1) Montreal and Ottawa

On Saturday (01.08.) morning I picked up our rental car, a nice Chrysler 200 in red, from Logan airport and drove to Montreal. It was a bit of a mess to get out of Boston, but a few miles later I drove through nicest landscapes in New Hamshire. Border crossing to Canada was easy and I received the Canadian stamp into my passport without any troubles. My timing was perfect, although I was late, when Franzi entered Montreal airport's arrival hall 3 mins after me - her flight was a little late too :D
Together we drove to our AirBnB in Montreal located at 7th Avenue close to the Olympique Park. There we met Anne and Dirk, the couple we were to visit Canada together :) It was already evening and Franzi, Anne, and Dirk were still suffering from jetlag. A beer and a shower later we walked along the lively Rue Masson and enjoyed dinner at Pot Masson.
The next morning (02.08.) started with a nice breakfast and espresso coffee at the lovely AirBnB. We then went by bus and metro to Place D'Armes with its great Basilique Notre-Dame in Vieux-Montreal (old city center). We walked around the Basilique and past the Palais de justice to the Place Jacques Cartier. On the latter we enjoyed a berry smoothie in the sun while chilling music was played around us. I really like the scenery in Montreal - a true European feeling here. We then went down to the riverfront and the old harbor, where people gathered to enjoy themselves and the weather. The spring-like weather was great compared to the soaring heat I had in Boston the days and weeks before. After exploring the old city center we went back to our AirBnB for a lovely break. With new energy we went to Plateu Mont-Royal to climb Mont Royal for a view over Montreal. On our way up, we passed Parc Jeanne-Mance that was filled with young people who enjoyed picnic, bbq, slacklining, volleyball, weed, dancing, playing instruments, fighting medieval games... a true hippie heaven :D We quickly left the paths and climbed the hill straight ahead meeting some fences and difficult terrain on the way^^ we were rewarded with nice vistas on the way and especially the view from Chalet du Mont-Royal. We took a bus back down and met up with Anne and Dirk who were sightseeing at the Olympique Park. We went for dinner to a bad Italian restaurant. From there we walked towards the city center and encountered a Canadian-Indian festival. The colorful fountain sculptures were cool, but no beer was offered...

Franzi in front of Basilique Notre-Dame

Place D'Armes

Basilique Notre-Dame

Franzi in the gardens of Chateau Ramezay Museum

view from the old port, Montreal skyline behind Franzi

view from the old port towards Place Jacques Cartier

Palais de justice

street art in Plateu Mont-Royal

Montreal Downtown from Mont-Royal

Franzi is often skeptical about selfies^^

Indian festival in Montreal Downtown

great idea to place sculptures into the fountains :)

  After a good breakfast we drove the next morning (03.08.) to Ottawa - Canada's capital. We stayed at the Best Western Victoria Park Hotel that turned out to be a great choice. We walked down Elgin Street to Parliament Hill at the riverfront. We first saw the impressive Fairmont Chateau Laurier before we walked around the parliament. After some photosessions at the beautivul Parliament complex, we were looking for dinner but first came along Sparks Street where people presented perfomances during this holiday monday. Most of the city center's shops were closed and it took us a while until we found a Greek fast food restaurant. On our way back to Parliament Hill we added a coffee and walked along the Supreme Court and the National Library. We then went down to the river and walked along the river to the Champlain Statue to get a nice view of the Parliament. It is quite a scenic little way :) At the Champlain Statue we took a mini-nap in the sun between our photo sessions. From there we went past the National Galery and Ottawa's Cathedral Notre-Dame with its strange metal roof. We were a little disappointed by the Byward Market, but it was also about to close. We got some ice cream and returned to our hotel. After another nap we went for dinner at Elgin Street.

