Back in the U.S. - after a (way too) long time!

As most of you probably know, in March I was heading to the US again! I couldn't wait - I was so excited!
So on March 8 the airplane took me to Phoenix - and I had Sascha with me! We had a wonderful time with the Arlottis! I loved being back - after almost 3 years! But it didn't seem like such a long time at all... it's great how we never lose touch. It was also great that Sascha and the Arlottis could get to know each other. Sascha REALLY enjoyed being in the US, getting to know them, experiencing the American life... he was fascinated!
During our stay in Phoenix (the boys were on Spring break during our first week which was awesome!) we did some fun things: We watched the sunset from South Mountain, we hiked South Mountain, one night we went to a NBA-game (Sascha had that idea and we had a lot of fun there! Unfortunately that German Dirk Nowitzki playing for Dallas was just too good and the Suns lost - but we still enjoyed the game ;-) ), we had dinner at really fun places, we watched Eric and his team playing soccer, Sascha and I went into a batting cage for the first time (and did poorly ;-) ), one day we went to a ancient Native American site, we visited the Desert Botanical Garden and the Glass Exhibition there which was beautiful, and we drove along the Apache Trail which brought us back in time and we got a pretty amazing Wild West Experience - and the landscape was gorgeous!!

Of course we also loved simply hanging out in the back yard enjoying the sun and temperatures of 80-90 degrees - especially while being told that it's snowing again and again in Germany! :-)
The hot tub hat to be tested as well - more than once!
Oh yes, and we did some shopping too...


And then for 3 days Sascha and I rented a car and we went to Los Angeles!

We had a really great time there, we did a lot, had great weather and had fun! We stayed in Santa Monica, almost at the beach, walked along the beach to Venice Beach, visited Hollywood, had a driving tour through Beverly Hilly, walked between the skyscrapers in downtown L.A. and also drove down to Huntington Beach. On our way back we experienced Orange County as well - really really green and hilly and beautiful!

Unfortunately, as always, time went by way too fast and soon came our last night (where we had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe which by now has become tradition) and 2 weeks in sunny Phoenix with Jean, Dan, Rafe and Eric were over :-(

Sascha then went back to cold and rainy Germany.
Anika headed for cold and sunny Philadelphia.

- So to say the second leg of my trip.
And I had such a great time! It was hard to believe that it had been 4 years that I hadn't seen everyone! Of course, the kids had grown, but apart from that it was just like being part of the Penrose family again - it was wonderful! Thank you!

I enjoyed the Spa a lot - and German guests were free! :-)

I had a wonderful Sunday where almost everyone gathered at Judy&Ned's house to have a good time. I also enjoyed staying Narberth! Grandmom and Grandad took me to the Constitution Center in Philly which I - being really interested in history - enjoyed a lot. We also had great dinners where Memar and Uncle Bill also joined us.

One afternoon I visited the Krulaks in Wilmington. I had fun exploring their cute home and the large grounds! And we went to Longwood Gardens and had a good time there.

Laurie joined us for dinner - I loved to see her again!

On his birthday Ned took a day off - and still went to work! He gave me a tour of the Philadelphia Inquirer printing house - it was really interesting!
I also went to Downtown Philly - Josepha took me to great places there. We went to her brother's art gallery, just walked around to see great buildings (I love those tall skyscrapers! ;-) ) and had lunch at Reading Terminal Market.

And then the highlight was coming up: For the weekend we went down to the shore! Judy and I (unfortunately Ned couldn't come) stayed at Bob&Josepha's, and Grandmom, Grandad and Memar also came down and they stayed at a B&B in Avalon.

Friday was a sunny, mild day and we enjoyed sitting at the porch on Hagen Road. Saturday then should become our great Avalon-Wildwoods-Cape May Point Discovery Day - and it was raining hard when we woke up in the morning :-( Fortunately it eased up a little and we braved the weather - and still had a wonderful day!

We started at the Monstrosity - how I loved being back there! And I promise myself, one day I will come back in Summer... can't wait! :-)

Of course I also had to go to the beach - it was cold and windy, but there it was, the Atlantic Ocean. Less then 2 weeks after I was standing at the Pacific Coast! :-)

Passing Wildwoods we went South to Cape May, and after lunch at the Lobster House we (well, most of us) climbed the Cape May lighthouse. Even though we couldn't see too far it was great! :-)

(See that: it's Grandad IN a photo - not taking it! :-) )

Another brilliant dinner - I forget the name of the restaurant, but it was some Native American name, and it was right next to a bridge which you're not allowed to use anymore - concluded that day at the shore.
Sunday Judy then took me to North Jersey (after having explored the "wonders of South Jersey", how Maeve kindly put it ;-)) to Montclair, where I stayed with Maeve for the last 2 days before going to New York. Sunday night Amanda came over from Ramapoo and we had a great time together!

I really enjoyed staying with Maeve! I even went to class with her - and I fell in love with American universities again - they all have those neat campusses! (I don't know if that's a word.) She also took me around the town a bit, and we had much fun. I even got the "real" dorm experience with a fire alarm at 12:10 a.m. (of course just some jerk didn't know how to cook properly or something like that) Maeve also practiced her German a little bit :-) It was sad that I had to leave Tuesday night - I could have stayed there for another week or two! :-) The next time we will meet in Germany - Maeve plans on visiting me some time "soon"!
So, Tuesday at 7 p.m. I took the train to NYC - to the third leg of my trip - and the actual reason for me being in the U.S.

There it is: my final destination - viewed from Montclair Campus.

(You can enlarge the pictures when you click on them!)