What a surprise! I’m sneezing! It could not have been that I’m getting through the winter with just one cold. So there it was the full load of running nose and soar throat.




And weekend was near, so what could I do else then try to prevent myself from getting sick completely and missing the Bronx Zoo we planed to visit on Sunday? I stayed home on Saturday, doing the housewife stuff: washing, cleaning, and buying groceries. This day was initially intended to be relaxing but at some point I got carried away and ended up carrying home 6 bags full of heavy bottles and stuff from the supermarket (I don’t complain Tobi I’m just telling facts). But to be honest I got my relaxing later. After having eventually found the time to read in my book for about 1 ½ hours (which I didn’t do since I left Germany) I dedicated myself to my new favourite activity: TV! But who could resist almost 400 channels and loads of really good films. This day was Nora Roberts Day, meaning one romance following the other (want can a woman want else??). So that’s where Tobi found me in the evening when he came back home from his lonely (I think that’s my interpretation) New York trip (Bodies Exhibition, Central Park, 5th Avenue, not bad): I liked sitting in front of the TV watching happy ends ;). And who wants to believe it, I got him watch a full film, too. Ok, he did make fun of it the whole time but he finished it. My respect for that, because Nora Roberts is strong stuff for an anti romantic as he is ;)
Let’s move on to more interesting stuff as the Bronx Zoo trip on Sunday. It was like a real family trip: Mary Jo and her children Evelyn and Tobi as well as her niece Giovana and MJ’s colleague Michelle with her family.




At least 3 of the 5 kids who took part that day... ;)

First stop was a diner on Route 22 to get breakfast and strength for the day. After a 40 minute ride we arrived at the Bronx Zoo a real big kind of oasis in the middle of the big city New York. After a nice family photo shooting at the entrance we started our walk to “hunt” after all the animals living in this huge park. We saw birds (not they would have impressed me),




the tigers (very majestic),




the Camels (puhh did they stink!!), the bears,




the giraffs




the knut


and the funny sea lions, just to mention some. But at the end of the day there was big disappointment: we did not manage to see any elephant (we didn’t even find out if there were any). But all in all it was a really nice day, not only speaking of the weather. And there is another thing I have to mention here: If Tobi should ever be unable to find a job, every kindergarten will be happy to have him as animator. The three kids loved him. The two girls because he made a horse for them and the boy, yes maybe just because Tobi impressed him by being old and cool!!! ;) So everybody was satisfied and exhausted from a day full of walking and excitement. As nice finish of the day we met MJ’ husband and had a very good Mexican diner. So now get up for a new working week!!



But the working week only lasted four days. Since the weather did not want to be nice at the weekend we decided to reschedule our week end after the nice weather. What does that mean?




We went to Philly on Friday and planed to work one day of the weekend from home as all the cool American workers do ;). And it was very wise to decide so. Friday was a beautiful sunny day even at 5:40 when I had to get up. The early cat catches the bird, so did we and arrived in Philly about 10:30. Equipped with maps and my guide we began our sight seeing tour through the town.




Did you know that Philadelphia is a highly historical place?




The declaration of independence (pic of constitution hall)

was signed here and famous Benjamin Franklins influence can be seen all over the town. Not really impressed by history (we both couldn’t really explain why) we took a rest and had one of the





popular south street *uhhhhh*


popular Philly cheese steaks

(which are not thaaaat different from our all loved Döner ;)). With new strength the second half of the day began. And the older the day got the better the city became. Walking along the Delaware River with a great look on




Benjamin Franklin Bridge




and almost more popular, the great.. Moshulu!!! *g*


(as I told you he (and she, too) is everywhere) was just the beginning. The next thing we saw was a very slow boat crawling up the river every moment ready to sink as it seemed. We should find out the reason for that later as we were walking down the street not expecting any bad, when exactly that boat came driving down toward us. What, sorry???? Driving???? Oh yes! This thing is some kind of hybrid between boat and bus and serves as tourist attraction for sight seeing tours. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to take a ride on that vehicle. We had to see the fabulous




City Hall,

the




shopping mall with an organ of 300 pipes,

the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (here he is again) and the big and




impressive Museum of Fine Arts.

