger tour to the Pacific. He was planning on hitchhiking from northern CA to southern CA, and I quickly advised him not to even consider doing that. He seemed totally shocked when I explained to him that 1. it is totally unsafe to hitchhike in the US and 2. it is illegal. He seemed almost unable to grasp that guns, gangs, knives, and evil intentions lurk pretty prevalently around many of the larger US cities.

Having also worked as a bartender, he was amazed that at 20, he would be unable to buy any form of alcohol and in some places, would need to be about 35 to buy cigarettes.

The more I talked to him, the more I realized that I could almost not recommend a US vacation to a backpacker as I just couldn't find much positive to say. Most visitors to the US want to go to LA, NY, Miami, San Francisco, etc., and I even had difficulty thinking what would be entertaining in some of these places that they couldn't get right in Europe. There is no question that I personally feel much safer here and the only thing I could really find that qualified as happy for anyone going there is that the euro is so much stronger than the US dollar. Otherwise, I just couldn't get up much enthusiasm for his trip. You know you've officially expated when you can't recommend your own home country as a safe place to be for visitors.

Personally I think its about values, people in general in the US don't give a toss about people. They're main pre-occupation is with the dollar, the first question an American asks you when they meet you is "what do you do for a living ?" (read:how much do you earn ?)

I remember taking a day trip to Washington on my last trip to BigMacland and each person I asked for advice on how to get to Washinton by road said "whatever you do, avoid the XX motorway!" Can't remember the exact one but twas kinda funny when I was coming out of Washington and took a wrong turn, looked up and there I was, cruising down XX motorway. Suffice to say that I just kept driving, didnt stop and probably made a 50KM detour to get back on track. Also, driving out of NY it was the only time in my life (as an adult) that I felt so unsafe. The reason I think was that if I broke down, got lost etc. I didnt feel confident that anyone "normal" would stop to assist me. Its the most un-human place I've ever been to. The friendlyness that you do get from people is OTT superficial. I don't care if your name is Randy, you're the waitor, go get my dinner spotty.

Sad to say that even in Europe hitchhiking is getting less and less common. Unfortunately, it seems the only people who hitch now are weirdo hippies.

DiZ, I'm really upset that I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU.

However, there's nuttin wrong with "weirdo hippies." There's a kind of innocence to them that makes you want to believe that the world really could be a better place. At least they're not consumed with religion, the almighty dollar, and lying politicians, etc. If ya've never been to a Rainbow gathering, you don't know what you're missing, my friend.

The Grateful Dead lives! (It's the un-grateful dead that can sod off)

Yes, I remember the good ol' days. Back in 1977, I hitchhiked from Ohio to California. It took me 3 days and I had the time of my life. I got picked up by a Korean couple in a VW bus, also by a Mormon bee farmer outside of Salt Lake City. Before picking up one of his wives, he let me taste fresh honey off the comb.

My last ride through the Nevada desert was with an attractive young lady who was moving to California with her cat. We kept having to stop and give the cat water and air cause it would start hyperventilating due to the high temperatures and lack of car airconditioning. She almost drove us off the road in the Sierra Mountains while I was sleeping cause she let her hands off the wheel to get rid of a bee that had just stung her.

This travel bug stayed with me after graduating from university and I ended up traveling all over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for 2 years. Too many extraordinary experiences to list here but as I recall I was prevented from completing my original plan, taking the magic bus through Iran and Afghanistan to India. It was 1979 and that was the year the US hostages were taken in Iran and the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Route permanently blocked.

I agree kids these days live in a more virtual reality of Ipods, video games and packaged careers. Too bad. They would have a more fulfilling life if they imitated some of the ways of the "Peace Generation".

Right on, Jim. Remember this? "Make peace not war!" Too bad most the hippies grew up and became capitalists and I really mean that.

The amazing experiences you had would be pretty impossible now. As Dylan said, "The Times they are a-changin."

I'm still an Al Gore fan - I notice, however, that the media keeps pushing Hillary and Obama. I'm sick of polls dictating who are frontrunners for 2008. It's such a joke since the corporations are in charge, one way or another. I would just once like to see the Congress enact positive changes about anything but they never, never do.

Oh No, Kamal and Jimmy are those weirdo hippies that we all try and avoid.....

One sure way to ensure that nobody sits beside you in a bus is to look at everyone as they come towards you and smile broadly at them....

In fact I always try and stop and give people hitching a lift, thankfully you still see a lot of people "at it" in the summertime here, mostly European students mind. Of course you do sometimes end up with some weirdos but as long as they arent dangerous its ok by me. Or smelly...or Fat...or both...

Good timing Jim on your '77 plans. Makes you wonder though, if you had managed to make it to Afghanistan who would have been the bad guys at that time ? the guys who the US supported then against the even badder Ruskies or those red devil Ruskies ? My, how times have changed, or maybe not really....

Anyhow, hope you guys have a good thanksgiving weekend, remember eat the turkey before the turkey eats you !

There aren't many things that I regret but one of them is not being able to have seen Afghanistan before 1979. The country has since been ruined by the Russians, the Taliban and now the American bombing.

As far as Iran, it still can be visited and I plan to do so in the near future. I think the average Persian does not perceive themselves as Arabs and they have a unique culture and history to prove it. Too bad the Brits and Americans interfered with their affairs to the point they have to put up with some terrible leadership today.

Anyway, a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. p.s. I wonder if American Indians celebrate Thanksgiving ??

Bah, humbug, I'd wish you guys a happy thanksgiving but no, Jim, I doubt the Indians are celebrating the way they were treated by the Pilgrims. Also, since I don't eat meat, there'll be no turkey at my table, thank ye very much. A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and I don't need no valentine..or turkey..whatever. DiZ, you need to become more fat-tolerant; either that, or become a vegetarian.

You forgot to mention that he also has to be 25 or older to get a rental car. This once left me stranded at Newark airport...I was 21 and in college and when I complained to the Avis lady that I had rented Avis cars many times in my own country all she could say was "why dont you write a letter to the president of the united states and complain to him". Yeah, thanks.

I love the US, dont get me wrong. But I have always been puzzled about your age restrictions....e.g. the fact that you have to be 21 to get a beer (or just to get into a bar), 25 to rent a car, etc...but you can find yourself on a tour of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else as soon as you turn 18. So it is ok to become cannon fodder but not ok to get a drink.

Not bad advice, but you forgot to tell him that as a foreigner, he is not eligible for protection under the terms of the US Constitution (and particularly under the terms of the first 10 amendments - the Bill of rights.)

You omitted to tell him that as a foreigner, he, his property and his mail are subject to search without any cause at all (let alone 'due cause') and he can be arrested and interned (thanks to the Patriot Act) for no reason and with no right to legal representation.

What you should have advised him to do, of course, is to purchase US citizenship before he goes. It's not cheap, but it's the best insurance you can get.

Are you sure you aren't talking about US citizens as well as foreign visitors to the US in terms of having no liberties any more? Under the McCarthy/Bush regime, it seems like Americans are living under a fake concept of freedom - it's gone, believe me.

In terms of age requirements, it's all over the board but always favors the corporation in charge. Children over 12 have to pay adult prices to movies and there are millions of examples of stupid rules with the airline industry.

I just hope, as you mentioned, the young guy doesn't run into any major problems because, as you suggest, he would really be in a heap of trouble and could disappear.