North Bridge Park in Concord

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Maybe you remember the rainy story of my Patriots Day back in April. Then you should also remember that I was in Concord to watch the Patriots Day parade, which was unfurtunately cancelled due to the heavy rain. Since I had no other special plan for today I went to the North Bridge to have a walk the park. And beyond the normal walking path I explored a nice site where I watched the common suspects of the local animal world. I’ve seen it a couple of times now and even in the near of the hotel.

They look like a kind of Chipmunk, are so sweet and really fast. This little friend here probably thought that I couldn’t see him if he’s standing still and not moving.

Connecticut Trolley Museum

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Probably sound’s boring, since some of you are not into these museum things. Rene and me visited the Connecticut Trolley Museum in Windsor. It’s not so extended like other museums of its kind. A non-profit organization, people working as volunteers and the small town of Windsor are perhaps the factors for slowing down the development processes. But even thoug we’ve seen an exibition of the history of trolleys in America from the early 20th century and we did a final 2 x 3 mile ride on two old, restored trolleys.

Afterwork walk at Pleasure Bay Boston

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

To have a nice and healthy finish of our working day, Rene and me went to the south Boston to have a walk at the Pleasure Bay and the Castle Island Park. If the wind blows from the right direction you have the landing planes of the Logan Airport directly over your head and on a clear evening, like this you have an incredible view on the skyline of Boston in the dusk.

The girls are leaving

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Today I’ve brought Janine and Jessy to the airport. The last 10 days unfortunately are gone that fast that I cannot imagine. But it was funny, exiting and lovely and their visit was a nice alternation. I love you sweetheart! And I love you sister in law!

Horse riding in New Hampshire or a horse called Babe

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Saturday, 21st of July 2007 4:30 pm EST: I’m sitting on a horse for the first time in my life (I think so). Janine expressed the wish to ride a horse here in America, so I googled for New Hampshire horse riding. Almost 5 miles through a forrest near Londonderry, New Hampshire. The girls already had experience in horse riding, but not me. My horse’ name was Babe. And Babe was very patient with me. Controlling was easy and I even made Babe taking a path beyond the studied route.

Find below a picture of Babe. I know, she not looking like all these fancy horses, but she’s faster than she looks like. It was a really funny afternoon. I had to care about some serious moskito wounds of the girls too :)

Cape Cod, escaping for a while…

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

On Friday we spend the whole day on Cape Cod. Looking for a beach we have been on the Atlantic side of the Cape first, but only on the bay side where the water is warmer and the wind is smoother we found a good one called Duck Harbor Beach. Since it was Friday and most of the people, spending their weekend on the Cape, are arriving in the later afternoon, it wasn’t that busy. To stay healthy I didn’t put the car directly on the parking area of the beach, where we had needed a $30 parking sticker, but on the free parking area 1.5 miles away. We hadn’t got the sticker anyway, because you have to stay in a local hotel to get one. No exceptions, no $30 extra earnings with the German tourist, that’s America. But besides that, the whole area is really beautiful and perfectly suited for recreation from the stress of the week. So do many Bostonians and spend their Summer vacation on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the islands south of the Cape.

Lost River Gorge

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Again no luck with the weather. It was already cloudy when we woke up in the morning. The temperature was ok, but still no sun. I could convice the girls to go to an interesting site called Lost River Gorge, which we actually wanted to visit during the White Mountains trip in New Hampshire, when my dad was here. Unfortunately they close at 4 or 5 pm which was at that time to late for us. According to the flyer they are opened depending on the weather conditions.

We were not really prepared for what expects us. Compared to other visitor groups we more looked like going to the beach. Good for us, that the warning plate told us the same: “Please wear appropriate clothes!”. The Lost River is a small river flowing throught the upcoming White Mountains National Forrest. With the rough territory creating all these waterfalls, small canyons and caves. And you in the middle of this, climbing the stairs and leaders which they build into these canyons to explore them.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

From a weather point of view the Wednesday wasn’t that good. Foggy in the early morning, wet and rainy in the afternoon. A perfect day to do something for the education and to visit a museum. We chose the John F. Kennedy Library which is located in the area of the University of Massachusetts Boston. (Now you know what the abbreviation U-Mass means if you see Bill Cosby the next in a sweater with the word on it) A little explanation: To every president of the United States a library is dedicated. The one of John F. Kennedy stands in Boston, since he was once Senator of the state of Massachusetts. The library is a kind of memorial of his life, from his childhood, the early days in politics, the rise as a politician until his tragical death. Since the rain hadn’t stopped in the afternoon we went to Salem, just 30 minutes North on the Route 1, where we visited the Salem Witch Museum. It describes the time in the 17th century when people had been accused as being witches. It was kinda nice, how they described the circumstances 300 years ago, but what was really interesting was the fact that they tried to teach about similarities to the present, of how people are treated who a different and how prejudices arise through this.

Singing Beach and Cape Ann

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Our Thuesday started with some sunny hours on Singing Beach in Manchester-By-The-Sea, just 20 minutes from Woburn. As always when I arrive on the Atlantic Ocean there was low tide. I really don’t why this is. But it was the perfect time to ride the great waves of the upcoming high tide. We had nearly the whole part of the beach for us since Americans are too lazy to walk 3 minutes from the part of the beach that is directly located on the parking area. Apropos, my parking lot was $25 since I missed to move my car for 5 minutes. I’m still thinking about refusing to pay it, but I don’t want to get arrest next time I enter the US. In the further afternoon I showed Janine and Jessy Cape Ann and Rockport. As you know, I really like this town. Every photo I take of the harbor is like a painting. The sky is every time colored in a deep blue as it is famous for New England.

Stockbridge in the Summer

Originally uploaded by *tobi*

Returning and careful readers of this blog probably remember my visit of the Normal Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge in the Winter. At that time I promised Janine and myself to return because of the beauty of this small town. Well, I kept my promise and we went to Stockbridge on Sunday. The small stores seaming the street are perfectly suited to poke for gifts. The scenery sound’s like the description of an old movie: Some people browse for interesting books in the yard of the town library. On the porch of the hotel guests have a coffee while relaxing in a rocking chair. From the inside of the hotel’s restaurant you can hear someone playing smooth piano music. One of the places to go, when you have the opportunity to visit Western Massachusetts and Berkshire County.