What a lively town after Alaska. Met an Austria girl at the visitor center. What coincidence she was by herself too and lived / stayed in the same region I did.
So we decided that exploring a city with somebody might be much more interesting.

Day One (Wednesday)

Shopping on the famous nule. Bought some books, CDs and a Lava Lamp (which by the way still stand none used in my flat, as I completey forgot about the difference in Volt etc. UPS) and as already mentioned let replace my discman (and as well this thing is still working just fine, nearly 3 years later and made many more travel with me).
In the evening I went back to Bobbi and Doug. She picked me up at the trainstation again! I mean, staying there was so cool. My own room, my own shower and I could more or less do what I wanted. And they have a really lovely house. I am impressed and very grateful having met them. And they as well drove me to the Naperville Trainstation and picked me up there too. I just called’em up (early enough if possible).
PS: send them later on some Swiss Souveniers like Chocolate etc for saying thanks again.

Day Two (Thursday)

Met again with Cornelia. Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium and Navi Pier. I separated myself from her though as she had to catch an earlier train today.
Back in Naperville, Dough picked me up and he drove me to a place where I could buy an additional suitcase (on rolls of course, one that flight attendands use).
I as well cooked this night. Styr fried with rice. They liked it. I was glad...

Oh, forgot to tell Wednesday I talked for about two hours with Dan and Angelo about my trip and our trip, just to hear they changed plans again. *jumping-up-and-down* Anyway, as ticket wasn’t bought yet I could still change it.

Day Three (Friday)

We started our day again at the Starbuck in the lower part of the Sears-Tower. Afterwards we cought a trolley that took us to the Alder Planetarium. After this I rushed through the Field Museum and back to the Sears-Tower (Starbucks) where I was supposed to meet with Conny again. She was not there. Ok, lets wait until 6 pm. Maybe they got stuck in traffic. She wanted to meet her friend and then come over. As I already was „queuing“ she appeared. View was not the best one but it was my last chance.

Tried to call Bobbi but did not have 80 cents so I waited for the train station. Unfortunately it was already pretty late and at her office I only reached the answering machine. Afterwards I run out of coins and time.
I could hear it when I called her from Naperville (cheaper) that she was pissed. But then, I mean I am on vacation and I wanted to see something of Chicago. That means as well that i once get „home“ later. Thats as well why I didn’t want to tell her yet about my missed train and tried to find accommodation somewhere else.

By the way Tuesday I slept in and alter in the afternoon I let me drive into Naperville and checked out the town of my hosts.
And as already mentioned before I am on my way to Detroit now, hoping that in Windsor I will find accommodation and a train connection to Toronto. And I have to call dan as well that it worked out for tomorrow night anyway (cause of cancellations).

Toronto – GVB

I finally made it to Toronto. Went to the ViaRail Station the last Sunday and caught the 2.05pm train to Toronto !!!!! YEEEAAAHHHHH !!

From the expenses it wasn’t finally cheaper as I had to catch a cab that brought me to Windsor, CA, there I stayed in a motel and the next morning another cab that brought me to the station. But at least I was earlier in Toronto where Angelo picked me up.

So, I finally get to know him in person. Was real fun. He showed me around downton this evening. „...To the left you see this building which.... and over there this bank was... and we just passed ... and then, see there....“ and so on and on. Would have been interesting, but it was just too much information fo one evening.
Then we went to the moonbeen, a coffee shop recommended to me by an Austrian girl I met in Vancouver. Afterwards we went for dinner at a restaurant in little Italy. Was really good. And he was talking about all the weddings he will have to attend within the next two months. After dinner the sightesing tour went on until he dropped me off at my hostel, which was about 11.30pm.
But I had a great time anyway, especially as the last one was a bit shitty. Dan unfortunately couldn’t come, as he had to pick up his parents from the airport.

The next day I left for the Niagra Falls. Had great weather there and I really enjoyed my time. Went on the „Maid of Mist“ Boat tour, the IMAX, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and saw the Falls at night with all ist colours.
The only „bad“ thing (for me) was, it is too touristy . But then...

Went back the next day to Toronto. There I went shopping, got my first facewashing at the Biotherm counter and then made my way back to the hostel to check in again.
Called up Dan and he agread on „going out“ tomorrow.

