20. – 25.10.2019
So here I was – New England. The region in the Northeast of the United States with a lot of history dating back to colonial times and places already established before the American Revolution in the 17th century. It consists of 6 States with astonishing landscapes. In order to get a glimpse of it, I went on a short road trip through all of them and will provide you with some fun facts regarding these.
Coming from Montréal, the first US-State you enter usually is Vermont. Fun facts: Vermont is not only the largest producer of maple syrup in the USA (more than 500,000 gallons per year) but also has the highest ratio of dairy cows to people (1 cow for every 3.8 people). In this state, I visited Burlington – the biggest city there and location of the University.
Now, we are in Maine. The Pine Tree State accounts for 99% of the blueberries and 90% of the whole country’s lobster supply. And maaaan, how delicious was that lobster roll at the Lobster Shak at Two Lights near Portland!
The next destination was New Hampshire. The Granite State was not only the first of the thirteen colonies to declare its independence from England but also the place where the first potato was planted in 1719. Portsmouth is a town with many old colonial houses which makes you feel like walking through an open air museum.
Massachusetts is the state I stayed in longest while in New England. The Bay State is the place where important inventions such as volleyball, the birth control pill, and the sewing machine originated from. Moreover, it also has some interesting places such as Springfield where the first basketball game took place and where autumn is still very typically celebrated with pumpkins and scarecrows.
Another distinct town in Massachusetts is Salem. This is where the famous witch trials took place in 1692 when 19 people were executed by hanging as a result of false accusations. Nowadays, much of the city’s cultural identity still reflects this. There are many witch museums, police cars with witch logos, an athletic team called “The Witches”, and much more. A great place to explore – especially around Halloween.
Boston is not only the largest city in New England but also the location where several key events of the American revolution, such as the infamous Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, took place. It is a very tourist-friendly city with the “Freedom Trail” – a red line you just have to follow in order to pass by all important sights. And, of course, also two of the best universities worldwide are located here and worth a visit: the Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). During my time in Boston, I also had the honor to stay with Jacky – a host that not only introduced me to painting but also cooked one of the best chicken-dishes and a great non-guacamole guacamole (insider). 😉
The Mapparium 
Harvard University 
On our way down South, we passed through Rhode Island. The Ocean State is not only known for making fine jewelry and silverware but also for having hosted the first circus – in 1774. Newport is famous for its majestic old manors along the coastline – an impressive sight.
Sunrise in Newport, Rhode Island
So the last New England State, we had to pay a visit to was Connecticut. The Constitution State is home to the first hamburger (1895), Polaroid camera (1934), helicopter (1939), and color television (1948). The little town of Mystic there is widely known for the Hollywood movie “Mystic Pizza” that was filmed in this place.