The next morning (04.08.) we went to Parliament Hill again and tried to get tickets for the Parliament Tower to get a nice view over the city. However, tickets sold quickly and chances were low we would still get one at 10 am. But we were lucky to watch a guard change on Parliament Hill. Then we visited Byward Market again hoping for a better experience once the shops opened. But the market still was not really interesting. On our way back to the hotel we walked along the Rideau Canal which is a really nice way to walk. Then we drove to Algonquin National Park.

news in Ottawa :)

Rideau Canal next to Fairmont Chateau Laurier

group photo in front of parliament library

Franzi jumping in front of East Block parliament building

colorful Parliament Hill

Franzi looking along the Rideau Canal to Fairmont Chateau Laurier

View of Parliement Hill from Champlain Statue

sweet couple in front of Parliament Hill vista^^

Cathedral Notre-Dame with its strange silver-looking roof

change of guards at Parliament Hill

Boston and around: bike tours, memorial day and harbor cruise

Back in Boston we were visited by Bine, her sister and Tobias. They stayed two nights for sightseeing in Boston and then left with Franzi for Portland, Maine (12.05.) while I was working that week.  Franzi returned the day after (13.05.) to Boston. Saturday (16.05.) we went on quite a bike trip. From Boston we cycled via the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway to Lexington. We made a short stop in Arlington when we heard a BBQ fest going on... however, the fest was organized in a way that you had to pay entrance to be able to order food from a BBQ place... that only works in the US^^ 22 km later we arrived in Lexington where the American war for independence started. However, we were quite disappointed as the small town has not much too offer... except for ice cream at the candy store :D the ride here was much nicer than the town itself. We then cycled to the Burlington mall for some shopping and returned for sunset to Boston Chestnut Hill Reservoir (another 42 km^^). We then grabbed dinner at The Abbey after the tapas places we wanted to go to first had 30min queues and we were hungry. The Abbey surprised us with modern American cusine and the best french fries I ever ate - probably thanks to the truffle cheese topping^^ A nice last day together in Boston. The next day (17.05.) Franzi returned to Leipzig :(

free art in riverway park near my flat on our way to Lexington

best place in Lexington - the candy store :D

sunset over Chestnut Hill Reservoir

During a GAIN-network meeting (20.05.) I met Patrick who invited me to a friend's farewell bbq party at the seaport district. I joined together with Christian. We bought some meat and beer and joined the party. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, so I just have a bad picture from my phone.. the location was amazing... on a rooftop in the hip seaport district with a gorgeous view of Boston downtown. Shotly after, Patrick gave me the tipp to visit Boston Common for Memorial Day (24.05.), which turned out to be a great advice. For Memorial Day Boston Common harbors an American flag for each fallen Bostonian soldier... these thousands of flags are quite picturous :)

Boston downtown view from seaport rooftop BBQ party place :)

Boston Common during Memorial Day...

thousands of flags

I came late, just before sunset they remove all flags

opposite direction of Boston Common^^

everyone seems to enjoy the great weather :D

The next Saturday (30.05.) I further explored Boston and cycled from my flat down to Carson Beach and continued to Pleasure Bay and Castle Island. The latter harbors the Fort of Independence. On my way back I went through Seaport and Downtown to the Esplanade where I read a book and enjoyed some sunbathing. Later that night I visited Patrick for some beer... quite a nice exploring day :D

view from Pleasure Bay to Carson Beach

passing the hip Seaport district

Partisans memorial near Boston's World Trade Center

bike route from Little Italy to the Esplanade

Thusday the next week (04.06.) we went on a harbor sunset cruise organised by the graduate students office of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. One of the best things about Boston is its great access to water, especially the ocean. Skyline vistas from a boat while planes fly just above you for landing on Logan airport. All this combined with a sunset and some booz - awesome! :D

plane and ship before Boston skyline during sunset :D

harbor cruises are simply great :D

Boston skyline shortly after sunset

A week later (13.06.) I was in need for some sport and decided to cycle to Salem the witch town. I started early that Saturday, cycled along the Esplanade, Charles River Dam, past Bunker Hill to the Northern Strand Community Trail. The way between Bunker Hill and the Community Trail was along the common street, but other than that I enjoyed a perfect cycle path :) Also the last kilometers before Salem led me along the street. 36km later I arrived Salem. The first place I visited was the Witch Trials Memorial where witches were sentenced to death at the end of the 17th century. I then went to the Maritime National historic site, the House of the Seven Gables and Salem Common. Overall I was a bit disappointed and expected Salem to be a bit more spectacular. Thus, I continued to Revere Beach to meet Jens and his new girlfriend Andrea. Cycling along the super long Revere Beach was great. 20km later I joined Jens and Andrea and ate a huge beef burger for super late lunch :D The blue line brought me back to town for some late work^^ Except from some sport and many impressions the day ended with quite a sunburn for me :P

street art on the Northern Strand Community Trail

Salem's Witch Craft Museum from Salem Common

super long Revere Beach

me enjoying a huge beef burger :D