5) Washington

The next morning (26.05.) we hopped on a bus from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., where we arrived at the massive Union Station. A cab brought us to our hotel near the Capitol. We started a little afternoon sightseeing tour at the Capitol and walked back to the Union Station for a closer look. From there we walked back to the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. Then we walked along Pennsylvania Avenue, had dinner at Hawk and Dove (my dad didn't like the food though), and continued along the 8th Street to the Yards Park. There we enjoyed the river view and relaxed before we returned to our hotel.
I started early the next day (27.05.) hoping to get a ticket for the Washington Monument, but I was unlucky and the tickets were sold out about 20 people in front of me. So I met my parents near the Capitol and we walked along the Washington Mall to the White House. After taking some photos we cooled down in the White House Visitor Center. We continued to the World War II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. My parents were quite exhausted at that point, but much remained to be seen :) My dad and I climbed the Lincoln Memorial for some good views. After a short break we visited the Korean War Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial. We continued around the Tidal Basin to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. There we finished our tour, returned to our hotel where my parents took a break from the exhausting tour. For my dad's sake we had Japanese food for dinner^^.
On 28.05. we visited the Air and Space Musuem and the Museum of Natural History. Both are worth a full day visit, but we packed both into one day. Both museums were amazing, although I'm often no fan of visiting museums. In the evening I also visited the Library of Congress while my parents took a rest at the hotel.
The last day (29.05.), we visited the Pentagon and the Arlington Cemetary. The Pentagon was rather boring, but the Arlington Cemetary was impressive. Before entering the Cemetery, we saw the largest motorcycle parade ever. For Veterans Day, the Rolling Thunders riders parade took place with more than 100,000 bikes! In the evening we flew back home with a lot of impressions from the USA.

The Capitol

massive Union Station

My parents in front of the White House

Myself and the White House

My dad at the Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument and the Capitol seen from Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King Memorial

Washington Monument seen from the Jefferson Memorial

Inside the Air and Space Museum

Inside the Museum of Natural Sciences

Inside the Library of Congress

Starting point of the Rolling Thunder Riders Parade near the Pentagon

The police presented their bikes too :)

Arlington Cemetery

Arlington Cemetery

4) Philadelphia

From Niagara Falls we returned to Buffalo airport, returned our rental car and hopped on a plane to Philadelphia. We were surprised, however, that our plane was a tiny propeller driven aircraft. Thus, it turned out to be quite an interesting flight with low height. The metro brought us from Philadelphia airport to downtown and we stayed at the Hampton Inn. During afternoon, we went for sightseeing through the city towards the pier (Penn's Landing) at . We passed Chinatown and the Independence Mall and Hall on our way. We were impressed by the huge bridges and massive battleships in the pier area. After getting some refreshments on the pier, we took a different way back and passed the Korean War Memorial and Elfreth's Alley. The latter was really cute harboring well-maintained houses from the time when the US was founded. Back in Chinatown we enjoyed dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
The next day (25.05.), we first headed to Philadelphia's impressive City Hall. From there we coninued along Benjamin-Franklin-Parkway to the Arts Museum. The day was very sunny and we had a break at Logan Square and put our feet into the Swann Memorial Foutain. We had another short stop at the shady gardens of Rodin Museum - which we found not worth visiting. At the Art Museum, we climbed the steps that are famous from Rocky Movies. We didn't fancy visiting the museum, instead we walked through the park behind the museum up to Loyd Hall, where we got some refreshments. We walked back along the Schuykill River and took several breaks in the shade and enjoyed the view along the river. From the Central Station we walked down to the City Hall and enjoyed its impressive sight again. We then went to see the Liberty Bell at the Independence Hall and we were lucky to see the bell just before its free museum was closed at 5 pm. During the beautiful sunset time, we walked through Washington Park to the historic Pennsylvania Hospital and came accross Philadelphia's beautiful Magic Garden - which was, however, already closed. We had dinner at the nearby Percy Stree BBQ before we called it a day and returned to our hotel.

The tiniest plane we ever had for a regular flight

Cute Elfreth's Alley

Luckily that didn't happen to our plane^^

Arch Street Church in front of Philadelphia's impressive City Hall

Swann Memorial Fountain and the City Hall in the back

Art Museum

View from the art museum along Benjamin-Franklin-Parkway to the City Hall

Liberty Bell :)

