Visit from Sweden Part 2

The 30 of July was a pretty calm day starting out with walking around downtown and finding our way to some Memorials about different conflict ranging from World War 1 until Vietnam.

Vietnam War Memorial

Unkonw Memorial probably something with dogs

Pearl Harbour Memorial

Holocaust Memorial

Also Holocaust Memorial

US WWII Navy Memorial

USS Columbia Memorial

World War I Memorial

Korean War Memorial

The Memorials show a clear difference in the way you see the armed forces between Sweden and the US. Also like the Korean War Memorial as it had the same type of statue as in Washington DC. One that I liked.

Spending the day roaming around and chilling out we ended the day with going to a baseball game.

Chilling out with the mascot

A fun and unique experience which is definently something to see while in the US.

The 31st started out with checking out the South Carolina State House and then went over to my host family. We spent some time chilling at the pool and then had some dinner with the host family. We also handed over some Swedish gifts. A book about the Swedish landscapes, a tray in blue and yellow saying "Fika".

The 1st of August and we get in the car to go down to Charleston. We went straight to the McLeod Plantation. An old plantation where people lived until 1990s. Not as slaves the latter years of course.

McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The Mansion McLeod Plantation

The road up to the McLeod House

A great historic site with a dark history showing the racial differneces we can see all the way into our time. Even here on the plantation where both the mansion and the old slave houses had people living here until the 1990s. The people living in the old slave houses were free but very poor.

From the plantation to an awsome lunch at YoBo Cantina Fresca. A place I definently recommend to go if in Charleston!

Nom Nom Nom

YoBo Cantina Fresca

From lunch to some more history this time we went to Fort Moultire. An old fort built during the revolutionary war lasting until after the second world war. And now for some pictures:

A more modern cannon at Fort Moultire

The old command tower during WWII

Looking out through a cannon

An older cannon

How to lift an old cannon which weighs a lot

Another old cannon

And another

Fort Moultire

Some more cannons

Some ammunition

My sister hates this so she found a nice little beach nearby so after having went through the Fort me and my sister took a swim in the ocean. We then went to the hotel and checked in and then went down to the beautiful French Quarters. Especially the beautiful Rainbow Row. Stand by for Part 3 will try to not be as late for that post!
Cya laters alligators!

Visit from Sweden Part 1

Late as always but here it is... Between the 26th of July and the 5th of August I had 2 visitors from Sweden (also some vacation from the family, well needed). The two visitor weren't just anybody. It was my lovely sister and dad. Unfortanetly my mom couldn't join us due to medical issues. I was very sad about that and missed her a lot. However I had to get over that fact and with help of todays technology we could at least talk with her a few times when we all were gathered. This post will be in several parts as a lot happend and don't wanna make one suuuuper long post.

But now to the point, let's go!

26th of July I was working all day but something awsome happend that afternoon, my dad and sister landed up in Charlotte and drove down to the hotel in Columbia. So nothing special happend this day so lets move on. Well I did pack my bags so that's something.

27th of July I got picked up by my dad and sister and finally got to meet them. It was the first time in over 6 months that I got to meet them in person. It was an amazing feeling flowing through me as I saw them. I got all my stuff into the car and we went to a nice diner called Flight Deck. Inspired by old aircrafts.

On the 28th me and my dad dropped off my sister at a mall so she could do her shopping (Boooring). Me and my dad went to South Carolina Military Museum. A cool museum having artifacts from the revolutionary war until todays conflicts.

Infront of a Tank outside of the museum

Models of tanks inside of the museum

After the museum we picked up my sister and we all went for lunch at a nice asian resturant. From that we continued with dropping my sister off again. Me and my dad went to the Beef Jerky Outlet. A store filled with Beef Jerkey pretty much. With all kinds of different varieties, even weird jerkeys like kangaroo, alligator, elk and some other unusual meat. From Beef Jerkey to an awsome milkshake at Marble Slab Creamery. Also an awsome picture:

No Description needed

After a dip in the pool at the hotel we went out for dinner at The Melting Pot. A cheese fondue resturant which was delicous. 

At the Melting Pot

At the Melting Pot

The 29th started with a trip to Walmart to get some snacks for our trip to Lake Murray. We chilled out a bit at the public beach of Lake Murray. The lake had very muddyish water where you barley could see what was infront of you. You definently couldn't see your feet but it was nice to cool off from the heat. When getting up from the water my sister got very scared as there was a snake that also wanted get up from the water. (Not sure who scared who to be honest). She also made a new bestie, a dead fish floating around in the water. 