Wednesday I just relaxed. More or less. I did my laundry and then went to the Moonbean again for a good cup of coffee. There I tried to call up Angelo. Hopeless, his voice mail became my best friend. So I tried my luck with Dan. 100% scored. I love it if someone is reachable on his mobile!! But as he just came home and had to go for dinner he asked me to call back in about 45 minutes. Sure, no problem. Had I know by then that this turns out to be a standard sentence of those guys....

So anyway we met finally later on this evening. With him I first didn’t knwo what to expect as I hadn’t talked that much yet (in the channel/I-Net) but my „fear“ was destroyed fast. He is a really nice guy, sometimes a bit weird but in a positive way and a lot of fun, but completely different than Angelo.
While Angelo is always funny and you can joke around (except he wants to explain the history of somehting to you) Dan is more hmmm.. how shall i explain that... you talk to him and then suddenly out of nowhere his funny weird personality is breaking through and this makes it really interesting to talk to him because you never know whats going to happen next.

Thursday I met Lisa again, the girl I met in Seattle and was hanging out. We went to the „Beaches“ and „Toronto Island“, two really lovely places if the problem with the water would not be. Had a lot of fun together and freshed up old memories. Wow, how that sounds...

In the evening I called Dan to know if he picked up Katja and how she was doing. Got to know that her plane had five hours delay and he hadn’t picked her up yet. I shall call Angelo and call him back later. So I called him (and he picked up after the frist ring, which made me nearly drop the receiver). But he was clueless too and I just shall call back later.
Fortunately this evening I met a really nice guy from the UK and he kept me company while I had to wait. Had a really good time and time itself flew by like nothing.

And then she was here. Incredible, already 8 months until we have seen each other the last time. We four then went to Yorkville for a Bubble Tea. A really „interesting“ drink. There are chewy junk (tiny balls which are in fact called „Tabioka Balls“) in it which you suck through a straw and the tea... you can choose between 15'000 flavors. In the beginning it was a bit weird but acutally it’s quit good.

Friday Dan, Katja and I met Angelo at the bank he works and went for lunch. Afterwards we sent Angelo working again and we three went shopping on Queens Street and in Chinatown. Then we went to Dan’s Place cause he had to get some stuff for the BBQ at Angelos place. The BBQ was nice and I finally got to match names with faces.

Saturday Katja and I went shopping again, alone, as the guys had to attend a wedding. Later on David got dropped of at our hostel. PS: Angelo you should always wear a suit!
Went for dinner and then back to the hostelbar. David soon went back to his hotel, as he didn’t catch a lot of sleep last night and Katja went laying down in my bed. We were waiting fo the guys. Again. And what did we hear when I called them? Yes, call back later. But it worked out anyway and we went out dancing in a place with lots of flogs. Nasty flogs! Though I had my fun anyway.

Yesterday we went to the CNE. Ist sort of a fair they have here. Was pretty cool and I came back with two animals they guys won for us girls.
Well and for today the CN Tower and.. I do not know what is planned. Tomorrow we leave for Montreal. Hope it works out and I will meet Karin again. And thats about it so far.

On the trian to New York.

Wow, time flies by so fast. Two more days and then I am going home. I still cannot belive it!! But back to the past first.

On Monday we just did the CN Tower and afterwards we (Dave, Mary, Katja, Dan, Ang and I) went to, you won’t belive it: Moevenpick Le Marche !!!
I didn’t know they have these all over East Canada. (Saw one in Montréal too).

Tuesday we left for Montréal but not without a delay of about 2,5 hours. And if I hadn’t called, Angelo would have forgotten my luggage and my sleeping bag! The Mini Van was quiet nice compared to the one I had on my Alaskan Tour. I can’t really remember a lot of the drive as I mostly slept.
We reached Montréal (which is pronounced Moreal) somewhen in the evening and „only“ went fo dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe! Afterwards we went back to our hotel as Dan needs a lot of sleep and we want to go Quebec the next day.

The room orders were:
Angelo and Susan
Dan, Katja and myself in the other one.

