Chicago - I have missed you! It felt so good being back again, back to my most favorite city in the U.S.
Wandering along Michigan Ave, strolling around the Loop, being amazed by the view of Chicago's breath-taking skyline seen from Navy Pier, relaxing in Grant Park, having a cocktail on the far top of Hancock Tower... our days in Chicago were one big nostalgia tour, bringing back the good times we had here 3 years ago!

And thanks to Angela (I got to know her during my study-abroad time 3 years ago) and Jason (I got to know him in India) we had a blast - a rocking-good time!
We went, for instance, to this comedy show in the "Second City" called "Thank Heaven, it wasn't 7/11" - really funny :-)) We also had a yummy Indian lunch in Chicago's "Little India"... We did so many different things, I still remember them vividly and all of them made our stay in Chicago unforgettable!

Thanks Angela, for your kindness and generosity for letting us stay in your apartment and for all the other things! It meant a lot to us, a whole lot!

Man, I never thought I'll be back to Champaign that soon again - hardly 3 years have passed and we are back again. Back to the place where we spent some 4 months in Spring 1999, studying our little brains off and enjoying the life of an American student. It felt so good to see all those places again, to walk over the Quad - my most favorite spot in Champaign, to be inside the Memorial Stadium, to sit again in the classrooms where we had exams, quizzes but also a lot of fun! Spend the evening in one of Champaign's student pubs, go grocery shopping at Osco and Meijer... doing all those little, actually quite unimportant things again made me feel good.

While being in Champaign, we (Jason, Oli and I) stayed at Jenny's (again a friend from India) place which is just a stone's throw away from our apartment back in 1999. We had a very amusing ;-) evening together, and a yummy BBQ the next day; Jason made his car available to drive us around Champaign and Urbana; and last but not least, we met Anne again (we got to know her 3 years ago during our study-abroad time) which was nice as well!

Jenny, I gotta say "Thank you" - thanks for giving us a roof over our heads and the fun we had together!

Water. That's what attracts people to Hot Springs. They have been coming here since the first person discovered these hot springs long ago.
The town of Hot Springs (boyhood home of former president Bill Clinton) delivers precisely what it advertises: soothing relaxation. You can either take a bath in the coils of these 143ºF (~62ºC) springs (the water gushes to the planet's crust in Hot Springs at a rate of 850,000 gallons a day) or gaze at the green-peaked mountains while cruising Lake Hamilton or enjoy the beautiful panorama of the surrounding mountains and lakes from Hot Springs Mountain Observatory Tower.

Hot Springs is home to the world-famous Bathhouse Row, consisting of eight turn-of-the century structures, which lies within the National Park. Although most of the traditional bathhouses are empty due to diminishing popularity of hot baths, there are still several opportunities to soak your body in the hot water: in the Buckstaff House on Bathhouse Row, in the Hot Springs Health Spa, in the Libbey Memorial Physical Medicine Center as well as in some hotels that offer thermal baths. Moreover there's one Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row that's now a museum. Fordyce Bathhouse gives you a marvellous taste of what the great American Spa experience was like. The focus was on the baths, but recreation and relaxation were also important for therapy. Life was slower then - visits of three weeks and more were common.

So how did we spend our time in Hot Springs? Oli and I did a free Trolley-tour on the first day to get a first impression of the town - it took us to the Hot Springs Mountain Observatory Tower, to Magic Springs (an amusement park) and through the whole town of Hot Springs. On our second day we indulged ourselves in the hot waters of Libbey Memorial Physical Medicine Center. Unfortunately we didn't like it too much as the bath was a bit run-down and the hygienic standards there didn't meet our expectations. Nevertheless we enjoyed the hot water a lot.
During our time in Hot Springs we stayed in the "Happy Hollow Motel" on 231 Fountain Street which is run by an extremely friendly Hungarian woman.

Concluding, I wanna say that we really had a good time in Hot Springs - firstly because of the beautiful nature surrounding us, secondly of the hot waters, thirdly of the relaxing atmosphere there and last but not least because of the friendly encounters with Hot Springs people. Hot Springs is for sure a place that's worth a visit.

