Nightflight to Europe

The plane to London flies a circle over Manhattan before heading east.



Two movies later: sunrise over Cornwall in England.



Downtown London and the river Thames.



We have to circle some time over Lodon and wait for permission to land, which is not a pity at all.



The flight to Hamburg is a lot less spectacular. As usual, the Hanseatic city is covered by a thick layer of dark clouds.

Washington D.C.

There we are, emerging from the subway into the sun that is accompanied, however, by strong and cold winds. Altough the day started cloudy, we are lucky again.
Now, I am standing right in the nation's frontyard, the National Mall that stretches almost 5 km from the Potomac river in the west to the Capitol Hill in the east.



Here, the US throws its parties, from presidential inaugurations to folk festivals. And here, in the jumble of museums and monuments lining the green, the Americans memorialize their cultural, political and scientific achievements.



At the center, the phallic Washington Monument is the axis of the cross formed by the White House (in the north), the Lincoln Memorial (west), the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (south) and the Capitol (east).

Now, let's go on top of the 170 m (555 feet) high Monument and get an overview!



North: Howdy, Mr. Bush! - The White House area.



East: the Lincoln Memorial, symbol of the civil rights movement. I imagined the Reflecting Pool in front to appear a little more spectacular, however.



East: Capitol Hill, political center of the the US government and geographic center of D.C. itself.



We spend the evening enjoying the atmosphere in the quarter of Georgetown, exploring the variety of shops until our stomach reminds us that it's time for dinner.



A passing-by couple recommends a nice restaurant in China Town, which is actually a tiny district in comparison to this impressive arch.



Before leaving to New York, a children's dream of mine becomes true in the National Air & Space Museum: I see the Apollo 11 Lunar Module the astronauts Aldrin and Armstron used to land on the moon. They also have some original moon stones here!

Fayetteville, NC (Day 6)

Our way back to Winston-Salem takes us through Fayetteville where Martha, a relative of mine, lives. I am more than happy that we had the chance to meet, not only because her Gulaschsuppe with German Sauerteigbrot is just as excellent as the dessert (a 7up pound cake with chocolate and vanilla ice).

Charleston, SC (Day 5)

We spend the morning at Folly Beach, about 15 min away from downtown Charleston.



Low tide. Yuka is taking the chance to collect some great mussels.

Now let's head to Downtown Charleston, it is supposed to be one of the most appealing urban areas in America.



Palm trees are still green in winter.



The Historic Charleston Foundation preserves the cultural heritage. Their house is supposed to be the oldest one in the city.



From the city's beginnings, religious tolerance was fashionable in Charleston. One of many historic churches.



Downtown.



A typical example of the fine houses in the colonial part of the city. They are all built in the same way: what appears from the street to be a front door actually opens to the end of a piazza, offering a shady, cool and private place to sit.



Most of the houses still utilize gas lamps.



Peeking into one of the gardens.



Bay Street.



This is how hungry people look like.



Back road.

Atlanta, GA (Days 3-4)

The Capital of the New South in Georgia is our second stop.
It is not only the home of CNN and Coca Cola but also that of my buddy Christian, who currently spends a year of exchange at the Georgia Institute of Technology (or 'Georgia Tech').



The campus is located near the center of downtown.



The sports facilities at Georgia Tech, built for the 1996 Olympics, are terrific.



Downtown Atlanta.



Sightseeing.



The Georgia State Capitol with its gold dome is easily visible, even at night.



One of the 14 monuments outside the building.



The dome is plated with 85oz of gold leaf.



Yes, your favourite soft drink (or rather one of the world's major cultural icons?) is also from here.



The three photographers.
Umm...where is the third one?



A Kobold guarding private property in the neighborhood of Ansley Park.



Two of the three photographers having a break (the third one's on duty, of course).



Little Five Points is a more alternative neighborhood.



This old Pontiac Firebird is probably past the prime of his life.

Asheville, NC (Days 1-2)

Spending the afternoon on the Interstate highway was worth it. Our first stop is Asheville in the North Carolina Mountains.
George Vanderbilt, who built his mansion here, called it the "most beautiful land in the world".



And indeed, it is hard not to be impressed with the certain 1920s charm in this fabulous setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains.



The city center is waiting for our nightly exploration.
Okay, check out this marvelous art deco structure with its gleaming Romanesque arches!



Time for a break: we enjoy a cappuchino in the café of the local bookstore.



The Flatiron Building.
Makes sense?



See the Noodle Shop on the opposite side of the street? It serves some delicious Chinese cuisine, we give it two thumbs up.



The Basilica of St Lawrence claims to have the largest free-standing dome in North America. The stained-glass windows were made in Germany (of course).



Gas station on a local country road.



Sunday morning run.