Garden's of Pennsylvania Hospital

My parents in front of Philadelphia's Magic Garden

2) Cold Spring Harbor and my parents in New York

The next morning (17.05.) we left Boston by bus. I quietly said goodbye to Boston while driving down I-95. In New York we entered close to rush hour, but still didn't have a large delay. I booked a room for my parents at Econo Lodge Times Square. Yet, when we arrived at the hotel, they were overbooked and sent us to the new Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Queens. It was a new hotel with 3 instead of 2 stars, but it was in Queens instead of being near the Times Square. It took us two hours until everything was settled. I explained my parents how to use the metro system and gave them a to do list for the next day. Meanwhile, I took the train to Syosset where I was picked up to attend a conference at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. At the conference I met my German colleagues Kurt and Gerd. The next day (18.05.) my parents visited the Times Square, Central Park, 5th Avenue, Central Station and the Chrysler Building. At the same time, I enjoyed good talks at the conference as well as a wine&cheese party. I saw that the next day (19.05.) didn't cover topics of my interest, so I joined my parents for sightseeing. We met at their hotel room and hopped on the metro at Queensboro Station. We started the sightseeing trip at Wall Street, walked down to the ferry terminal and Battery Park. We continued to the 9/11 memorial and One World Trade Center. We bought tickets for the latter so my parents could visit the observation deck around sunset time. My parents started to be exhausted, so we ate bagels for lunch before passing the Brooklyn Bridge and walking along Main Street Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. As my parents were quite exhausted, we took the ferry back to Manhatten instead of walking across Brooklyn Bridge again. I sent my parents on the Staten Island ferry to get a free look of the New York Bay area while not walking^^ In the meantime, I returned to Cold Spring Harbor. In the evening my parents visited the One World Trade Center observation deck. The next day (20.05.) they went sightseeing down the broadway passing the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, the conference finished with a piano concert, which was when I saw Roger Watson who won the Nobel Price for discovering DNA, and the concert was followed by a lobster banquet. The next morning (21.05.) I picked up my parents from their hotel, we visited the Times Square together and did some shopping. In the afternoon we caught our plane to Buffalo airport where we got into our rental car and drove to Niagara Falls.

Wine&Cheese party at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (Gerd, Seth, Fred, Kurt, Larisa, Christina and I)

My parents @ Battery Park

My parents @ 9/11 memorial and OWTC

My parents in front of the Manhattan Bridge 

My parents and I in front of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge seen from the Main Street Park

My mom in front of the OWTC

New York bay view from OWTC observation deck

My parents @ Times Square

unique interpretation of the Statue of Liberty

1) My parents visit Boston

My parents arrived in Boston Sunday (15.5.), and I picked them up from the airport. We used the Silver Line and Lyft to get to our hotel, and my parents were fascinated because it was their first time using a service such as Lyft/Uber. I had already checked in earlier, so we dropped their bags, refreshed and went to Prudential Center to visit the Observation Deck during sun set. The view was great and it was my first time up there. The sun set was ok, but the night view was best. For dinner, I showed them Fire & Ice and they enjoyed the buffet.

The next morning (16.5.), my jet-lagged parents woke up early, which was convenient as a long day was ahead of us. We started the sightseeing trip at Public Garden and walked through Boston Common to the Massachusetts State House. We continued the Freedom Trail to Quincy Market and North End. From North End, we walked through Paul Revere Park up to Bunker Hill, and then down to the Navy Yard. A Lyft brought us to Harvard Square, where I showed my parents the main Harvard Campus, and they rubbed the foot of the three-lies-statue. From Harvard Bridge they enjoyed the view across Charles River, although they started being exhausted. A Lyft brought us to Havard Medical Campus and I showed them where I worked. We had late lunch at the Beth Israel Hospital canteen, where my parents tried Boston’s famous clam chowder. The green line brought us to Public Garden again and we had some ice cream there before walking along the Esplanade. It was quite cold and windy at the Esplanade, but I showed my parents where I proposed to Franzi. Then I took my parents to the Yardhouse, where we met with Patrick, Jens, Christian, Frederick, Tim and Adam for dinner and beer – my parents didn’t really enjoy the pub food though^^

View on Boston from the Observation Deck on Prudential Tower

My parents early morning at Public Garden

A bold squirrel at Boston Common

My parents in front of Downtown seen from North End

My dad and I in front of the Harvard Medical School main building

Feeding a sparrow at Public Garden with leftovers from an ice cream cone

a family of Canadian Geese at the Esplanade

Last weeks in Boston

Back in Boston, my farewell was approaching, and I enjoyed quite some more Boston treats before leaving.

With Christian, I watched a playoffs game Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks (28.4.), which was lost by the Celtics, unfortunately. I went for a free sailing trip across Boston Harbor with Christina, Chris, Christian and Romy (1.5.).

Saturdy (7.5.) I invited some friends for a move-out party. Patrick, Jens, Andrea, Christian, Romy, Tim, Frederick, Timo, Adam, Cecile, and myself enjoyed plenty drinks. Sunday (8.5.) I moved out of my apartment, and I stayed at Patrick’s place for the last week (8.-15.5.). I visited the Google Campus in Cambridge and enjoyed a great sunset on the way back (11.5.). The next evening (12.5.), we visited the Block Party at Rose Kennedy Greenway Square – one of the few occasions to drink open air. And the little park between skyscrapers was quite scenic to enjoy beer. Friday (13.5.) I attended my last beer hour at Harvard drinking beer in the New Research Building, while enjoying the view of downtown Boston. After beer hour, we went to the Squealing Pig for some more beer.

Boston Celtics lost against Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs

Free sailing trip through Boston harbor :)

A visit to Cambridge's Google campus :)

Sunset over Boston on my way back from Google campus...