Bad idead, Susan is as lazy as Angelo so we left the place again with one hour delay.
As we three were so annoyed waiting we took the car and searched for a place where Katja could get a plug for her video camera. But we didn’t find the store right away so we went back to the hotel, where we knew the others were waiting, as we already saw them when we took off.
Finally complete, we went again for the plug first, made it this time and then left for Quebec. There we first visited the waterfall, but I cannot remember ist name, but ist a really nice one. We went up the stairs, as you can walk or ride up with a „télépherique“, where I realised I had a big, ugly, hairy spider right on my blossom. Yuk, and I nearly couldn’t get rid of it! HELP!!!!
After about two hours there, taking a lot of pictures and video shots we left for Quebec itself. A really lovely twon and very European. Too bad we just had a couple of hours there. The guys took me, Katja and Susan to a Maple Sirup store, then we kept on strowing around and ended up in a crépérie for dinner. Very nice day!

Thursday we visited old Montréal, a copy of the old Notre Dame, went for lunch in areally nice restaurant where Angelo had a small accident. By his second last bite of his crepe he lost some tomato sauce which ended up on his white shirt. It was so funny. We three girls kept laughing while Ang was annoyed and Dan fell sorry for him. Fortunately he got most of it out so it wasn’t that bad after all.
We kept on walking through old Montréal and then dropped the couple of at the train station, as she had to go back to work and he had to attend a skeg (bachelor) party. But Ang will come back Saturday around noon. So the rest of us went back to the hotel, where we rested for a while. Later on that evening we went to Rue St. Laurent, as we spotted there an Internet place yesterday and we thought we are going to tease the others from the chat and write down 3 stories, one true one (which Dan wrote) an 2 fake ones and the others had to figure out which is which.
Nobody guessed it right and all voted for Katjas story. And I received some more emails, one from Rolli H. that he finally found a job, and the others from my mom, balance one (which is shit) and then one that my parcel finally arrived (yeah!!).

As we were all pretty tired and not really hungry we choose fast food, went for a drink in a very lovely spot and then back to bed. Somehow the night ended again in a pillow fight but at least Katja didn’t fall asleep in Dan‘s bed again. For this night we pushed them together and she slept in the middle.
Next day we went shopping, but not without having breakfast in bed again. Neat! Bought four pairs of shoes, Dan some sweaters and Katja a sweater and pants. Went having lunch at a greek restaurant and as those guys where tired again, headed back to the hotel where they fell asleep right away. Between 6 and 7 pm we left for going chatting. Boring as usual. But I finally figured out that they already found somebody to replace Chrigi in my ex-company. Of course I had to write to Sandro right away but I guess I have to wait unitl I am back home for more details. Oh well....

When we finally left, Dan lead us first the wrong way but we still made it to Rue St. Denis. There went for Vietnamese food. Was quiet good but it took hours to be served. Then we went fo two bars, which were quiet nice, though I prefered the first one.

The next day, Saturday, I finally met up with Karin again. She was one of the girls from my second Trek. We had a really nice afternoon, even though it was sooo humid. So we more or less went from one coffee/restaurant to the next and just kept talking. Later that afternoon I introduced her to the rest of the gang (including Ang, who returned from Toronto). Poor Karin did not know what hit her. But she took it pretty well, I hope.
This evening all five of us went up to Mt. Royal for the scenic view and picture sessions.
Afterwards we went for dinner at a Spear’ribs place. Was good. Then Katja and Dan were tired again (on my last evening) so we dropped them off at the hotel and headed on to find a parking spot nearly where we wanted to go for a drink. Impossible, the traffic there is even worse than back in Switzerland. So we went back to the hotel, parked and went back by feet to St. Laurent Street.
First bar was nice but loud, you could not keep up a conversation. So after one drink Karin, Angelo and I left and I pointed them the bar out, where Katja, Dan and I were. It turned out that this was a bar Angelo had been a couple years back and always wanted to go there again but did not recall where it was.
Angelo showed off from his weirdest side and we had discussions like why Karin does not want to be lesbian and about the threesome etc. Then he told about all the weddings etc. (again for me at least the 3rd time). But Karin seemed to have a good time and I am curious if she calls him up. Around 2 am we separated and went back to our hotels. And yes, this morning they drove me to the train station. Had to push this guy (Ang) otherwise I would probably still be sitting in the hotelroom. At around 9.10am we arrived at the station and they waited with me until I could embarc the train. I miss Dan and Ang already and it was so nice that both accompanied me while Katja stayed in bed.

