Holding my passport in my right hand and my luggage in my other hand I am walking towards a line of people who seems to be anxious to get a good rest. Looking at the head of the line is an immigration officer for the LAX (Los Angeles Airport) who seems to be a pleasant guy which adds to my confidence in entering this famous state. (got my light saber in my pocket just in case weird things start to happen) "Golden State" a nickname for California. I never bothered before why it is called Golden State till now. I've searched for answers from the ever all knowing internet master and never failed me to provide the answer. I learned that California got the nick name "Golden State" goes back from the time of "gold rush". Many came to California to dig gold. The discovery of gold and the immigration in 1849 of thousands of "forty-niners" in search of the precious metal helped California's admission into the Union in 1850.
I tried to connect the "Golden State" with "Golden Gate" bridge which is in the state of California particularly in San Francisco. Getting again answers from the internet master I found out that there is a connection! Not! (lol) As many of you who have seen the Golden Gate bridge would certainly know that its color is orange and not gold and definitely not made of gold. Those who still protest will get some slashing from my light saber. (lol) Here is the real answer guys... The Golden Gate refers actually to the Golden Gate Strait which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait is approximately three-miles long by one-mile wide with currents ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 knots. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "Chrysopylae" or translates as Golden Gate by Army Captain John C. Fremont. It is said it reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul, Turkey named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn. Why the Golden Gate bridge always foggy? That is another adventure for the Jedi like me to discover the mystery.
Walking past the immigration officer is a relief and now officially on the soil of the land of the free and the home of the brave. (the guy made the correct choice of letting me pass him or he will get a quick downward slash from my light saber and would easily do a high jump with a flip after). I cannot help but notice the stretched limos playing loud upbeat music at the airport. I would love to ride in one of those someday. As I got on my connecting flight to Salt Lake, Utah I was greeted by seems to be middle aged stewardess in a Delta Airline airplane. Good thing this plane travel will only take 1 hour or I will have to use the hyper speed.
Thanks to Answers.com and Wikipedia
