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Still Pittsburgh

I quite enjoy myself here – specially the fact that this city is literally teeming with libraries… So I've been online every day, which turned out to be a really good thing, since there were exciting news from my friend Deb – she's given birth, not to the expected Sydney, but to a little Joey! That's such a surprise – and I'm still laughing about it.

I love being able to stay in touch that way (on that note – big hugs, Marrie, thanks for all the news!), the internet is a great invention, definitely!

Tonight we'll go dancing – looking forward to it, I'm sure it'll be a blast! Won't get much sleep, though, since my bus is leaving for DC tomorrow morning at 9.30…

Have I already mentioned that I won't be able to meet Nik? A pity, but can't be helped… And Mike is in Atlantic City, so I won't get to see him either. But don't worry, I'll keep myself busy! LOL

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Pittsburgh, PA

Okay, after almost 24 hours of travelling I arrived in Pittsburgh and met up with my online friends Rhonda and Missy. Also yesterday I spent four hours in Albany, where I had dinner with another online friend, Christine.

The youth hostel doesn't open until five, so I'm feeling a bit icky, but it's nothing a shower can't fix… LOL
The weather is not so great, but we're keeping busy. *g*

Was great hearing from you, Jules – sorry that I didn't make it to Toronto… Maybe another time!

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Still Montreal…

Enjoying myself in Canada – but it's a struggle not to buy loads of stuff, considering the low prices everywhere… *g*

Thanks for your email, Missy – looking forward to Sunday a lot, can't wait to meet you!
And Jack (if you have the time to read this, you poor offline sod LOL), miss you too, glad to hear you're still hanging in there…

My friend Deb probably had her baby last night – hope everything went well, sending lots of good thoughts in your direction, sweetie!

Those I haven't mentioned now – thinking of you anyway, in between sightseeing and browsing stores… And Mami – I talked French with one of my room mates! Isn't that cool?

Take care!

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Montreal, Canada

After a hot and pleasant stay in Provincetown I arrived in Montreal with the over night bus – a veery long drive with by far not enough sleep…
Therefore I haven't done much today, specially since the weather was really nasty.

The best definitely was my arrival – I walked up to the hostel when everyone was standing outside shivering because there had been a fire alarm. Not less than FOUR fire engines came – but luckily it had only been a water flood and no serious damage had been done.

The big thing today was naturally 9/11, even if in Canada most people went about business as usual, it was still ever present… Also there were sharp controls at the borders, a reminder every time.

I don't want to get gloomy, so let's close this with a big hug to all my family and friends – I think of you, even if I don't find the time to answer your emails…

And Sibylle – there's no fee on travellers cheques, so you don't have to worry about that. It's like cash over here. *hugs*

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Cape Cod

Only got five minutes until the library of Provincetown closes, but I just wanted to letyou all know that I`ve left Boston. I really enjoyed the last two days there – me and one of my room mates from the hostel (Jenny from Ohio) paired up and went exploring together. Such a great town, a great mix of old town atmosphere and upbeat young people…

And Cape Cod seems really beautiful – I`m looking forward to spending some time walking the beaches… More later – I miss you all and thanks for all the email! I read it all, even if I don`t get around to answering.

And Deb – thinking of you, hope tomorrow`s the day… Big hugs, everyone!

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Boston…

Is such a great city! I enjoy every minute here, I love the contrast of old brick buildings and shiny office towers…

Met some nice people at the hostel – they might take me with them one night, which is cool!

Bostonians are generally very fashionable – and they love to jog! I spent some time yesterday at the Charles River (that`s probably my favorite place here, so beautiful!) and felt completely out of place… LOL

Today I`ll go to Cambridge to see Harvard and then walk around the city some more. Boston has the perfect size, it`s not too big and anonymous – and have I already mentioned that it`s beautiful?

Thanks for your emails – hope everyone is doing fine! I even managed to answer some this morning, but now I`m hungry and am out of one dollar bills anyway…

So take care, until the next time! Hugs…

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Woohoo – made it to Boston!

No problems getting here – and it`s only 3pm, so I`ll check out the freedom trail now… The internet access is somewhat crappy, everything takes waay to long, so no writing email today. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who`s written to me – love you guys!

The flight was okay, I got to watch The Importance of Being Earnest (Marrie – your man… lol) and parts of About a Boy. My neighbour was not very chatty, but that was okay with me.

Still so excited – sorry for being so jumbled… Talk to you later!

