Traveling: September 2013

Friday, 27 September 2013

United States 2013 - Part 1

United States 2013

A few years ago my girlfriend Claudia and I spent a semester at the Bowling Green State University and we both met some wonderful people there. Now it was time to return to Ohio to meet some of them again. So we decided to spend one week with our friends in Columbus and Bowling Green and afterwards we traveled to Chicago and via Indianapolis back to Ohio.

Flying To Columbus, Ohio

Saturday - August 31st 2013

We got up pretty early, because we had to drive from Salzburg to Munich. Our Delta flight should have departed at 9:50am from Munich, but after we arrived at the airport, we found out, that the flight had been delayed for five hours. What a great start for a vacation and the Delta crew didn't make it better with their strange humour. Unlike the flight attendants, we couldn't see anything positive in that delay. At least we got a coupon for the airport restaurants and so we tried to make the best out of it. First we had a cup of coffee at Starbucks and later we enjoyed some beers at the Airbräu Pub. After two beers the situation wasn't that bad anymore. For lunch we tried an Asian restaurant. The food was really good and a lot better than expected from an airport restaurant. I had a noodle dish named Yaki Soba and Claudia chose vegetables with rice.

Airbräu Pub

Airbräu Pub Beer

Asian Restaurant

Yaki Soba

Vegetables with Rice

Afterwards we bought some things for the flight and then we were on our way to the gate. Boarding was a bit chaotic, but finally we were ready for departure and left Munich on time. The flight to Atlanta was fine and we even caught the connecting flight to Columbus, Ohio. There we arrived at 11:30pm. The flight attendent found out that we weren't Americans and was surprised that Europeans would visit Ohio voluntarily instead of the tourist areas like California, New York or Florida.

Beer Makes Flying a lot more Fun

Airplane Food

After we got our luggage, our friends picked us up at the airport, because we stayed with them until Monday. We talked a bit to catch up and then it was time for bed.

United States 2013 - Part 2

Labour Day Weekend In Columbus

Sunday - September 1st 2013

Sunday was relaxing, since we spent the whole day just with our friends and their lovely kids. Before noon we did some shopping for lunch at the Whole Foods Market, which was like paradise for my vegan girlfriend, and in the afternoon we just drove around the suburbs of Columbus to see a small waterfall. Later in the evening some neighbours of our friends came by and so we had dinner and Marsh Mallows together.

Whole Foods Market

Lunch from Whole Foods Market

Everyone in Columbus seems to be an OSU Fan

Around Columbus

Waterfall Near Columbus

Monday - September 2nd 2013

Today was Labour Day, but unfortunately we had to say goodbye already to one of our friends, because he had to fly to Indonesia. What a bad timing. So after we got up, we drove him to the airport. At least we got to see him for one full day. Afterwards Claudia and I picked up our rental car, a fantastic new white Volkswagen Beetle. We spent the rest of the day with our friends' family who invited us to their traditional Labour Day Barbecue.

Barbeque

Veggie Burger

Thursday, 26 September 2013

United States 2013 - Part 3

Bowling Green

Tuesday - September 3rd 2013

Today we left our friends in Columbus and drove to Bowling Green, where we studied in 2007. After a two hours drive, we arrived at the Hampton Inn hotel and checked in. The hotel was better than expected and offered even an indoor pool and breakfast. At first we had to change rooms, because we wanted a non-smoking room, but the second one was fine, very clean and spacious.

Hampton Inn

Our Room

After we dropped our luggage off, we had lunch at Chipotle, because we really missed that fast food restaurant all the years. Claudia and I decided to get a vegetarian burrito with a cold beer and it was still as good as it was in 2007. Later it was time to see our old University campus. Although a lot has changed, it felt like we had never left. We got some college merchandise and then we walked to the town center, where we had a cup of coffee at Panera Bread, one of our favourite places when we lived in Bowling Green.

Chipotle

Chipotle Burrito

Waffle House

BGSU Stroh Center

BGSU Library

BGSU Gym

BGSU College of Business Administration

BGSU Student Union

BGSU Cafeteria

BGSU Logo

Bowling Green

Panera Bread

Bowling Green

Back at the hotel we got into our car and drove to the local supermarkets. Since there was a Subway at Walmart, we had a sandwich for a little snack. Although I had been to theses shops many times before, I was still amazed how huge Walmart and Meijer stores are and especially what you can buy there. The frozen goods section had nearly the size of a regular supermarket over here. Then we had to get ready for the evening, because a good friend and her family invited us for dinner at their house. We spent a lovely evening with them and around 11:00pm we were on our way back to the hotel, but before we had to stop at Walmart and Meijer again, because at home you can't shop during the nights.

Subway Veggie Sandwich

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

United States 2013 - Part 4

Grand Rapids

Wednesday - September 4th 2013

After breakfast we were on our way to a small town near Bowling Green called Grand Rapids. We had already been there during Christmas Time 2007 and we just loved that small village. When we arrived, the stores weren't open yet and so we had a walk along the river and the old canal. Finally the shops and coffee houses opened. A cup of coffee later, we strolled through the stores and bought a few things.

Breakfast at Hampton Inn

Breakfast

Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Coffee House

Grand Rapids

Later we drove to a small outdoor shopping center named Levis Commons and spent some time there. Like yesterday lunch was at Chipotle and again we both ordered the burrito. In the afternoon we did some shopping for Halloween at a shopping mall near Perrysburgh and met with a good friend at Grounds For Thought, a local coffee house in Bowling Green.

Levis Commons

Our rented Beetle at Levis Commons

Lunch at Chipotle

Shopping Mall in Perrysburgh

Grounds for Thought Coffee House

After we refreshed a bit back at the hotel, we decided to have dinner at Panera Bread. I had the cheddar cheese soup and Claudia got the vegetable soup with a side salad. Before we returned to the hotel, we walked around on campus and had a beer at the University pub. Back in the hotel we watched TV and shared another beer.