Havana is definitely one of the cities in the world where you’ll have to spend more than just two days in order to see it all. Its true spirit can especially be felt in La Habana Vieja – the old town. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it features many historic colonial buildings. Other than that, you can find here the capitol, the four main squares, some nice churches, forts, and the famous Floridita bar where Ernest Hemingway used to hangout. And – of course – hundreds of these famous old American cars! 🙂
Without even knowing it, I had booked my flight exactly for the time when Havana was celebrating its 500th anniversary. It was a huge spectacle with free concerts, huge fireworks, and colorful parades. The best time to be there! And, of course, we also went to an after-party…
Vedado is the more modern part of Cuba’s capital and the central business district. It comprises many bars and clubs, cultural venues, part of the Malecon, the Revolution Square, and the University where also Fidel Castro studied law. A bit further outside, Fusterlandia – the Cuban answer to Park Güell in Barcelona – is worth a stop.
Viñales is a small town in the Western part of Cuba. It mostly consists of colorful one-story wooden houses with porches. Many of which are so called Casas Particulares – private residences that have been tailored and licensed to operate as bed and breakfasts. (My travelmate Darijusch and I stayed in these throughout the whole trip.) It is situated in an agricultural area, where crops of fruit, vegetables, coffee, and tobacco are still grown by traditional methods. Oh, and don’t forget to visit the Botanical Garden in this town when you’re around!
The Viñales Valley has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and draws more and more tourists every year for its outstanding karst landscape and traditional agriculture as well as the unique architecture, crafts and music. There are many natural sights to be found such as caves or limestone cliffs. Those mountain formations are called mogotes and are only comparable to the landscapes in China and Malacca.
Nearby – about 3 hours by van – is one of the most beautiful beaches of the whole island located: Cayo Jutias. Especially when you walk to the right hand side, you will have the white sand and the clear blue waters all for yourself. What a paradise! 🙂
Also nicknamed “La Perla del Sur”, Cienfuegos is situated at the Southern coast of Cuba. There is no other place in the Caribbean which contains such a remarkable cluster of neoclassical structures. Other than these magnificent colonial buildings, a stroll along the malecón during sunset is a must-do. Oh, and don’t miss the main square in the city center!
Nearby the city of Cienfuegos, Playa Rancho Luna is worth a day trip in order to have a relaxig time at a very uncrowded beach.
Trinidad is famous for its colonial architecture and the cobblestone streets. As it is well preserved, tourism is the major income in this town and you meet many tour groups here. For me, walking around the city center for one day was enough. In the evening we bumped into some really cool other travelers, went for some mojitos, and to the famous cave disco.
On our second day in Trinidad, all of us decided to go on a bike tour together to the Valle de los Ingenios. This area was a center for sugar production in the 18th & 19th century. At its peak, there were over fifty sugar cane mills in operation here, with more than 30,000 slaves working on these plantations. And of course, we did taste some sugar cane juice! 🙂
In addition to its beautiful natural surroundings and colonial appearance, Trinidad is located by the sea with an excellent beach nearby: Playa Ancon. It is 4 km long, with white sand and green-blue water. And that’s where we enjoyed some Coco Loco and Mojito during sunset.
In the very center of Cuba, Santa Clara can be found. The city itself is not very remarkable but the interesting aspect about this place lies in the fact that Santa Clara was the site of the last battle in the Cuban Revolution in 1958. Nowadays, this city is home to a Che-monument, a Che-museum and a mausoleum which houses the remains of Che Guevara and sixteen of his fellow combatants.
One bus ride away, towards the Northern coast, one reaches Remedios – the oldest Spanish settlement. The city center contains many restored colorful colonial buildings. Just a few kilometers further, the small town of Caibarién at the shore can be visited in order to taste great sea food.
Featuring one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Varadero is also one of the largest resort areas in this area. Luckily, there are also looong kilometers of white sandy beach before all of these hotel resorts start and that’s where we spent a couple of relaxing days before almost ending our trip around Cuba. I even met 6 Polish bikers there who invited me to have breakfast with them at the beach where they were camping. 🙂
Matanzas, located on the way between Varadero and Havana, is also called the City of Bridges or the Venice of Cuba, for the seventeen bridges that cross the three rivers in the city. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore, it is the birthplace of the music and dance traditions danzón and rumba.
