"I don't like cities, but I love New York"

New York

By train: Niagara Falls -> New York City, ~ 9 hours, 394 miles (634 km)

While being on the train to Philadelphia, I look back at New York with mixed feelings. Happy, because we move on to other places. Satisfied, because I think we were able to learn a lot about New York. Sad, because New York is a great city, and even though I don't really like megacities, I know what people mean when they say: “Yeah, but after all, New York is New York.” 

Brooklyn Bridge

Statue of Liberty

Getting around New York is very easy, when you really know where you have to go. Otherwise: super confusing. Of course we knew where our hostel was, and at which station we had to get off, but the problem is: there is not only one line, but way more, and some stations are only for down- or uptown trains, some lines are closed for a certain amount of time and you didn't know that beforehand, some stations are like a labyrinth . . . you get the picture. Penn Station (Amtrak) is – especially during rush-hour – the worst place to be. No one cares about poor college students with heavy suitcases, who just try to find their platform. For people who don't like to talk or get in touch with other people: come to New York, that's your place. But for those who like conversations, small-talk, or even a random smile: don't expect anything. New York is business through and through, and people just don't have any time to spare. But still, New York is not a living hell, and there are a lot nice people around, too. It's just the overall impression I got and the overall behavior you start to copy because you have to (which is kind of sad). 

At Night (view from the Empire State Building)

Okay, some words about our accommodation: Do never – ever – stay at a private (and not so legal) hostel because it was the cheapest (but still expensive) one you could find online. It's not worth it! A hostel that doesn't know terms like “clean”, “privacy”, or “safety” is not a good place to stay. Being close to a subway station is also not a good reason to stay there.

Well, we stayed after all (we booked and had no alternative), and we are still alive. The neighborhood was also kind of interesting (very diverse, Brooklyn, some NYPD cars around, cheap food compared to Manhatten, some weird figures around . . .). And we only stayed their at night, so it was bearable.

Washington Square Park

Before we came to New York I was afraid of the hurricane's damage that could possibly still be around. Well, there are still some buildings closed in downtown Manhatten, there is still some water on the subway tracks, and people can still not go to Liberty or Ellis Island. But overall: New York is back to business and if we hadn't known about the storm, we wouldn't have recognized anything. 

Central Park (view from the Rockefeller Center)

Central Park

I think almost everyone can list at least five famous places in New York. Wanna try it? This is what I came up with: Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Central Park, Ground Zero, and Time Square. But now I know there is so much more, like: Washington Square Park, Rockefeller Center, Ellis Island, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Wall Street, American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moma (Museum of Modern Art), Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Broadway, Brooklyn Bridge and so on (those where only places in Manhatten, there is much more!). We've been to all those places I just mentioned, but for most times we decided to walk through the city (when it was walkable). You understand much more when you actually take your time to walk around and observe people, and look closely at streets, buildings, districts. Are they similar, what makes them different? Manhattan’s glamor is reflected by the areas that surround it, especially Brooklyn. The gap between rich and poor is conspicuous and no one actually tries to hide it. It is part of what New York is made of, after all.

Even though there is a lot to criticize about this city, I think it is this criticism that makes New York so interesting. There is something about this city that drives people into it. Overall, I really enjoyed our stay and I will definitely come back one day, because there is still much more to see and much more to learn. 

Wall Street Bull

30. November - 6. December

“You should study in Canada! We don't have an accent!”

Toronto

By plane: Chicago -> Toronto, 1 1/2 hours, 500 miles (804 km)

Yes, we went on in side trip to visit Toronto and Niagara Falls. Flying to Toronto from Chicago was – compared to Amtrak – not only cheap, but also time saving. When I entered Canada, I remembered why I like being a German citizen. The inspector hardly looked at my passport, even though he looked confused when examining my I-20 and the student visa. Also, it was his first time hearing of Knox College. Well, now he knows. 

White Lion (Toronto Zoo)

Unfortunately, Toronto's airport is so far away from downtown Toronto, that it took us about 1 ½ hours to get to our hostel. By the way, the public transportation system is confusing at first, but more than convenient when you know how it works. One ride costs 3$, but as long as you don't leave the “payed area” you can drive as long and as often as you like.

Our hostel was an adventure by itself. It is located in the middle of Chinatown, with 20min walk to the CN Tower and 30min to Casa Loma. Overall, a great place to stay for people who like Asian food, the culture, and a lively neighborhood (and by the way, a cheap accommodation). 

Oak Room (Casa Loma)

Glas Dome (Casa Loma)

Overall, Toronto reminds me of Chicago (could be the great lake right next to it), but I think all big cities resemble each other in certain ways. However, Toronto has a great Zoo (that is unfortunately way too far away from the city), a huge museum with great dinosaur exhibits, and Casa Loma, which is, in my opinion, a must-see in Toronto.  