Frankly, Oklahoma was quite unknown to me... the only thing I knew about Oklahoma was that there are a lot of hurricanes. Now, that I've been there I dare say that I got to know Oklahoma, at least a bit :-)

The reason why we paid Oklahoma a visit was that most of Oli's American relatives live there - both in Lawton and in Oklahoma City (the Capital of the state). All in all, we spent a week there. Most of time we stayed in Lawton with Linda and Bill, but we also spent two days in Oklahoma City with Jenny, Alan and Hayden. During our time we got to know nearly (?) all of Oli's relatives: Linda and Bill, Anne, Jenny and Alan and Hayden, Keri and George and Joshua, Jennifer and Rob, Barbara and John and Katie and Elizabeth. I hope I haven't forgotten anybody... it is really hard to remember all those names and how all of them are related to Oli. Anyway, thanks to all of you, it was so nice getting to know you, guys!

So, what is there to see in Oklahoma?

Well, first of all, I was highly impressed and touched by the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center which is erected in remembrance of the bombing of Oklahoma City's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. Do you still remember?
Another thing that's worth exploring in OKC is Bricktown - a district where you can find a lot of restaurants and bars. To me it seemed that Bricktown is a quite new district, they even have this Canal there which looked really good.
Lawton has not too many things to offer but with some tips of natives (Linda and Bill, that is), you can easily spend a nice time there. Probably the biggest thing there is Fort Sill. Fort Sill was founded by General Philip H. Sheridan on January 8, 1869, during a winter campaign against South Plains tribes. The famous "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 10^th U.S. Cavalry, built the post and established their regimental headquarters here. Since 1911 Fort Sill has been the home of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center and School. In 1962 the Department of Interior designated the original old fort as a National Historic Landmark. Apache Chief Geronimo is buried there as well (he spent his last years there as a prisoner).
Another thing you can do while being in Lawton is to visit the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge which is just a stone's throw away. The attractions of the refuge are many and varied. In addition to viewing and photographing wildlife in their natural setting, you can find lakes, streams, canyons, mountains and grassland which are all ideal for hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. And if you are already in the Wichita Mountains make a trip to the near "Meers Burger and Restaurant" in Meers. They probably sell the biggest burgers in the world - sharing is a good idea :-)

We also celebrated the "4^th of July" - America's Independence Day - with Oli's relatives in Oklahoma. I think we experienced quite a typical 4^th of July celebration: we had this yummy BBQ and buffet, we had fireworks, lots of people were there (around 40, I guess), we had a lot of fun, etc. Maybe I shouldn't forget to mention the trap-shooting. Linda told me that it is quite common in Oklahoma (as well as in Texas) that people have guns at home (for their own safety???).

Well, all in all, Oli and I had a real good time in Oklahoma and it was really nice to get to know his relatives. Thanks a lot for everything... and this is still not enough.

Dallas began as trading outpost at a ford across the Trinity River in 1841, rapidly growing to become the nation's largest inland city. Nevertheless, it has yet to be recognized as the cosmopolitan center it aspires to be - visitors are more interested in the image of oil and cowboys fostered by the television show Dallas.

Historic Dallas, which is encircled by the present-day downtown, can easily be seen on a walking tour. Before you start walking you may ride to the top of Reunion Tower or Texas Commerce Tower, to get a feel for the city.

Oli and I stopped on our way to Austin just for a few hours in Dallas - we strolled around downtown and visited the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. On the corner of Houston Ave and Elm St, the notorious 6^th floor of the former Texas School Book Depository still gives you the chill as you look out the window through which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired the shot that killed President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. This floor, which is now converted into a museum, traces the dramatic and macabre moments of the assassination in various media. To the south of the depository, Elm St runs through Dealey Plaza, a national landmark and location of the infamous grassy knoll, which Kennedy's convertible passed as the shots were fired. Philip Johnson's Memorial to Kennedy looms nearby at Market and Main.

