The real festivites for welcoming the next decade of my life were to be held on European motherland. So for a few days I set off to Ladera del Mar close to Nerja in Spain at the Costa del Sol. Drawn by the promise of pool-partying under the mediteranian sun about 30 people from all sorts of nationalites gathered to help my friend Francisco and I celibrate. A more perfect setting to do just that than the beautiful house that was generously entrusted to us by Franciscos aunt could not be imagined. Some unforgettable days of greatest joy, partying and relaxing with the most lovely people. Just too bad it was over so quickly … Cut!
ROD My Stay costa del sol
A lot of things are going on lately, so let me catch up really briefly on some major recent events. It has been about two weeks since my days as a twenty-something have been counted. Reason enough for some celebrations. I invited a few of my colleagues and friends over for snacks and drinks. I actually found a traditional German store, so I was able to prepare some homemade German food.
The weekend was a long one, so apart from soaking up some wild western American culture at the rodeo, I also took a trip into the beautiful Catskill mountains with Jasmin. On our way back we discovered that Woodstock was nearby and couldn’t help but stop there to soak up some of the hippie vibes that apparently never left the place.
ROD My Stay, Places catskill, rodeo, woodstock
The week before there was a street festival going on not to far from where I live. So I took my camera along and made some nice Philly Snapshots on my way. The last picture shows one of the many painted houses that you see quite alot in Philly. Its called mural art, and driving around I already spotted some really nice murals that I am determined to set out and capture sometime soon.
ROD Places cities, philly
Last weekend I went to the coast with my friend Phil to finally be close to the ocean again, boy how I missed that! But once we got there the weather wasnt actually that good and the sun was about to start setting. Still I couldnt resist to at least take a few steps into the water 
We hit the coast in Atlantic City (AC), and the real reason that most people go to AC is not the nice beach, but rather the buzzing nightlife. Atlantlic City is sometimes called the Las Vegas of the East Coast and its skyline is ruled by the big casino hotels.
My friend Phil is very much into Poker, so we ended up gambling in the Casino for quite a few hours. The casino itself is designed by the highest standards. Every possible need of the players is taken care off, cause the last thing they want is for you to leave. So the casino includes any sort of restaurant, from fastfood to five start. Bars, a club, a concert hall, you name it. As soon as you spend enough money gambling, they will cover your hotel room.
I was just amazed to see so many people sitting infront of the myriads of slot mashines over and over again pressing the same button to line up cherries and bananas. In the casino you meet the rich an famous in designer dress, with dollar notes endlessly growing out of their pockets, but also just-above-teens in jogging suits and shates next to retired elders in wrinkeled underwear that seem to be gambling on their last pension pennies. Unfortunately, inside the casino taking picutres is not allowed.
ROD Places atlantic city, cities
Finally, as promised, some pictures of my new apartment. I still need to work on it to make it really comfy. But with the bed and couch in place and the kitchen cabinets filled it is already more than livable! I actually got some more furniture today which is not in the pictures yet. I will show you again, once its done!
ROD My Stay apartment
Yes, that’s what the original meaning of Philadelphia is. The city of brotherly love. After spending the first month of my stay in Pennsylvania’s countryside, last weekend I finally moved into the city center to experience some of the love it has to give. Actually, the only thing I had to move was the two suitcases I brought over from Switzerland. So I spent the better part of the weekend shopping at Ikea (it really is the same wherever you go) and other big stores to hunt down affordable furniture and other necessities to start my household with. Well somebody has to get the economy going over here, and with the hundreds of dollars I spent just in one weekend I feel I am being a good American at least in that respect already. But it was worth it and my empty apartment starts to fill up, take shape and feel more and more like home. Unfortunately I could not take any nice pictures yet, as it was grey and rainy throughout the whole weekend and my camera is really bad with weak lighting. But I cant wait to share that really stunning view from my 19th floor panoramic windowed living room. Oh yeah, its amazing! Stay tuned …
But before I go, I have to leave a note on the start on this post. The brotherly love thing. Excited as I was moving into the appartment, already on my first day I decided to ring at my neighbourghs’ doors and say hi (expecting of course to experience some of that brotherly/neighbourly love). But hardly anyone was at home and those that were unfortunately were anything but lovingly welcoming. More like, I say hi and they say who are you? I introduce myself and they: Ok, almost closing the door on me. Maybe they thought I want to sell stuff or mugg them. Hmm. But one exception: Patricia Distephano was quite happy to getting to know me and wants me to meet her daugther as well. Thats what a batchelor like me wants to here 
For the others, maybe it was just not the right time. Actually I just met one of them and found her to be much more at ease here in the Wifi-Lounge of the apartment complex, were I sit with my Laptop - just now - to write these lines. Got to go, still have a date with a used couch tonight that is looking for a new owner!
