we have come quite far since my last post. on tuesday, we woke up early in kalamazoo, made the drive to chicago and spent a busy and full day exploring as much of the city as we could fit in.
the highlights:
-making a list of trip goals which included finding harpo studios, getting a meal for free and faking our ages.
-getting sent in four different directions en route to finding a restaurant.
-finding out we were an hour early. and in a different time zone. oops.
-the delicious food at an immensely popular mexican restaurant. there is a lineup to get in even for lunch!
-meeting a nice lady for lunch who was apparently a guru on everything in chicago.
-going to her ritzy apartment building... we found out later oprah lives there. could be a lie, but i believed it.
-stumbling upon a photo shoot for a commercial.
-renting a bicycle in a skirt. then falling off said bicycle when i tried to bike on the sand. really cool.
-biking along navy pier. one of the most visited attractions in all of the united states.
-looking at the view of the chicago skyline.
-visiting a free zoo. with lions that looked like they could jump out. and visiting the snakes even though dean was a scaredy cat.
-listening to live jazz over a pint.
-trying to find a hotel in downtown chicago... and discovering we are cheap bastards.
-eating deep dish pizza. WOW. definitely worth the wait.
-taking pictures of millennium park at night. trying to learn to use the night settings on my camera. i was mildly successful.
-trying to find a hotel. being foiled by a little league competition that decided to take over every hotel on the interstate leaving chicago. me convincing dean to stay at the creepy sunset inn. he was hesitant, but i think the fact there were beds won over.
next stop was nashville. we booted it for about six and a half hours to dixon, tennessee, about thirty minutes from nashville to stay with my good friend marcus from university. he is a big shot down in tennessee, but was nice enough to open up his beautiful home AND tour us around the city. the music city was a HUGE highlight for me, and my quick point form will not to the experience justice. i highly recommend you check it out for yourself!
the greatest moments:
-seeing the amount of chain restaurants, money lending agencies and cheque cashing stores in dixon. i learned a lot about small town living!
-going running around the little lake near marcus' house.
-trying on cowboy hats on the main drag. seeing three for one sales on cowboy boots!
-visiting the country hall of fame. including a visit to studio b, where many of the greats recorded. i got to play a piano that elvis recorded with!
-seeing my old friend jason play live at a seedy/cool bar with his new band.
-visiting the full scale model of the greek parthenon. why nashville? good question.
-drinking copious amounts of alcohol, dancing to incredible LIVE country music and finding my favourite bar in the world, tootsies. basically getting the full broadway street experience. meeting marcus' dad the next morning, feeling and looking great, i'm sure. also realizing i had lost my shoe. classsss, i tell you.
-getting a backstage tour of the ryman auditorium, which used to house the grand old opry radio show.
-getting the music lowdown from marcus. he is my music go to guy.
-getting to stay TWO nights in the same house! what a treat.
-learning to drive a driving lawnmower! in flats. wearing a cowboy hat. now that's nashville.
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