The beach of Lake Murray

The beach of Lake Murray

After the Lake we went to a Kmart to check it out. It was a kinda crappy low cost store. We then went back to the hotel and chilled out.

A silly picture

Another silly picture

We got a few funny pictures before heading out and eating some dinner

And one more silly picture

One more of those silly pictues

More coming up in the next post which will be the 2nd part!

Washington DC

Between 7-9 of April I was in Washington DC. I've been very lazy with writing this post, but here it is. Leaving at noon we got to DC super late and the Friday pretty much just was get there and go to bed.

The day where things happend was the Saturday (8th of April). The day started with a guided tour of the monuents of the city. It was a great day for the tour beeing sunny and fairly warm. However it was not too hot either so it worked out great. The tour started with the Iwo Jima Monument.

Iwo Jima monument

Iwo Jima monument from a different angle

A monument for the Marine Corps. It shows how American soldiers raise the American flag on the island Iwo Jima near Japan during World War 2. The monument has all the places where the Marine Corps have been serving around the monument. I think it's an iconic monument looking very cool getting close due to its size.

Continuing the war theme of the tour we went on to the Vietnam War monument. A large black wall with all the names of the casualities and soldiers missing in action.

Vietnam War monument

Nothing very visually appealing but definently amazing with how many names there are on this list.

Women of Vietnam War monument

Close by was the monument for all the women who served in the war. They mainly served as nurses wich the monument shows as the three women take care of a wounded soldier.

A more visual monument than the wall, wich makes it more interesting to look at.

From the Vietnam monuments we made our way to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial a huge and very iconic monument seen in many movies.

Abraham Lincoln memorial

Abraham Lincoln memorial

Abaham Lincoln himself

The monument is huge and is just amazing to walk up to due to it's size. Going into the monument you see Abraham Lincoln sitting in his chair looking down at tiny you. On the walls around the place are different of Abraham Lincoln's different speeches.

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Turning your back on Lincoln and you would find yourself at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and a great view of the Washington Monument. Another sight seen from a lot of movies.

Korean War Memorial

From the Lincoln memorial we went to see the Korean War memorial. Definently the one I liked the most with the soliders walking through looking for enemies.

Part of the WWII victory memorial
with Washington Monument in
background

The wall of Gold Stars Symbolising
all the American losses in WWII

We then went by the World War 2 victory monument. A huge monument with some nice aesthetics.








After a longer walk we came to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial.

Statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A huge rock with Dr. King carved out. His legs are not finish as he wasn't able to finish his work.

The last memorial we saw was the Franklin D. Roosevelt
a memorial made up of several rooms showing the different periods he was president. I didn't take any pictures of it unfortanetly.

After that monument we got on the bus and got dropped off outside the museum of American History. From there we were free to move around on our own and I made my way to the White House first.

The White House had a bunch of security around it and it was hard to get close. Definently a must see while in DC.






From the White House I made my way to the Spy Museum with a short stop for food at a food truck.

The Spy Museum was very cool and had some fun information and a lot of different stations where you could experince and learn about different spy techniques. It reminded me alot about the Stasi Museum in Berlin.

While I was there they had a special exhibition about Bond villans something I think my dad would have been very intrested in.


After another long walk I got to the Capitol Building. Here is where most of the actual politics happen.

The Capitol Building

A Selfie of me near the capitol with the
National Mall and Washington
Monument in the background.

Haven't taken many pictures of myself so far but here is a selfie of me with the National Mall in the background.

The Washington Monument

Looking at the Lincoln Memorial from
The Washington monument

Ending my tour at the Washington Monument I made my way back to the hotel by walking. A fairly quick march taking about an hour. Yes I'm probably crazy but I finished my challenge with hurting feet feeling proud of my achievement. Finished the night with some Tacos for dinner.

On the Sunday I pretty much just packed my bag, ate breakfast and got some snacks for the ride home. After a long trip home I finally got home, tired but happy for the weekend.

The weekend was great with nice weather. I could've wished for a little bit more time but I guess that just gives me more reasons to go there again. I definently liked the city with all the history and politics. Although it looks very 1920s-30s wich large square buildings it fits the thought of it beeing the capital city.
Ludwig