With 300 days of sunshine a year, it's always a great day to be in Austin! Austin, the capital of Texas, has many things to offer: Tour Texas' historical beautifully restored State Capitol. Enjoy the spectacle of the Congress Ave bats, the largest urban bat colony in North America; more than a million Mexican free-tail bats depart nightly at sunset from beneath the bridge. Take in all the sights on the University of Texas campus, the largest public university in the nation. Experience Austin's vibrant nightlife.

The State Capitol in Austin is the largest of all state capitols and rumored to be taller than the US Capitol. The Goddess of Liberty statue atop the dome is more than 15 feet in height and fifty varieties of trees native to Texas shade the lovely grounds in front of the Capitol. The Capitol is open to the public seven days a week.

The Congress Ave Bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Nearly 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats reside vertical crevices beneath the bridge roadway from mid-March to early November. The bats provide a valuable environmental service to Central Texas by consuming 10-15 tons of insects nightly - including mosquitoes and many crop pests such as corn-borer moths. The nightly bat exodus has become one of the most spectacular visitor attractions in Texas.

The campus of the University of Texas at Austin is impressive 357 acre big and offers a lot to the visitor. First, try to get up (tickets are quite hard to get - try to book them in advance 512-475-6633) the Tower of the Main Building which offers a spectacular view down to the campus, Austin and surroundings. Then stroll around the campus, there are a lot of things to discover.

Finally, let a long day come to an end in Austin's famous 6th street. Austin is not without a reason called "Live Music Capital of the World" - the nightlife is heavy on live bands, with innovative variations on the city's strong blues tradition.

During our time in Austin we stayed in 6^th Street Hostel, which is perfectly located - downtown Austin lies within walking distance, free 'Dillo stops are just around the corner as well as the bus stops.
All in all, Austin surprised me a lot - relatively unknown to me beforehand, I was soon captivated by its unique charm and its relaxed atmosphere. Austin will for sure stay in my memory as one of my favorite cities on this trip.

Houston, the forth-most populous city (metro population of 4.3 million, more than 90 languages are spoken in this area) in the U.S., spreads its borders as a huge mega-metropolis, filled with monster trucks on superhighways, awe-inspiring glass-and-steel skyscrapers, enormous oil plants, and the largest strip malls in the country. Fortunately, the advocates of the "make it bigger" philosophy also support a softer side of Houston, cultivating operas, ballets, and museums.

The city's most popular attraction, the NASA Space Center, is technically not even in Houston but 20 mi. from downtown. The active Mission Control Center still serves as HQ for modern-day Major Toms. When astronauts ask, "Do you read me, Houston?" these folks answer. During our time in Houston, we didn't visit the NASA Space Center as we have already been to Cape Canaveral, Florida 3 years ago. Yet I think that the Space Center might be really interesting to visit.

Houston also houses two huge parks, Memorial Park and Hermann Park - green oases that offer perfect spots for stressed people, children, athletes, and everybody else. Moreover, around Hermann Park you find most of the museums: Contemporary Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Natural Science & Planetarium, etc.

Back in Houston downtown, the skyscrapers offers a profile of the modern architecture: the pentagon-shaped tower of the Texas Commerce Bank, the green-glassed facade of Allied Bank Plaza, or the triangular-prismatic shaped Pennzoil Place. Currently, downtown Houston is one big construction site. According to Blake, they try to revitalize the center of the city, make it more attractive for its inhabitants and visitors. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed being in downtown - making a small sightseeing tour with one of the numerous free Trolleys or getting lost in the vast network of the 18 mi. Houston Tunnel System, which connects all the major buildings in downtown Houston.

So, what's the impression I got from Houston? Well, I guess Houston is all about roads. I will never forget these huge highways that connect all the parts of this spread-out city with each other. If I have counted correctly, we drove on a street that had 7 lanes (!) for each direction - for a European like me this is really a lot :-) Furthermore, I'll never forget the nightly illuminated skyline - very impressive!

While being in Houston, we stayed at Blake's house; I got to know him during my time in India. He was very committed in showing us around this huge city, in telling us the history and several stories about Houston, in keeping us entertained and well-fed. Thanks a lot, Blake, for your hospitality and everything else - we appreciate it a lot!

