USA & Mexico—The Vagabonds’ Honest Wrap-Up
USA & Mexico Without Filters—Cities, Sheriffs, Margaritas, and a Few Surprises
Big Cities That Refused to Fit the Stereotype
Before flying to the U.S., I had the usual images in my head:
Dirty streets, homelessness, tension just around the corner.
Reality?
Dallas and Houston completely shattered that picture.
In almost three weeks, I saw maybe two homeless people.
Clean streets—not just downtown.
No chaos. No drama.
Compared to what we see in the media about San Francisco or Los Angeles, both cities felt calm, organized, almost… boringly tidy.
That was my first big surprise.
Dallas vs Houston—The Verdict
Dallas felt alive.
Downtown pulses at night—bars, restaurants, people everywhere.
There’s movement, there’s energy.
Houston?
More corporate. More structured.
In the evening, it becomes quieter—not unsafe, just… businesslike.
If I had to choose?
Dallas wins on atmosphere.
New Year’s Eve—The Biggest Disappointment
I expected fireworks Hollywood-style.
What we got was more like:
“Okay, let’s light a few and call it a night.”
Honestly?
Back in Bessbrook, they do it better.
That was the one moment America didn’t deliver.
Where Are the American Muscle Cars?
I had “Dirty Harry” in my head.
Big V8 engines. Chrome. Presence.
Reality?
Tesla.
Tesla.
Hyundai.
Toyota.
Some European cars.
America has gone electric and global.
Harleys?
Saw three in the U.S.
More in Mexico.
That one shocked me.
The Cruise—4,000 People and No Chaos
I was worried.
That many people on one ship? Not very Vagabonds-style.
But organization was flawless.
Space was well designed.
The Serenity deck saved the day.
Credit where it’s due—they know logistics.
The Sheriff Story
And then came the cinematic moment.
A friend of Asia—a law enforcement officer—shows up in a Harris County sheriff vehicle.
Next thing I know, I’m sitting inside.
Not arrested.
Dana?
Promoted to Deputy Sheriff for the night.
Yes, there’s photographic evidence.
Moments like that are why you travel.
Flavors That Stay
The Margarita in Mexico?
Unmatched. Every other one after that tasted like watered-down nostalgia.
Ghost Hill Texas bourbon?
Strong. Honest. Memorable.
Some memories are liquid.
Safety—The Biggest Surprise
I walked through Houston late at night.
Alone.
Not a single moment of discomfort.
No hostility. No tension.
That’s something I did not expect.
Was It the Trip of a Lifetime?
Yes.
Will we top it one day?
I hope so.
Because if this journey taught me anything, it’s that the world is far more nuanced than headlines suggest.
And the Vagabonds of the North are far from done.