Ealised eelised

 

Olen Ühendriikide rahvusparkide (National Parks) süsteemi ennegi taevani kiitnud. Aga kiidan veelkord, uue nurga alt. Nimelt vanusega kaasnevate soodustuste nurga. USA kodanikud ja alalised elanikud, kel on õnnestunud 62. eluaastani välja venitada, saavad soovi korral lunastada eluaegse kehtivusega, kõikidesse rahvusparkidesse sissepääsu tagava passi. Ja seda vaid 80 dollari eest. Kuuekümne kahe aastasel inimesel on tõenäoliselt veel jupp eluaega ees. Niisiis diil missugune, arvestades asjaolu, et enamike rahvusparkide (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite jne, kõik 62 parki kirjas siin) ühekordne entrance fee on sõidukile 35 dollarit, jalamehest külastajale 20 dollarit. Tänu Pauli vanusenumbrile on meil nüüd Senior Pass taskus ja oleme oma reisidel puhta või sees. Mõtle, mitu pudelit head veini kokkuhoitud dollarite eest saab osta, et seda kusagil kaljuserval mõõtmatu avaruse kohal jalgu kõlgutades nautida... Fotol mina, Canyonlands rahvuspargis „Titanicut“ tegemas. 

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). The National Park Service is primarily funded by Congress through both the annual appropriations cycle as well as some mandatory funds. The National Park System also receives funding through park entrance and user fees, as well as private philanthropy.

December 05/2020

“One of the advantages to getting older, though: while you might not change all that much, you at least got to know yourself. The real you, minus the bullshit and wishful thinking.” ― Edward W. Robertson, The Breakers Series