The Chicago Riverwalk – the 1st photo I took back on US-American soil
I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago but it was never “on the way” while living / traveling (in) the South, the East Coast and the West Coast of the United States. Thus, this time, it was! 🙂 I fell in love with this city the first time I saw the river walk – in the middle of the night. Maan, my host, welcomed me in his amazing apartment Downtown with the best view ever and convinced me to stay for a week. Thanks for your hospitality! 🙂
I had a wonderful time there – went on motor and sailing boat trips on lake and river, got to know great people, discovered downtown, the parks, and the shopping district. The weather was mostly on my side, too. The sun was out and it was almost as tropical as in Mexico. 🙂 But of course, there were also some rainy days which I used to chill, work, swim, and to visit the planetarium, the aquarium, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Chicago History Museum. Very recommendable!
Well,
the day came that I had to move on. Having arrived in Detroit
in the early morning, I discovered the
whole city on foot, looking at the nice university buildings, the
stadiums, and the many theaters downtown. Afterwards, I crossed over
to Windsor, Canada, through the tunnel but came back to the USA a
couple of hours later.
View of Detroit from Windsor, Canada
Now, Buffalo is a city very close to the Niagara Falls. I stayed with a wonderful person there – Ahmad. He welcomed me to his home, went on sightseeing trips with me, and just spent his free time with me. That’s another thing I love about traveling the world – those very welcoming, hospitable people everywhere! 🙂 I definitely recommend everyone to try couchsurfing – its an incredible way to get to know the real culture of a country by living and spending time with (very lovely and hospitable) locals!
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.
Head over heels enjoying this amazing autumn time in New England
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.
The pedestrian zone in Burlington, Vermont
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!
Portland Head Light lighthouse
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.
Portsmouth – a typical New England town
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.
Watching the sunset from my bed in a high rise building in Manhattan
Some might be asking why I went back to New York City again since I’ve been living there a couple of years ago. Well, it was a lucky coincidence that I got a ride there and then one of the most amazing apartments in whole Midtown Manhattan – thanks so much, Herta! 🙂 I had a great time there again with a feeling like being back home, meeting old friends again, going back to those places I’ve been before and visiting the ones that are new like the vessel, the high line, and the September 11 Memorial.
View after waking up
View before going to sleep
The Vessel
View out of the window towards the Empire State building
Pier 17
Downtown
The Charging Bull
The Fearless Girl
National September 11 Memorial
High Line Park
NY Public Library
Rockefeller Center
Times Square
MOMA
Party in NYC
Central Park
I also was in NYC at a very special time of the year – Halloween. During that time, the city is full of trick-or-treaters, haunted houses, costume parties, and parades. The most famous one is the Village Parade which everyone can take part in. It was a crazy party all night long and here are some of my favorite costumes as seen in the streets of Manhattan:
And I also went to Washington, D.C. again because my road trip across the States should start from there. This time, other than a couple of years ago, I was lucky with blue skies and sunny weather. Thus, I had a blast visiting the mall, all those memorials dedicated to the most important people in US-American history, and the Arlington cemetery.
Washington Memorial
Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Martin Luther King Memorial
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Arlington Cemetery
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The White House
US Capitol
After more than 10 hours of driving straight through, we arrived in Nashville in the very early morning and had a little rest before taking a sunrise walk through the capital of Tennessee.
The next stop was Memphis – home of the Blues and, of course, Elvis. A couple of years ago I’d already been to Graceland (a must-see when in this area) and his tiny birthplace in Tupelo but this time I revisited Beale Street and the Mississippi River where memories of the “Memphis in May”-festival 2005 came alive.