And I tell you what, we were done with walking but happy to have come to Philly.
Saturday, let me get some sleep and give my feet a rest!!! NO, we didn’t. New York, New York we come!




This time the Statue of Liberty was our target. Since the weather was friendly to us we really enjoyed our




15 min trip by boat to Liberty and then Ellis Island.




From Ellis Island to NY-Manhattan (this is the Aida I guess)






Tobi and...*mhhh* who there in the back??? I don't know! ;)



But at least I myself, with one of my best looks on a picture !EVE!R *hi*


The statue is impressive and looks nice on photos but somehow we didn’t manage to get her and us on the same photo all the three of us looking good. But no time for sorrows.




The Immigration Museum on Ellis Island was our next stop.


Very interesting how people in different times for different reasons entered the US and which process they had to go through. Walking through the building could really make you feel like you were the immigrant hoping to be allowed to enter the land of possibilities.
But enough of history let’s get to the present again. Souvenirs had to be bought for our left behinds! And thank-you-gifts for the ones we will leave behind soon and who did so much for us. Thank you again in this place.
And Sunday came! Oh there was something, yes right, we rescheduled our weekend. That means we have to work today. Not that we wanted but we had to. So after a strengthening breakfast we managed more or less (Tobi keep your eyes off the TV!!) to work on our thesis for university. Not the exact fun activity you want for your Sunday but looking back on the past days what an eventful, beautiful but also exhausting weekend!

Boston, the Irish Town

Boston… uhhh… what the hell is that? I’ve never really heard sth. interesting about that city, so why go there? We don’t need that, let’s just stay in NY, go to D.C. (Anm. Der Red. Washington, the capital ;) or to the famous Niagara Falls (which could’ve been connected with a short trip over to canada, which would be directly on the other side of the falls).

But unfortunately a lot of people recommended Boston to us, however... we booked the hotel for one night, so okay Eve, I’ll join u. But there was another problem, we couldn’t book the right bus, at a good time on Saturday morning! And with a 4 hour bus drive, finally arriving at around 2 pm, it’s not worth it, especially if Boston isn’t that nice! (I also have to say, that almost everyone here in the NY, NJ (New Jersey) doesn’t like Boston, because there’ a big rivalry between... TATATATAAAA...

Boston Red Sox and ...

The New York Yankees (Baseball)

But back to business, Boston, but let’s see if there’s something about that the a lot of people recommended this city to us. We decided to go on Friday evening (after we went to the Lonestar *hmmmmmm* delicious!) at 11:30 pm so we’re going to be there at 4:00 am in the morning. We slept in the Bus, a Megabus, very comfortable (I for about 2 hours, not very much! But I’m used to that kind of lifestyle, I have Nico as a friend! hihi) and as quiet as it could be with some of the bad streets here.

So... we arrived at Boston Main Station (see Eve in the midth of the night) (which is actually called South Station) at 3:30 am, and we thought about taking the metro or if not a taxi. First possibility didn’t work because as it is in Stuttgart, metro closes at night, home sweet home ;-)

We took the taxi goin’ to the Day’s Inn

about 5 Miles away from the center of the city. We didn’t have a room for that night, but thought and they also promised us, that we could relax in the lobby! And because there was nobody on the main desk, we assumed it would be ok to just stay there and sleep a bit. But somebody woke us up very roughly, the Security guy told us, that we’re even not allowed to stay there, when we already booked a room for the next night! What the f***, but after NEGOTIATING a bit, we came to the solution that this is definitely not the way they should treat their customers, so we relaxed 1 hour in the cafeteria room, a lil’ bit away from the entrance, but we could relax (I guess Eve slept about 6 hours that night, I maybe 2,5 h but that’s ok I’m the man who has to take care*g*!) that’s what is important.

We went to the I-Hop, a 24h from breakfast to lunch and dinner, everything including eating facility!

