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Naples, Capri, Pompeji and the Amalfi coast 

Capri is crap even though there are some treasures to see but the mass of tourists who invade the island is incredible. The island is worldwide famous and it is a klichée to go there. I say: Please go a head! I stay in authentic Naples!  

Napels is very cool and a real treasure for individual travelers who don’t want to see tourists. This is an unusual phenomenon in Europe so I enjoyed it very much.

The only draw-back: The Kamora Mafia rules the city. So "only” 850 Euro was withdrawn from my account due to high tech thieves who specialize in copying your credit card at the cash machine. Well, they are welcomed to frighten the tourists. Despite the unauthorized cash withdrawal I love Napoli anyway. Nowhere else could I wonder around in a big city and enjoy real life and only see Napoli inhabitants.   

Pompeji is worth a visit and very interesting. You can´t see everything within a couple of hours but I had enough after 2-3 hours and knew the whole story afterwards. Good trip 30 min outside Naples. 

One of the most beautiful coasts in the world is without doubts Amalfi. We visited Positano and Amalfi town. It is romantic, picturesque and stunning! Even though it is rather touristy but you can walk around in small side streets, climb up the hill and relax in a cozy restaurant with see view.  

The best way to discover Amalfi is by boat. On the trip back to Naples I was so amazed about the fairytale look-a-like-landscape and the high mountain range raising up from the coast with the sun setting, the ambiance is so romantic that a couple about to divorce will forget their problems!

I really like New York, much diversified, cool, and extremely trendy. However, we were all a bit disappointed about the nightlife in NY; nothing beats Berlin’s culture scene, laidback ness, cool people, and the huge venue of clubs.  We talked to people in the scene - everybody agrees that the NY scene changed. A few years ago, in the 80th and the 90th it was cool & hip, and now?  

The city seems very big but it really isn’t. The structure of the streets and the skyscrapers makes it big. My favorite "kiez" was Chelsea, Hell´s Kitchen and Nolita I think. Soho is too commercialized and "hip". Chelsea is more diversified, secret corners/shops, meat packing district integrated in the area, etc.

Time square is like stepping into a movie - I still can’t believe it is real :-) China Town is really not what we expected it to be, only Canal Street is good fun I think but I have heard that there are some secrets. Midtown is nice to walk around because of the high rising buildings, the glamour, Madison Avenue (my goodness so posh!), the action on the street, etc.

I went to Harlem one afternoon alone but when I arrived there with the taxi and told him to continue - hm - it looked rather scary where I wanted to walk around. He dropped me of at 125th street where the entire buzz is. I just stayed 10 min and took the subway back!!! Anyway, nice architecture there and you need a local guide I think. 

Brooklyn seems to be a very cool part of the city with hidden places. Unfortunately we didn’t have much time to discover it! Next time… The Ferry to Staten Island was GREAT!!! What a view as the sunset reflected in the buildings around Down Town! Beautiful! 

Central Park is nice but I think it must be summer in order to enjoy it proper. Empire State Building is absolutely worth a visit - it is really high and has an impressive view! We were very lucky with the queue but I had a bad hangover so it was a bit hard anyway :-)  

The shopping is very very good, you can get everything!!! Not too expensive either if you look around. Of course Madison Ave. is a world for itself. We had a great time walking down the street from the 86th to 43th - never seen so many expensive flagship stores in one street. The coolest label I found was "Brooklyn Industries" - fashionable and trendy.  

During the New Year NY was absolutely over crowded, especially the touristy places, such as Rockefeller Centre - forget it; Horse carriage in central park – mad; Walk along 5th Avenue - a challenge, an so on… 

My friend Daemon (he works in Gramercy Park Hotel) knows NY rather well and he has very good connections. We stayed at his place, a 45 floor skyscraper at Hudson River in Hell’s kitchen. As there are only low buildings and very few high rising buildings in the area you have a great view all over the city and the skyline is unbeatable. I had a bed with a panoramic view over half Manhattan. Unrealistic at the beginning :-)  

Anyway, the whole trip was worth every penny and I will go back to NY very soon - we just "scratched the surface" of NY.

Miami is more expensive than you expect and more a place for Paris-Hilton-glamour-freaks!!! It is hot, sexy, cool, posh, glamourus in a tacky way. We had a fantastic time on South Beach.

We stayed in the Double Tree Surfcomb, next to Delano. Delano was a really cool hotel and we visited of course the restaurant "the blue Door"! We also went to the "Diner" and "the Bed" and both of them were really great! European standard for international food.

We spent most of the time discovering South Beach but we also drove around in Coconut Groove and Coral Gables. Actually so beautiful and cozy that you think it is a fairy tale. You look through the car window with envy on the privat houses and mansions.

Biltmore Hotel is a true highlight with the swimming pool and nice architecture. Little Havanna - not much to see…

To explain Miami with few words: it is what Berlin used to be for 10-15 years ago with all constructions going on all over the city. The whole skyline is full of construction lifts and cranes. The urban development is impressing so you can really feel the $$$$$$ being spend on investment in the area. 

Key west was a really picturesque place with a wonderful Caribbean flair. A cozy, romantic town with beautiful Victorian architecture, nice restaurants and food places.

The ride down to the point is beautiful and I was caught by the police for driving too fast - oops!

As you know we stayed in the Double Tree Key Resort which was nice. On the day the ghtmare started (see weblink) we went on a sailing cruise on the sea. We were snorkling, paddling canu around a key island, we were observing animal life (e.g. pelicans), having fun out on the sail boat and at the end, watching the sunset!!

When we got back in the evening the horror started. Please check it out at  seattletimes.monoxide

We were evacuated! We were sent to a small beach hotel on a key (an our hours drive).

The day after we went back to Miami and caught an early morning fligth to NY city!