So two (or 3) more days and then I am flying home. It’s a weird thought. Suddenly not traveling from town to town anymore. Especially now when I am used to this lifestyle. I still cannot belive it. Probably when I land in Zuerich, or even first back home.

Again stuck in train as they seem not to have enough tracks and... for how long I do not know... well, anyway...

Ok, by now we have at least one hour delay. Read through my entries and have to add certain things:

Florida:
From Kissimmee to Panama City -> we drove through a fire. I mean we drove through the smoke of the fire.

Moose Meadow:
Had such muscle pain in my arms after Kayaking that I could hardly move them for the next two days...

Yuhee, I made it. Back in New York. With a lot of delay I arrived at the „Chealsy“ around 10ish pm. Unfortunately they thought that I will not arrive anymore and gave away my bed. So now I have to sleep on a matress on the floor. For that I got like 5 $ off this night, which I didn’t mind.
Ang said that in New York there is supposed to be a club like the one in „Coyote Ugly“ and if I go there he pays me my cover and my first drink. I asked and there is really one, but I don’t know if I go, alone ist not that smart.
Ah, yes and Karin blamed me that it is my fault she and Glen ended up together. Oh well, as I mentioned anyway it was only a matter of time but she is not angry she just doesn’t knwo where it ends (do we ever know that!?!?!?) Well, as we stay in contact hopefully I will be informed anyway.

And Katja defenately is going to quit her Call Center career per end of this Year and we came up that she might come to Switzerland for New Years Eve. Or maybe I might can go to Scotland again. We will have to work it out but I am sure we find a solution.

So, 48 hours, even less and I am on my way home. Concerning my luggage ist about time. But then I wouldn’t mind to go somewhere south and have another one or two weeks at the beach.
So, I guess thats it for so far. Sleep well, I really earned that today. PS: it is still hot in New York.

Everything that follows now are just personal impressions of mine how I experienced this black day of the United States. I was supposed to fly home at the 11. September 2001, which was postponed through this terroristic act where too many people had to die. If you do not want to read it, just stop here and I hope you enjoyed reading along as much as I enjoyed my trip itself.

New York

Actually I am supposed to sit in the airplane by now...

... but something I never dreamt of happened today. Unfortunately no good news! America got attacked today early in the morning by not yet identified terrorists.

I got up at around 8.00 am for breakfast. Afterwards I went back to bed but not for too long. As I urged for a cigarette. It was about shortly after 9.00 am and thats when it happened...

.. a second airplane crashed into the World Trade Center. Only about 20-30 minutes ago the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers. There everybody thought it must have been an accident. But when the second one hit the other tower it was clear it was not.
Then the incredible happened, both towers collapsed within an hour after they have been hit. So that means there is no World Trade Center anymore.

Between 9.00 – 10.00 a, as well a third airplane crashed into the pentagon. There was also one mentioned in pittsburg early this day but nobody is talking about this one anymore.

Over 200 people only died in the airplane crashes, which were hijacked. How many people died today in these buildings is not sure yet.

Out of this tragedy occured that all airports within the US shot down and all flights have been cancelled, for how long... I do not know. I rebooked for tomorrows flight but I do not know if I will be able to fly. They even closed down Canada, so Katja got stocked in Toronto as well, but at least she has Dan and Angelo. -> WANT TO BE THERE TOO !!!!!

I am sleeping on the floor again in the hostel, but this time I am glad that I at least have a place to stay.

New York is spuki today. Everybody that could left Manhattan. All streets are nearly empty, no cars, no pedestrian (at least by now, around 9.00pm) and most of the stores are closed. Bush had a speak tonight which was sort of hilarious (saying the US is still strong and whoever did this act will be punished badly, amen).

I hope tomorrow some „normalitiy“ will return in this town, then it really gives me the creeps.

I have never seen this town so... mhh, how shall I say that... died out? It scares me and I just want to fly home, as long as it is safe. But then, what is safe? I mean, how could they kidnap 4 airplanes? Is there any security around or do they lack that badly? I know they were domestic flights but still!