Sunrise from the I-Hop to where Boston should lay...

We took the first bus into the City and experienced the sun rise directly from a park in the heart of the city, quite nice! Because it unfortunately was a lil’ bit cold, we tried to stay more in the sun. We discovered the city in walking through it, as much as we’ve already done in NYC and it was all great! Boston is such a great city!

It’s is not as overcrowded as NY, the people are a lot more friendly (always tryin to help you, even the officials from the transportation authority) and the division of the city really makes sense. But one after another.

General Washington and the thereafter named park

Firstly we went to the a church, directly next to a huge glas building.

But it really didn’t disturbed me as it does in NY, because there is no order at all in this city. Boston is different and I can prove you with some more pic’s we shot from the biggest building in the City, the Prudential Tower. It was amazing with the upcoming sun...

Boston from above

After that we took a walk to the river which goes directly through Boston, what was the name again, ahhh yes Charles river. The path goes directly through the part of the city which was once the stinky swamp of Boston, but after transferring it, with the help of a lot of sand, to a part of the city and building homes based on French homes of Paris, and it looked the way. Would be quite nice to live there later on, in my life… and I’m sure that you’ll follow the never ending story ;-)

After being on the Charles and making some beautiful pics of Boston and Cambridge, the student-city on the other side of the river (i.e. MIT and worlds famoust Harvard), we went to the history path (whatever the real name is... Eve do you remember it?) which follows the most important historic buildings and sights which are still visible in Boston, kind of living history *g*

Eve in B., the Charles and Longfellow Bridge in the back

Charles Panorama

Back Bay with the shadow of the prudential tower

Constitution Hall

The Prudential from Back Bay

Tobi in B.

We walked all the way along (all in all at least 12 km through Boston) this path, through very old and beautiful parts of Boston, as well as modern areas. What I like so much about it, is the obvious fifference to NY, it is clean, structured and the people are younger and nicer. NY is very overcrowded, too. For example, a lot of NY citizens can’t and/or don’t want to go out at summertime or on weekends, because there are so many tourists, it’s just a real, single attraction (tourist behaviour: “I must have been in NY once in my life!!!”).

So we spent a very nice and almost calm day in Boston. We were unfortunately so tired in the evening, that we didn’t make to meet our newly met friend Pat, from Philly (we met him in the bus to Boston) and unfortunately we didn’t make it in Philly, too. But we still have his contact info and we’ll keep him in mind for the next time visiting the US.

We arrived at the Hotel after struggling to go there (of course, Tobi was with Eve, that’s why they missed the passing Bus the same time the arrived at that station... L), but we had some very kind people helping us again, WOW! That was the Saturday in Boston and we fall asleep very, very tired *huuuuhhhhh*...

The next day we planned to go to Harvard, to walk around a bit and explore the other part of the Charles river.

BIG O as a Harvard fan

We packed our things at the Day’s Inn and after having our breakfast again at the I-Hop, we took our bus to the Central Square in Cambridge again and walked the 1.5 miles over to the harvard square, and it was such a nice atmosphere again. An area with very young people, nice buildings, nice weather and of course nice food in the italian place again

;-)

So because we had to take the bus again from South street, we decided to go to South Boston and, surprise surprise... Eve found out on TV, that there would be a parade because of St. Paddy’s day on Tuesday 2 days after this Sunday.

St. Paddy's day in Boston

OK, let’s see if it’s better than the parades I already knew (okay, I have to be honest, I’ve nether ever been to a Paddy’s day party or to a carneval party in Cologne or Mainz, but I will be there at least once!!!)!

And this was really overcrowded, even more than it was ever before we went to NY. But it was so nice, everyone celebrated the day, perfect weather, everyone of the celebraters wore something green, very nice atmosphere, even without any alcohol on the streets!

We enjoyed the rest of the day, driving back to NY and dreaming of the 2 amazing days in Boston. I myself still dream about studying in Harvard later on. And 80,000.00 bucks is not that much for one year masters study in the US :-p *g*

More to follow...