ROD My Stay apartment, neighbours
I used the weekend to go on a short trip to New York and really had a blast there! Only had half a day for sight seeing (see below). The rest of the time was spent partying on a rooftop and downtown The weekend was way too short! So I will certainly have to go back there soon …
ROD Places cities, new york
I just noticed that there is not a single picture of, nor word written about the major protagonist of this blog. So let me correct that real quick. Here is some snaps that I took in febuary. Just to get a first feel for it. More to come!
ROD Places cities, philly
Among the masses of advertisment that find their way into my postbox, today I had a letter from the bank with precious content. My first American credit card. Finally, I can start my life as a valid consumer!
But actually thats not quite correct, because the credit card that I have is only a secured credit card because the bank doesnt trust me. I had to pay the full credit limit in advance as a deposit in order to get the card. And my every move with the card will be tracked as is done with every card in the US. There is central institutions that keep the credit history of every person and provide it to banks and companies that want to know how big my trust or so called ‘credit score’ is. The ironic thing about that score is, you can only build it up by taking credit. So the more I use my credit card, the higher my score goes, the better offers I will get. And the offers range from all sorts of payback programms when you buy certain items and collect mile programs to keep the change and whatever the banks can think of.
There is another remarkable thing about dealing with money that I want to notice. When I asked the lady at the bank how much transfers to another account would cost she looked at me with big eyes. You can do transfers within the same bank. But when it comes to payments usually everthing is done by writing checks here. Yes, small slips of paper that you sign and give to the other person and which he in turn needs to cary to the bank and cash it there. So a few days earlier I received a package with big stacks of blanko checks. Just in time to be able to pay my rent
ROD Everyday-wonders money
Last Monday I had to go to Dallas for work. So I thought it might be a good idea to seize the opportunity to get to see some of Dallas city. To my surprise I found the city completely deserted with almost all shops and restaurants closed. On top of that, it was raining almost all day long, so not exactly the best day to stroll around the city. But since I was stupid enough not to rent a car, I found myself wandering the wet dead cities streets. Who would have thought that you actually need a car to explore a city? But hey, this is the USA, where you basically need a car to get anywhere (more on that later). And even more so, this was Texas. And in Texas everthing is big! I am just happy that Drew, my Bangladeshian minicab driver had a heart with me and agreed on a discount for the long distances I had to go. In return, I held on to his card and called him whenever I needed to move.
Once in the city, I kept myself busy with taking pictures of the sky rises from all possible angles for some time. At least whenever the rain didnt force me in one of the few fastfood places that were open. I also spend a little while in the tourist information office to escape from the rain. Here I learned that it was in Dallas where JFK was assacinated and I actaully walked by the place where Lee Harvey Oswald is supposed to have taken a shot at the president from one of the windows of a school building. Where JFK was hit, there is a big cross on the road.
A good half of the day I eventually spent in the Dallas World Aquarium among all sorts of wild animals. Many birds, monkeays and other small mammals. I especially enjoyed watching a sloth munching on some leaves in infectous peasful grace. The main attraction though, was a walkable glass tunnel through their biggest fish tank, where you could meet face to face with the sharks. Cool!
Before meeting up with my collegue at the hotel I finally found a nice cafe/diners that was open, a little off from the city center in the alternative Big Ellum area, where I could dry up and reflect on my Dallas adventures. I am just happy that my colleague was smart enough to rent a car, and kind enough to drive me about to the hotel also to the airport. Here is just a few of my Dallas shots:
ROD Places cities, dallas
