After the map of America lit up in blue and red in November to illustrate the election results, today we present our very own personal map. Before and after the election, there was much discussion about how divided the country is. Some observers even claimed that a cultural battle is raging within America: the liberal "blue" states against the conservative "red" heartland, with no agreement in sight.

Washington State (went to Kerry). State in the Northwest, not to be confused with the capital of the USA, Washington, D.C., which is 5,000 kilometers away in the East. The city of Seattle is surprisingly considered the coffee city of the USA. The coffeehouse chain "Starbucks" also started in Seattle, and quite modestly at that. Legend has it that a Starbucks guru traveled to Italy and was so impressed by the Italian espresso bars that he wanted to bring them to America. And since Americans tend to go "all or nothing," tourists can now find a "Starbucks" everywhere in the country. Ahhhhh!!!!!