And what is depressing too, everythwere I go I hear about it, so there is no chance of getting away for a while. And then folks in this hostel are sitting the whole day in front of the TV and watch the same news over and over again.

I JUST WANNA GET HOME SAFELY !!

Yesterday evening I ended up going to the movie with a couple of folks from the hostel. Went seeing „American Pie two“ Was really funny. Th day I spent walking around in Greenwich Village (then when the 2 towers were still standing) and ended up at the Internet-Cafe where I bought a 24 hours ticket (which was useless, as this place was closed today). So, and thats about it for today.

Still in New York And as it looks like for a while. My flight home gets cancelled on a daily base. Called Delta again today to reconfirm my flight for tomorrow. The lady there informed me though that tomorrows flight got cancelled again and the earliest she can book me on again is next Wednesday! She put me though on the waiting list from the 16th on, on a everyday base. So I have to call each day to look if I might be on one of these flights. And the one on Wednesday is not even a direct flight. It takes me to Paris and there I have to catch a connecting flight to Zurich. So I have to go through the horror of flying twice!

My mom doesn’t know about my luck yet but she will not be pleased as I am not too. But what else can I do?
Oh man, another full week in New York. I really do not know what I can do here!!

Ok, the last two days:
Wednesday the Internet Place reopened so I spent most of my time there. As did I this morning. The afternoon I kept wandering around and then decided to go to the movie. Saw „Legally Blond“. Was a funny movie though the ending was a bit aprupt. But still a good laugh.

New York goes slowly back to normal if you can say so. Though it keeps being shaken by several bom alerts.
Yesterday evening we suddenly got informed by TV that a bomb dog reacted positive on a packet in the Empire State Building. Later on it turned out to be a fake one. But it was scary anyway as this building is only about 5-7 blocks away from where I am staying!
Today in the morning a German girl informed me that the whole ESB was fake anyway, but...

... there was apparently a real bomb in the Penn Station which is about two blocks away from my place.
And I trust to belive her, as she got stuck last night in this bomb alert and couldn’t go back to this hostel. Seh said she was talking to a police officer in charge for securing the bomb.
And today there were at least two more bomb alerts again, not far from the hostel either.

For me it seems the whole world (or at least New York) got crazy and I am trapped between it. It is an odd feeling and sometimes I think I can take it but then at night, I can’t really sleep. My mind or sences are always prepared.

Because of tomorrow, they closed all three airports again because they arrested 3-4 people at JFK dressed as pilots with fake identification. Otherwise I might have been leaving this place.
After I talked to the airline again I called Ang and got informed that Katja is leaving. So if it worked out she is on her flight back home right now. Hope everything is all right.

So I will do my laundry tomorrow, go chatting on MIRC and maybe see another movie, or I keep the movie for Saturday. Time is the only thing I have plenty of.

New York

Why can „Jong“ go home and I still have to stay? I mean she can leave with her regular flight and I get postponed all the time? Do not get me wrong, I am happy fo her that she can go home but I want to !!!
I wonder what Delta is doing. Like their priorities they have?
I am al right, physically but mentally I do not feel that well and the only thought I have is to get back home. It is devastating to see that apparently everybody I meet seems to have friends or relatives in NYC. Though I got a sweet mail from Sandra, Katjas Sister today and she mailed me Jonathans address. Maybe it works out and we can meet. Would be so great right now to see somebody I knew before.

Katja got home well. I am glad to know that at least she is all right now. Not that it was too bad for her as she was with Angelo and Dan and not at the place where it happened.

Dani is acting weird too. I do not know but his messages are short and „rough“. I think I have to ignore him for a while and just not reacting on anything he is writing me. Or maybe I shall ask? I do not know.
My whole World is not all right right now and there is nobody to help me. Somehow I want to cry but then I am not really hit by these attacts except that I cannot get home. So why should I cry? There are people with more reason to do so. But somehow it is as if a part of my brain shut down and is simply not working. No real emotions. It is really hard to describe what is going on with me right now. Even I do not know it and writing is not really helping either.

Went to the movie again. „The Princess Diary“. Was a good movie but completely predicatable. But at least it spent some of my waiting time.

HOME HOME HOME HOME HOME HOME

Thats all I can think about right now. I cannot stay here another four days!!!! Delta DO something!!!!!! Anything!!!!! Please !!!!!

