In America, Episode 4: Riding the Heatwave from DC to Michigan

[Because we're doing this entry from a very slow internet connection, there will be no pictures attached to it. We will add the pictures to this entry when we have access to a broadband connection. Sorry!]

We're not sure what we expected from Washington DC, but what we got was certainly not it. Sterling drove us there, braving both thundery heat and the monstrous traffic jam that took hours to negotiate - thanks again, Sterl, you are the Hero!

Instead of a cool government center we found ourselves in a colorful, human-sized and very green and international city. Wanting to take full use of the fine weather, we did a walking tour of the essential sights and landmarks, finally arriving at the Lincoln Memorial for a wonderful sunset finish (along with about a thousand other tourists but that didn't matter none). It was a very emotional sightseeing for some in our team, and the boys certainly outdid themselves, walking on in the punishing heat just to see the legendary landmarks.

The following two days were spent partly indoors, visiting the hugely impressive Smithsonian museums and the US Capitol. The White House we only saw from the outside, and the master of the house was away on business anyway ;-) And while we were there, Marko met his Facebook friend Sam, another prog-oriented amateur musician. We had a nice chat in the sun, and maybe some day we'll meet up by the Baltic!

It was only a brief three-night stay but we were very taken with the colors and the lively, friendly feel of the capital. The horrible metro crash on June 22 did cloud our feelings somewhat (it was the line that we used to travel, too), but it would feel odd to think we will never return there... so, DC - until next time!

The plane from the Baltimore-Washington airport took us to Michigan in just over an hour, and it was so good to see familiar faces waiting for us in Detroit! Reko above all was just the happiest boy alive to finally be back in a place he knows. And we have certainly basked in Jack and Jeannette's warmth and hospitality: eating good, playing out a lot (the battle for mid-Michigan's badminton championship turned in Annu's favor) and so on. And we've had the chance to hook up with several old friends from earlier trips, so it's been fab (Hi Juanita, Jeanne & Greg + Allison & Candace and Karen & Keith!).

The kids next door, Kristen and Kory, had been expecting us and they had lots of fun with our boys! Kristen taught Reko and Atte the secrets of Nintendo DS and the rules of kickball. Kory soaked everyone totally and took his share like a man :) It was fabulous, and we had the feeling that the kids will truly miss each other after this, just like with Rachel and John in Virginia.

The heat that was almost unbearable for several days is finally lifting. It's a swimming day tomorrow, and Tuesday will be busy, with Allison's double header softball game topping the bill. And on Wednesday, it's Annu's time to take the lead: she will drive our gang to Toronto! We're looking forward to Canada - the news of the municipal workers' strike in Toronto and the subsequent cancellations of many big Canada Day events may be downers, but altogether secondary in the long run.

So, saying goodbyes is drawing near, again, and it's not gonna get any easier no matter how many times you do it.

In America, Episode 3: Dealing with Past Times and Thrill Rides

So, our time in Virginia is running out. Tomorrow we'll head out to Washington DC, and it will be with a heavy heart we will leave our friends and the good state of Virginia. Reko is brokenhearted because we have to leave, and he said that if we ever move to the US, this is where he'd like to stay. And Sterling is his new hero :)

But we did have so many good times in our last days here. We got to visit the Jamestown Settlement, the birthplace of the USA, and the very next day shook off all the dust of history in Kings Dominion and (nearly) all its thrill rides and the water park. Tonight we just had a good time with Sterling and Kathy's friends, taking it easy before the upcoming trek.

At this point, we wish to thank Sterling, Kathy, Rachel and John for all their wonderfulness, and also Kim and Michael, and Barbara, and Cleary, and all the other good people we have met in VA and NC. All of you have made our time in these states unforgettable.

Annu's favorite vacation pastime! (that's Prachett and Gaiman's "Good Omens" she's reading)











Atte befriended Bo the dog, who was staying with us for a few days












Reko was a happy tourist in a Powhatan tribe village recreation at Jamestown.












Recreations of the original 1606/07 British ships at Jamestown.












Reko and Atte in the captain's quarters of Susan Constant, the biggest of the 1606 ships to sail to America.











We got to Kings Dominion so early we practically had the park to ourselves for a couple of hours. Luxury :)











Our gang's last time at the community pool - for now...

In America, Episode 2: Adventures and Sunburns

We arrived in Virginia on Sunday 7. Sterling was kind enough to meet us at the station in Richmond and drive us to their place. Kathy, Sterling, Rachel and John have been incredibly good to us, putting up with us Finns for the whole of two weeks. And not only that but also coming up with such surprises for us!The first days here we got well acquainted with the community pool as members' guests. The boys loved to get themselves wet after the sweaty time in NYC and on the train. They can really swim now, too :)

Water creatures in their natural habitat

What we did not expect at all was that our boys got to go to Rachel and John's school for the last school day and ride with them on an American school bus! Rachel received recognitions for several things and accepted the #1 trophy in Advanced Reading.

Finnish boys and an American school bus

When school was finally out for summer on Wednesday, we all set off for North Carolina's Outer Banks where Kathy had arranged a beach house for a few days. We didn't know what to expect but the place just blew us away when we got there! And the town of Duck turned out to be a lovely little beach resort with wonderful scenery, laid back people, bike lanes and nice shops (special kudos to The Island Books for an impressive selection). The weather was incredible and the two thunderstorms we got were both impressive and had the good grace of appearing only in the evening hours. It was... well, near perfection in every way.

International water creatures in the house pool of the Duck house

Annu found the hot tub!














Annu and Atte facing the high tide waves













Sunset on the soundfront













Beach Bum!


















As a huge and unexpected bonus we got to visit the Wright Brothers Memorial near Kitty Hawk, only about 15 miles from Duck. The memorial is built on the very grounds where man first took off free flight in 1903 - wonderful!

Reko appreciates history...













...while Atte lives history and takes off: that rail on the ground is the very same the Wright Flyer used when picking up speed!

Leaving Duck was kind of sad, but now it's time to look forward to new adventures waiting for us this week!

The farewell sunset over the row of beach houses

In America

Third full day in the USA. We arrived on Friday, greeted by a rainy and positively chilly NYC.








Fortunately we had great weather for the guided tour on Saturday and we got to see most of Manhattan and even had time for a little stroll in Central Park.



Top of the Rock: observation point on the roof of the Rockefeller Centre. Annu's favorite spot in NYC!









Yet another bunch of foreigners greeting The Lady. Atte got to steer the water taxi that took us there!











Tired at the end of the day, resting in the setting of so many New York movie scenes.












Mayor Bloomberg is turning Broadway into a pedestrian street: the southern stretch of the street is already closed to traffic and you can have a picnic right in the middle of Times Sq!


Yesterday was another traveling day, by train from NYC to Richmond, VA. We are staying with our friends here, slowing down a bit.The house is awesome, our kids and their kids enjoy each others company, and it's so warm too. What else can you ask for :)

NYC is past, Washington and Virginia ahead.













Plush green and wide lakes of northern Virginia as seen from the train.