New Orleans ("N'awlins"), here it is accepted to let the maintenance slip a bit - residents proudly call their home the "Big Easy", reflecting a joyous, carefree attitude. Let the good times roll!
New Orleans, a city that has its own pulsation, its own rhythm. New Orleans and the music: a combination that is hard to beat. Music here is an attitude, not business. New Orleans, the capital of Jazz.

What to do and see in New Orleans? The undoubted heart of the city is the French Quarter (Vieux Carré). You need at least a full day (some take a lifetime) in the Quarter. The oldest section of the city is famous for its ornate wrought-iron balconies; French, Spanish, and uniquely New Orleans architecture. The historic district of New Orleans offers dusty used book and record stores, museums and many tourist traps. A variety of street musicians, palm readers, and clowns pack Bourbon and Decatur Street day and night.
Hop on a St. Charles Streetcar ($1.25 for one ride, $5 for a day-pass and $12 for a 3-day-pass) and take a tour through the Garden District and be amazed by the great houses.
Stroll along the Moon Walk, a promenade stretching alongside the "Mighty" Mississippi.
For an up-close view of the Mississippi River and a bit of African-American history, take the free Canal Street Ferry to Algiers Point ("Over da River"). Old Algiers is a safe and beautiful neighbourhood to explore by foot. Moreover, it offers a great view to the skyline of New Orleans' Business District.
If you have time left, take a trip to the plantations that are located on Great River Road on the way to Louisiana's capital Baton Rouge: Oak Alley, Nottoway, Laura, and many more.

To let a long day come to an end, head to Bourbon Street because life in New Orleans will always be a party. On any night of the week, at any time of the year, the masses converge on Bourbon St. to drift in and out of bars and shop for romantic interludes. Bourbon St. offers countless bars and traditional jazz, blues, and brass venues. Though the street has become increasingly touristy of late, much of Bourbon's original charm remains. Several sleazy strip clubs and cross-dressing joints maintain the sense of immortality and sinful excitement that is the essence of the Quarter.

All in all, N'awlins was undoubtedly one of my most favorite destinations on this trip - its charm, its beauty, its Gemütlichkeit captivated me.

I can't tell you much about Fort Wayne or Indiana in general, the time was just too short and moreover, we didn't do sightseeing but had a lot of fun doing something completely different :-) But let me start from the beginning.

We left New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday around lunch time by Greyhound bus... we were already travelling for 3 or 4 hours before we heard a loud bang! Our tire bursted while going with a speed of around 100 km/h! Man, I was kind of terrified as I didn't know in the beginning what had happened. Anyway, our bus driver obviously didn't care too much about the flat tire and continued the drive... not too long, though. After a few hundred meters we saw this big smoke cloud rising up next to the window... our journey was over as the second tire completely burnt (for pictures see New Orleans section). What followed were hours of waiting for help, hours of losing my nerves because we still had to catch 2 more connecting busses on our way up to Indiana. However, our "fate" was sealed, we missed all the connecting busses, had to wait endlessly for other busses and finally reached Fort Wayne, Indiana at 4:15 pm instead of 11 am. Our last day was dramatically shortened but Jason did everything he could to make our last day unforgotten. Thanks a lot for your efforts, Jason! You know how much we appreciate it and how much we enjoyed the time with you!

First, he showed us his brand-new apartment in Fort Wayne, then we drove on to the farmhouse where he grew up, where he spent his childhood. There we met his parents who are very nice for the first time. After showing us around a bit we travelled to his parent's lake cottage at Lake Webster, where we spent the evening (together with Jason, his parents and his sister Holly) and our last night in the States.

We spent the late afternoon / evening with swimming and tubing in the lake - this was amazing, this was soooo funny! Afterwards we had this yummy dinner prepared by Jason's parents (thanks a lot for everything!), followed by a nice chatting-session with Jason till the early morning hours.

At around 7:30 am the next day we left together to Chicago, where we spent the last hours at Navy Pier - together with Jason and Angela. At around 1 pm we left to the O'Hare Airport... the end of our trip, the end of an amazing trip full of interesting encounters and new experiences!