26.-29. November

Niagara Falls

From the US Side

By train: Toronto -> Niagara Falls, 2 hours + 1 1/2 hours border control, 82 miles (132 km)

Our plan was so easy: take the train to Niagara Falls, leave the luggage at the train station, come back at night, and wait for the train at 3am, save money (hotels in Niagara Falls are way too expensive). 

Problem No. 1: the station is closed from 4pm to 5am. 

Problem No. 2: no lockers.

Problem No. 3: the station is nowhere near the Falls. 

Well, no time to bury our heads in the sand. We took a cab to one of the big (and fancy) hotels near the falls, went in, and asked if we could store our luggage for the day (willing to pay something for it). They let us store our luggage for free (!), with the opportunity to use the lounge as a waiting later at night. Great! Problems 1-3 solved. 

We spent the whole day walking around the Falls, both the Canadian and the US ones. Even though all boat trips were closed for the season, we took a tour behind the Falls, which was a great alternative. 

From the Canadian Side

Behind the Falls

Reentering Canada was a piece of cake, coming back was almost as easy (though we had to pay 50Cents...). Another advantage being German: The officer turned out to be a huge Germany fan, who has lived and worked there for serveral years. He didn't even look at my I-20. 

  

It wasn't crowded at all. However, the city itself was - for my taste - way too artificial, too fake, too touristy.  

Overall, the Niagara Falls are definitely  worth a visit. The Falls are great, and the force of nature is breathtaking. Standing right next to the Falls is almost scary. The fact that only one eight year old boy survived falling down the Falls is anything but reassuring. However, I can totally understand why people want to visit Niagara Falls, but I think that one day definitely is enough.

29. November

Horseshoe Falls

 

 

 

 

 

 

The [insert an adjective] City - Chicago

Chicago

Night Sky

The Sky in "Skyline"

When I first visited Chicago, I didn't understand why people would call their city “windy”. I mean, it was a nice day and not windy at all. However, names do have a reason! It was not even windy, but ice-cold (my camera even stopped working...). Winter is coming, or it's almost there. We even had some snow, well, snowflakes. For 2 minutes, at least. Even though I'm more a summer person, I'm bound to say that winter traveling, or better to say “Christmas season traveling”, has it's advantages. However, why do people start to decorate their houses for Christmas right after Thanksgiving? It's not even December yet and stores are decorated with kitschy Christmas trees, flashing snowflakes, and chains of lights as far as the eye can see! I think people can get tired of Christmas, which is pretty sad. Still, I was told we would be traveling during the best time of the year, and that people would be so much nicer to us than usual (Christmas, love etc.). Well, I think kind is one word to describe Americans, but I'm curious to find out if it can increase to something like über-kind.

Shedd Aquarium: "Jellies"

Chicago definitely is worth a visit. We were able to watch Chicago from both the John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower (I know they changed the name, but still . . .), and it was a great view. Together with Lake Michigan, Chicago is kind of sinus-shaped. Or like a man-made barrier. The skyscrapers look like a massive wall between the lake and the rest of the city. Or like massive lookouts with trains wriggling through the city. However, the Chicago skyline is fantastic. We also walked around the Field Museum, the Planetarium, and the Aquarium. I enjoyed all of them, but especially the Planetarium was not really worth it's salt (However, the City Pass for 84$ is a great way to explore the city). 

In the end: what is so fascinating about Chicago? The city looks like built over night, historic, and majestic at the same time.

Winter Is Coming . . .



At Night (from the John Hancock Observatory)

Update: I would love to write something about staying in Chicago over night (in a hostel or hotel), but I was able to stay at a friends house instead (Chicago suburb). Which was great and I was more than glad about this opportunity. Going to the city by train each morning, is like visiting anew. Like stepping back to get a better overview.

Chicago, 23.-26. November

An American Odyssey . . .

"An American Odyssey" - this is what one of my friends called it when I talked about Riho's and my trip. And maybe she is right. Well, I don't really feel like Odysseus, who needed about 10 years to get home after the Trojan War, but: he travelled a lot, and he was said to be good at it.

Chicago (Millenium Park) - 03/11/12

As an exchange student travelling is this one thing I really want to do in the U.S. I want to see new places, great cities, wonderful nature, and interesting people. The U.S. is so diverse and complex that I might need years and years to understand even a tiny little bit what this country really is about (if one can even tell . . .). However, I hope this trip is not only fun, but also an adventure, a challenge, an experience. Of course I know something about the places I will visit - through books, stories, pictures, TV shows, or movies - but do I really know those places? I only touched the surface.
Maybe I'm able to form my own opinion after the trip, or maybe I'm more confused and come back with tons of new questions. However, I will have learned something by then, and this is all that counts, right?

facts:

• 2 international Knox students from Japan and Germany
• 29 days
• 4926 miles (~ 6913 km)
  
• 2 countries and 14 states
• travel by plane, bus, train, and car
• start: 11/23/12 
• end: 12/22/12