I just had a good talk with Sara now. She is a girl from London and seems really nice. We talked about each others situation and for her ist bad too, as all her luggage is stocked down at the second or third location or at least somewhere down there. Bit it was good to have somebody to talk to. I mean it was ok with Marianne, Jong or Maraike, but they just weren’t on the same levels as I am. Meaning they are quiet young these girls and it is more that they needed support and somebody to talk to and that was me. So I for my part had to take over the adultry part and not really anybody to talk to.
Feel a bit better now and at least I know she isn’t going anywhere, as she is scheduled for Wednesday too. (Hope I will sleep better tonight)

New York

Ok weird writing in the dark.....

Another night where I cannot sleep. I am turning from one side to the other and back. I am tired but not tired enough. Bit I am not the only one.

Applied for two jobs today. SwissRe and Zurich. Weird to think my friends start working now.

Somewhere over the Atlantic

Yeah yeah I am finally on my way home. Rather late than never.

But now it feels weird anyway. They showed the movie „Shrek“ and that reminded me of the time when I have seen it the first time with Be and Jonathan. And then I thought about all the good things I still had ahead of me and was wondering myself why I wanted to go home. It is really... weird????

As well when I was at the airport waiting until I could get into my plane I suddenly had a panic-attak. Especially when I saw some guys with Arabic Passports and I was just thinking getting away from there. But then my will going home was stronger. But not a lot I have to admit.

So far the flight itself is all right. Some minor turbulences but nothing serious. And they changed the silverware against plastic cuttleries. I was talking about it real quickly with my mom.

The security at JFK was big, but not good, still. I mean they were more concerned about the sicers from my nailset but about the rest they weren’t worried and my pocket knife they didn’t even mention. And that should give me a safe feeling? Ok, finally I could keep my sicers after I asked for a receipt for my insurance which confused her completely. And these things I had anyway in the luggage I checked in.

It is still weird sittin gin the airplane.

Yesterday, ehm Monday was a good day. I finally managed to go to the Central Park. I as well reached Maesse and we were talking for about 40/50 minutes, and he is coming to pick me up today, together wit my mom. At least it has one advantage. Mom even told me that he took the day off now for that. I feel honored and flattered.

Anyway. Later on that day I met Thomas. He started to work for IBM at the same time as I did an works right now somewhere in New Jersey. I think the town is called Morresey or so. It was great to see a familiar face after that and we even had things to chat about, altought I haven’t really had too much contact to him back then. It was more through Anna.

What else?

Right, I am pisse about Angelo. He asks unnormal things about this incident of the WTC disaster like if I could send him a postcard of the towers and if I have information about it he doesn’t have and how I feel and what I think but not because he is concerned. If he would be here I would slapp him. I hate these sort of people. I mean they haven’t found all bodies yet and they already start to make money out of it like selling pictures of the bruning building, the fake people calling others up asking for donations, but they get the donated money on their account and no victime will ever see anything of it. And thats why I won’t reply on Angs request.

So, about 1,5 hours and we are in Paris. They start to serve breakfast now, at 1am my time. Disgusting. At least there is some fruity stuff like banana as well.
No wonder my eating habbits are screwed up. And when I look ath the people in the airplane they are all eating it, though we just had dinner 4 hours ago. (At least most of them)

Zuerich

Finally home! With about 20 minutes delay I arrived in Zurich. Here I got picked p by my mom and Maesse. Was good to have two loved ones around. But then it felt strange too. We went for lunch then in the Gruenwald and then I was finally home.

It is still weird being here. It is like I don’t belong here. I am so confused. I mean I started to check the jobs adds and everything but it is even less than before I left the feeling that I will find the right position and my excitement about it all is really low. I just don’t know what to do.
No, actually that is not true. Sort of I know what but for that I need money, which for I would need a job which I don‘t find (or want to find).

So, thats about it. Took me a while getting over the last week of my travel experience and this is a memorie I will never forget. And as long as I am not talking about it everything is fine. But 3 years later I admit that mostly the good memories stayed or I am talking about and I guess thats it what it is about. Hope you enjoyed my diary and if you would like to know anything or have questions, please feel free to mail me whenever you want.