People enjoy the sunset from Boston Esplanade

Our love lock during a scenic sunset :)

5) Chicago

Thursday early morning (21.4.) we flew to Chicago, and the blue line brought us from the airport to the city center. We quickly dropped our luggage at the Chicago Downtown Hotel (we were lucky getting a rather cheap room in this 4* hotel), and we went for lunch to The West Egg Café. Right away we fell in love with Chicago’s food culture, and in particular with the great diner options. Although the weather was misty, we went for a first sightseeing trip. Chicago is huge and has many great spots to visit. From West Egg Café we walked north along the promenade of North Lake Shore Drive and came past the Oak Street Beach and the North Avenue Beach – it wasn’t exactly beach weather though^^ Given the weather, we visited Lincoln Park Zoo, which offers free entrance and harbors many exotic animals. We had a lot of fun in the zoo and stayed there for 2 hours :D From the zoo, we walked back south via the Astor Road, which harbors many small mansions with various styles. We went south along the Michigan Av back to our hotel for a short nap. As I couldn’t await seeing the Cloud Gate (alias The Bean), we went to see it during sun set. On the way to Millennium Park, we saw the Chicago Theater. The Cloud Gate had many visitors, but I found it amazing nonetheless. After a number of fun photos and the sun set, we walked through Millennium Park and took a loop via Jackson Drive and Michigan Avenue, heading for dinner at Giordano’s, where we enjoyed one of Chicago’s famous deep dish pizzas. On the short way back to our hotel, the night sky was illuminated by an almost full moon.

Breakfast at West Egg Café

"rough pavement" along the promenade of North Lade Shore Drive

Charming Lincoln Park Zoo visit

Hippo at Lincoln Park Zoo 

Chicago skyline (black Hancock Tower left) seen from Lincoln Park

again :)

West view from Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Bridge 

Chicago Theater

Having fun at the Cloud Gate...

An amazingly huge mirror :)

Cloud Gate after sunset

Harris Theater at Millennium Park

Chicago's night skyline seen from Van Buren Street Station 

River Esplanade by night

Almost full moon - quite a nice sight

Friday morning (22.4.) we took the train south to 47^th Street, where we started the day at The Original Pancake House. The diner was very scenic with mostly African-American customers, finest attitude and most delicious breakfast offers. Well strengthened through the breakfast, we walked to Chicago University campus and came past Barack Obama’s birthplace on the way. Chicago University was nice, but not as impressive as I hoped (not as nice as Harvard :P). Although it was rather cold and windy, we walked to Jackson Park, which unfortunately was under construction. Thus we walked along Midway Plaisance and past Washington Park to take the green line back to the city center. After a short nap in our hotel, we went Michigan Avenue north again to visit 360 Chicago – the observation deck on Chicago’s 2^nd highest building, the Hancock Tower. The view was great and – as usual – we watched sun set and got to see Chicago during daylight, sun set and dark. The latter was the best though, thanks to the impressive city lights^^ For dinner we went to a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and then we visited Howl at the Moon Chicago to enjoy a drink and some music before heading to bed.

Chicago city center seen from the Hancock Tower

Oak Street Beach and North Shore Lake Drive

Full moon over Chicago's Navy Pier

City center at night

:D

The sun greeted us the next morning (23.4.) and we had breakfast at Waffle Café, which was good but not as outstanding as the two previous diners. Given the great weather, we visited the Navy Pier and enjoyed the sun while drinking some coffee. Next, we headed to Chicago’s Chinatown. Unfortunately, Chinatown was a disappointment. So we walked to the Shedd Aquarium and saw the massive Soldier Field, Chicago’s football stadium. From Shedd Aquarium we had a great view of the city center’s sky scrapers. We took a detour via Dearborn Station on our way to the Cloud Gate. Following another photo-session at the Cloud Gate, we took another 1h afternoon nap in the hotel. The nap fueled us with energy for an additional walking tour. We walked along the Wacker Drive around the city center to see the Willis Tower, Chicago’s highest building – and I didn’t manage to capture it properly on picture from close distance. From the Willis Tower we walked zigzag through the city center. The Chicago Board of Trade is quite a sight, as it is the only building which does not align with the checkboard-street-system, but is built to be seen from distance through La Salle Street. Further we came by the James R. Thompson Center and the Oriental Theater. We finished our day of exhaustingly long walking tours with dinner at the Flat Top Grill.

Waffle breakfast at Waffle Café

West view from North Shore Lake Driv

We in front of Chicago's skyline at the Navy Pier

At the Navy Pier

Franzi in front of Chicago's skyline at the Shedd Aquarium

in front of the Field Museum

Grant State Park

The Cloud Gate

Tower of Club Quarter's Hotel in front of Trump Tower 

Trump Tower and Tribune Tower lit by late afternoon sun

Franzi at State Street Bridge

Oriental Theater

Chicago Theater

Sunday (24.4.) was our last day in Chicago, and we started it with breakfast at West Egg Café. We went shopping on Michigan Avenue, in particular in the Disney Store, and we dipped our feet into ice cold Lake Michigan at Oak Street Beach. The weather was great and we didn’t want to leave the city and even more so we didn’t want to leave each other. Yet, we had to catch our planes, Franzi flew back to Germany while I returned to Boston.

Dipping our feet in ice cold Lake Michigan