As I literally found out on the way, one of my friends I went to high school with in Mississippi 15 years ago now lives with her family in Fort Worth. So I was able to stay with Sarah, play with her kids (The most adorable ones ever!), and was shown around town by this lovely family. Thank you so much, y’all – I’ll definitely come back around for a visit! 🙂
We also went to Dallas together in order to see where John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and to check out the city from high above in the Reunion Tower. Then I had to wave goodbye to this adorable family and move on…
JFK Assassination Site
San Antonio is one of the most-see places in the Lone Star State. Not only are there the missions – with the Alamo as the most famous one – but also the beautiful River Walk. Moreover, there are nice parks and at night even a pretty awesome light show at the cathedral explaining the history of the state. Oh, and my lovely host Joel not only showed me around the city but also took me to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet – soooo yummy! 🙂
Austin is the capital of Texas and, thus, also location of the capitol building. Furthermore, it’s where the food trucks originated and hundreds of bats fly out from beneath a bridge each night (with almost as many spectators). There are also some lovely parks along the river, a booming nightlife district, and a really cool graffiti place. Oh, and delicious burritos like the ones I had with Erwin, my couch surfing host.
Other than the astronauts, I didn’t have to say “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” since I didn’t. Ken picked me up, we went to all the museums since it was raining cats and dogs and it was museum-free-Thursday (Yay, lucky us!), and then I had a very (VERY) delicious, healthy dinner cooked by Ken before leaving the Lone Star State.
Being a world-renowned city for its creole cuisine, it’s Southern houses, and the distinct music scene, I had to pay New Orleans a visit. I just loved walking the streets starring in awe at the French and Spanish Creole architecture in the French Quarter.
The most famous street in New Orleans is the Bourbon Street where you can find tons of bars and clubs. It is one of the very few places in the United States where it is allowed to drink alcohol in public. I’ll definitely have to come back here for Mardi Gras at some point in the future. 🙂
Fort Lauderdale is also called the “Venice of America” because of all the canals you can stroll along or discover by boat. Furthermore, there are beautiful beaches and the Las Olas Boulevard where everyone goes who wants to show off their expensive car. Oh, and don’t miss the new Hard Rock Hotel closeby – it even features a fantastic (and free) light show every night!
Miami is THE hipster place to be! Exclusive Bulgari, Versace, and Cartier stores for shopaholics in the Design District, colorful graffiti and cool bars in Wynwood, as well as Cuban art, lifestyle, and food in Calle Ocho. A very unique, diverse city!
Oh yeah, I did have a hell of a time in Miami Beach – and one of the craziest days of my travel so far! 🙂 I was hosted by Mack in his really cool apartment in a high rise building directly at the beach, offered a jet ski cruise by Gurchai, and invited to a party on his motorboat by Ly. It was an awesome day with delicious BBQ, a lot of booze, crazy lovely people, a bonfire on beer can island, and a sleepover at the beach. Of course, we had a fresh coconut from the palm tree for breakfast! 🙂
And when it was time to say goodbye, my new, very awesome friend Nicole took me to the airport and waved me off – hope to see you soon, girl! :-*
Having arrived in Canada, my first stop there were the Niagara Falls – right at the border to the United States. Well, I must say, I was a bit surprised. These waterfalls are NOT the highest ones in the world (it is the Angel Falls in Venezuela which I had to skip because of the severe civil riots there at the moment) BUT they have the highest water flow rate in the world – that’s why they are used for producing hydroelectricity. Around these waterfalls, there is an amusement district that looks like a small Las Vegas, and at night, there are colorful lights and fireworks. Veeery different to what I had imagined…
Nearby, there is the small, idyllic town of Niagara-at-the-lake that is full of beautiful Canadian houses, vineyards, and streets that look like in a movie.
The next day, it was time to set off to Toronto, where the Nuit Blanche (White Night) was taking place. That’s when the streets of this city are turned into an all-night temporary art venue by hundreds of artists. There were huge hands doing the peace sign, a river made of lights, a silent disco in the graffiti alley, and bands all over the place. What a special time to experience this vibrant metropolis!
When the sun rose the next day, I decided to experience Toronto during daylight. There is so much to see: castles, colorful markets, streets full of graffiti, wonderful parks … And the best was to set over to the islands with my host Kurtis by ferry and see the sun set over the skyline from there. What an amazing view! 🙂
Having discovered the city, I also wanted to see the countryside of Toronto. Thus, we went hiking in Pickering, a suburb, and discovered the first colored leaves of the season. Looking forward to the Indian Summer here in Canada!
