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Wisconsin is so awesome that its difficult to remember details of Chicago. I wasn't crazy about Chicago at first. I'm not a city person, and there were way too many people. I was about to overheat and shrivel up from dehydration during the day, plus I had a terrible stomachache all morning. This being said, in retrospect, it is these things which tainted my first impression of Chicago. After we cooled off and CJ fixed the air conditioning (which he is very proud of) we went to the Chicago Institute of Art. Initially I felt overwhelmed and discouraged becauseit seemed confusing to navigate. It was, but I eventually found my way to the Vangogh exhibit and I loved it. It was amazing to see THE paintings that I've seen posters of since I was in elementry school. There was an entire new depth of emotion to see the texture techniques he used. We couldnt stay too long, though, the museum closed and we needed to go see CJs family who lives in Chicago. In between family time we met up with CJs childhood friend Will and his girlfriend Christa, who gave me a fabulous tour of the city at night! We saw the bottom of the Sears Tower ( which was closed for the night and, addtionally, isn't called the Sears Tower anymore) a bunch of places which were used to film The Dark Night, the Chicago theatre, and the Thai restaurant where we ate. It ended up being a great turnaround from how the day began. We left very late and drove for a few hours to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is incredible! Yes, they have cheese, but much more. On our way west this morning we stopped at an amusement park where I rode a wooden rollercoaster and a log flume. Nothing like an adrenaline rush to wake you up in the morning! It was great...but the coaster left me with a headache all day. Totally worth it. Speaking of worth it, CJ and I had driven a few hours past our hotel in Wisconsin when I got a text from my old friend Zach who goes to WU-Madison. Not realizing how far backtracking we would go, I agreed to meet up there. It was kind of a dreadful ride, but boy am I glad we went. Madison is one of the best towns I've ever been to. They have every culture food you can imagine, a beautiful terrace overlooking the water, tea shops, and very, very cool, friendly people. It just goes to show that going off the beaten path really does bring treasures.
The pun of the day is that standing in front of a cheese factory wearing a cheese hat in front of a bunch of cows is sooo "cheesy." I know, thats lame, but its pretty hard not to say when you're doing it. Cheese is really interesting by the way. Colby cheddar cheese was first made in Colby, Wisconsin. We both got some excellent chocolate cheese fondue.
Really, everything in Wisconsin is beautiful it is green and open, and full of people taking advantage of these qualities. It is a great site to see.
Don't forget to check back for pictures which I will add as soon as we get to a hotel.
Thanks to CJs grandma for all the food!
Until the next unknown destination,
Stephanie
- comments
Kate Shame they didn't take you to the jazz section....I used to be fabulous, I understand. Like NYC, Chicago is a nice place to visit....but I'm glad I don't live there. You should try walking in vicinity of Lake in winter!...blow you off your feet! So, how come you didn't watch cheese being made? It's actually fairly interesting. Chocolate Fondue is better, though. Loved Northern Wisconsin when we went there with the girls a couple of times to Suzuki Institutes for a week, then meandering back. Once we took train from Paoli to Chicago, then drove to...Madison? and the lake country from there. Another time we took Michigan Peninsula and Fort Mackinok(?)--Lord am I tired--down to Interlaken and sand dunes.