355 Days - A Trip Around the World :: USA

Having just left the USA, it feels like I should loose a few words about the country. Stuff I simply didn´t get around to write about while I was there. More »

Ok. So maybe, just maybe I should elaborate a bit. In case you are like me, who didn't know about this before coming here, New Orleans is crazy! And Bourbon Street in the French Quarter is the craziest place of all! I mean, you have to keep in mind, that this is the United States after all, a fairly puritan country. And here, you are in Bourbon Street, and there are hundreds of people on balconies overlooking the street, offering girls who pass under the balconies on the street little, cheap plastic beads if they show their breast. And they do! More »

Arrived safely in New Orleans. Went to Bourbon Street. 'Naff said. More »

At first I didn't think I'd like Washington DC. I didn't have high expectations to begin with and my first night here seemed to confirm the worst: The HI hostel I stayed in, is in an area that is desolate at night - there were only dark, unlit officeblocks around and it felt quite dodgy. But then I moved to another area called Adams Morgan. And that's when my day- and my nightlife started to improve. More »

This is soooo cool! I just found out that one of my photos (the one I included in this post) won a second price at the international photography awards (IPA) 2004! Unfortunately I did not win the 10.000 USD cash-price - actually I didn't win anything at all, except for the honour - but I'm absolutely thrilled nonetheless! More »

I always wondered in what kind of context I could ever use the word "delightful" without it sounding terribly weird. Now I know, because I just spend a week in Madison, Wisconsin, and it was absolutely - delightful! I had a really nice and relaxing week there and Bonnie and Jason were just great! More »

I just saw the vice-presidential debate on tv. That's where Dick Cheney and John Edwards had the chance to square off. And I'm afraid that Dick Cheney actually cut the better figure. More »

I just arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, where my friend Bonnie lives. It was really cool to see her again - after all, we had only met once previously and that was in Galway, Ireland in 1993! As you can see there is a very real danger of me staying in touch and popping up at your door, if you give me your email-address! Anyhow: the trip was a bit weird, especially security at San Francisco Airport, where they stopped just short of a full cavity search - but not much short. More »

I had an absolutely amazing day in Yosemite today! I thought of how much we always managed to do each day while we were on the Stray-bus and so I tried to do it like that. I'll give you the details when I'm back in SF but here is the raw meat: In the morning I climbed my first proper mountain - the 220 meters high Manure Pile (now, is that a nice name or what?) with ropes and helmet and everything. More »

I just arrived in the Yosemite National Park - after having made a few, ehem, detours on the way. What little I have seen so far is absolutely awesome and I'm already considering to change my plans to stay here for a few days longer. My rental car is really, nice, btw. I've never had a rental car before! In a few hours I'll probably drive to Glacier Point to see the full moon shine over Yosemite Valley. Supposedly it's awesome! More »

I so love this city! Seriously: San Francisco is gorgeous! It's got cool cafes and restaurants, a nice number of parks and places to hang out and quite simply a really nice architecture. And even though it's a big city it does not have this claustrophobic feel to it. More »

Yesterday I arrived in San Francisco on what was the longest day of my life: Including the time difference between Aukland and SF, Sept. 23rd had 41 hours for me and I was awake for most of it. But San Francisco is so nice and my welcome here was so warm, that none of this matters. More »