Fact #5 - going to America with your best friend = laughing your head off 24/7. This is the stereotype that none of us ever intended to break. Just think about it! What could be better than going to America with your best friend for 4 months, just the two of you! When we were about 12, we could only dream of this, and in May 2018, we were confidently strolling through Times Square, chatting with passersby, and eating that iconic New York cheesecake in the evenings. And even though that summer wasn't the easiest, it was definitely the most unforgettable. Why? Coming home from work 120% exhausted but still making sure to cook something delicious; riding the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on a ferry and spotting 3 whales and a seal; waking up at 3 a.m. to catch the sunrise at the top of Cadillac Mountain, and then heading to that bakery for a breakfast of freshly baked pumpkin cinnamon rolls (which, by the way, the island locals are absolutely crazy about); swimming in the ocean at night; enjoying the views of the island where we lived all summer during a helicopter tour; trying over 50 flavors of ice cream; encountering a couple of deer and a flock of wild turkeys at night. And throughout the whole summer, thinking about how we would plan our coveted two weeks after work ended. Usually incredibly cautious, we decided to completely forget what we had planned and just let things flow. The first city was Boston. Arriving there, we had a bunch of bags and a wild desire to spend this time in a way that no one would believe it actually happened to us. By a happy coincidence, it was in Boston that we met our friends, with whom we tried oysters for the first time, made it to Harvard and other city landmarks. Walking through the streets of a huge city you've heard so much about, right next to your friends, is probably something we would wish for everyone. This is what it was worth flying 7,000 km from home for, what it was worth working for, and what we would definitely repeat. After seeing Boston, the two of us arrived at the airport, having absolutely no idea where we wanted to go next, and relying only on the departure time, we bought tickets to Chicago.

Chicago is turquoise canals that cleverly weave between skyscrapers, it's drawbridges, the subway right above pedestrian streets, almost brushing against mirrored buildings; it's the famous Bean, the most delicious deep-dish pizza, incredible rooftops, jazz bars, and views of Lake Michigan. In Chicago, we rode a double-decker bus through the night city, naively comparing it to Boston, walked the streets all night, traveled to the other end of the city for breakfast just for the beautiful tableware, and that's where we tried the spiciest pasta of our lives. The next destination was chosen just as spontaneously, and 9 hours later we were checking into a hostel in Los Angeles. That was the first time we found ourselves in a room so small that we had to take turns throwing our suitcases onto the bed just to get our clothes, simply because there was no room for them on the floor. That was when we first understood the meaning of a "3 by 3 meter room," a shared ceiling, and all the romance of hostels. Trying to leave our dwelling as quickly as possible, we set off to conquer the city. And there, standing not far from that very "Hollywood" sign, it felt like we had ended up in the coolest American movie. We won't go into the details of the trip to this city; going there wasn't the best spontaneous decision, as it turned out, this place wasn't for us.

New York was the only city for which we bought tickets in advance. Waking up early in the morning, we called a taxi, sat happily in the back seat, anticipating a new city. But we couldn't have imagined that the traffic in LA is no less intense than in New York. And after spending a good 2.5 hours in the taxi, we completely missed our flight. Upon arriving at the airport, we very diligently explained to the Virgin Airlines staff that we had missed our plane and that we absolutely had to fly to New York. Then, without thinking twice, they made us an offer we couldn't refuse (no one would have). By a stroke of luck, the business class on the next flight to New York was half-empty. And here we were, sipping coffee and watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in the coolest seats! As they say: "everything happens for a reason."

If you remember how our story began, it was 4 guys on the 21st floor in the heart of Manhattan. Meeting up at the end of our journey, we shared our impressions, stories, and emotions with each other without getting tired, continuing to walk and enjoy the city's atmosphere.

Returning home after 4 months was quite strange. Out of habit, we settled into our seats next to each other on the plane, turned on Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind, the plane began to climb, and each of us replayed the most important moments of that summer in our heads, singing along: "These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you...", watching the receding outlines of the skyscrapers. The most incredible thing is that all these moments will continue to walk through life with us. After all, our memories are the greatest treasure that no one can ever take away from us. Travel!