Of sightseeing and bad weather in the States

It feels odd, that a few days ago we were sitting in a car with family members, calmly driving alongside the American North Carolina beach. Today, a hurricane hit the same shores and went further inland causing havoc.
I also received news that the same hotel where we were in on the North Atlantic beach, was partially submerged, as it stood right in front of the ocean.
It is interesting that such hotels are actually the most expensive, and the prices of the ocean front rooms are the highest and most sought after by guests.

However, in storm/hurricane prone areas, the high level of income may or may not compensate the damage caused by mother nature to the building, structure and loss of business during and after nature’s fury.
Having been through miles and miles of American roads, I found West Virginia one of the most interesting. We drove from Chicago to the Atlantic beach, going through stunningly green hills and mountainous roads. We stopped for sightseeing in towns such as Charlottesville, Richmond and Norfolk.
We stopped to have great sea food in big American portions. Doing some shopping in outlet malls and mega stores that were booming with Labour Day weekend sales and discounts.

I already like shopping in the States as there is always some sort of discount in a corner of the stores, with some luck you can find a last pair of designer shoes, bag or outfit, at an almost giveaway price, one should only have the eye and patience to go through hundreds of items that have been already messed up by other clients.
As our trip was drawing to a close, we made the journey back to New York City where our Emirates flight was due to leave on September 11 , indeed, it was such a coincidence, that we had to travel from New York on a day that marks the history of that truly cosmopolitan city.
As we arrived early afternoon on September 10, we tried to walk in downtown New York and visit the site of events that has now been turned into a park, unfortunately the sky opened its doors and there was so much rain and water on the streets, that making it to the next street, Fifth avenue, soaked us to the core and we came back to our hotel. Again, unfortunately the hotel, though rated five star with a hefty price tag, had two of its sides open to brick walls! This was like a prison. I had to close the windows and sleep to wait for our flight the next day.