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Itinerary the second

Here's what Sibylle and I have planned for the second half of my trip… Unfortunately the visit with Deb won't work out – such a pity, but it can't be helped, she's got visitors coming already. *sniff*
Hopefully we'll manage to meet another time!

The first part of the itinerary is here – Sibylle and I meet up in NYC on September 24 and stay there for a week. That should give us plenty of time to explore some of the many many sights of that city and enjoy the nightlife…

On Oct 1 we'll head South to North Carolina (overnight on a bus – cool! Not. *g*), to Cary to be exact, which is right outside of Raleigh. This is where Sibylle spent an exchange semester some years ago and she's looking forward to meeting her host family and some of her teachers again.

Around Oct 5 we'll then head for Florida (instead of Alabama *sniff*), go see Gainesville (to check out the UF – I'd like to spend a semester there in 2004), then go someplace warm and sunny for some relaxation on the beach. Maybe Key West, or Tampa – it's not so easy to find somewhere beatiful that's reachable by Greyhound and has cheap accomodation.

The last few days we'll be in Miami at the beach and in the clubs, going to see the Everglades (a dream of mine) and maybe spend a day at the beach of Ft. Lauderdale.

And on Oct 13 our plane leaves – back home to prepare for a test only one week later…

This is probably my last entry done from home – stay tuned for news from Boston! (The day after tomorrow – can't believe it!)

Now I need to get busy – still got loads of stuff to do…

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Vienna, Streetparade, and Märrie's Visit

Before leaving for my trip I thought I'd update here – with the new pics from the trip to the family gathering in Austria and the following day in Vienna with my brother, from one of the high points of each year, the big open air rave in Zurich, and from the visit of one of my best friends, Märrie from Bonn.


August 5: Vienna


My brother Michael in front of the national library, with some of the famous 'fiakers', the horse drawn carriages for tourists.


The 'Stephansdom' (cathedral) mirrored…


Me at the river Donau (Danube?) – taking a break from all the sightseeing.

August 10: Streetparade


Four girlies having fun in the rain… (Sibylle, Taptim, Helena and I)


We were attractions! *g* (Sibylle, Matthias, Martin, Taptim and I)


Trying hard to keep warm… LOL I'm pretty proud of the skirt – I made it myself!

August 11-17: visit from online friend Märrie


Märrie in the garden of Basel's 'Münster' (cathedral)…


… and in the staircase of the Münster tower.


Us at one of my favorite places in Basel – the Rhine.


With Sibylle at the national exhibition 'Expo'. In the background you can see an artificial cloud.


And here are Märrie and Sibylle inside that cloud.


A rather 'artistic' pic Sibylle took of Märrie and me.

I'll add pictures of vacations and trips I've done over the years – but I'll backdate them, so they're in chronological order. If you're interested in pics of America, Namibia or other travels you have to scroll down in this journal…

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Trip update

Thought that it was high time that I fill you in on the latest developments in my travel plans…

There are not even two weeks left until my plane leaves for Boston and just this morning I put together an itinerary for the first three weeks. After that I'll meet up with Sibylle in NYC and we'll travel on Southwards together…

– Sept 4-8: Boston. The hostel is already reserved and I'm looking incredibly forward to seeing that supposedly so beautiful city!

– Sept 8-11: Provincetown, Cape Cod. Some nature is absolutely essential – even if it means having to buy an extra bus ticket because Greyhound doesn't go there…

– Sept 11-14: Montréal. Already wanted to go there the last time, now it finally works out! Looks as if I'll spend 9/11 on the bus – suits me just fine, truth be told!

– Sept 15-18: Pittsburgh, PA. Visiting Rhonda and Missy – that's even worth the 19 hours bus ride! 😉

– Sept 18-21: Washington, DC. An absolute must naturally – and if I get the chance to meet up with Mike and maybe Nik (who I haven't asked yet… *g*) I might just stay longer and skip the next thing on the list:

– Sept 21-23: Philadelphia. If it works out it's cool – if not I'll live… And it annoys me to no end that the hostel there does not accept credit cards – I don't want to send them a traveller's cheque by mail!

– Sept 23-Oct 1: New York City. Sibylle arrives on Sept 24 and we'll take a week to see the sights and enjoy the life of the 'Big Apple'…

After that we'll probably head to Cary, NC to visit Sibylle's former host family, then down South to see Deb (yay!) before heading to Florida to catch some sun before going back on Oct 14…
Those six weeks will be over way too fast, I already see that coming! *sniff*

But it's going to be a whole lot of fun and I can't wait! There's a ton of stuff I should do – 13 days left and counting… lol