Minneapolis, MN

After driving through Madison a bit more (and discovering Bassett street!), Eric and I headed for Minneapolis. Another easy drive, about four hours. We finished Harry Potter book one, and began book two but then discovered that the file was messed up! (That’s what I get for illegally downloading it, I guess). This was our first big disappointment of the trip. Hopefully we will be able to download a good version. Otherwise we will be forced to like, listen to music. Or talk to each other or something.

 While driving through Wisconsin, we saw lots of signs for cheese. I got a lack-of-caffeine headache around 1 so we stopped at some taco place so I could get a diet coke. This happened to also be the location of several large plastic animals. A mouse with a big wedge of Wisconsin cheese, A gazelle or some leaping animal, and an enormous orange moose. Obvious photo-opp.

The drive was smooth- eventually I took out the guitar and we attempted to write songs about driving in Wisconsin. We wrote a really great song when we entered Minnesota. It had something to do with wanting a soda.

 We easily met up with Eric’s friend Danielle- and she took us around in her car to give us a tour of the twin cities. We saw Minneapolis and St. Paul- saw some cool artwork, a new theater overlooking a great view of the Mississippi (Don’t tell my mom but I had no idea the Mississippi went through Minnesota!), and beautiful St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Danielle taught us some vocab-  “Minn” means ‘water’… so Minnetonka is big water, Minnestrista, where Danielle means, means twisty water, and I guess Minnesota is soda water? J

Then, we went to the Mall of America! I did not realize this would be in the cards for us today- but what an experience it was. There is an actual roller coaster/log flume/entire amusement park inside of this mall. What?

Next, we headed out to Danielle’s home, which is in Minnetrista? This was another installment along our tour of beautiful homes in America. Danielle’s parents have an absolutely gorgeous house on a lake- (you know Minnesota has 10,000 lakes…) – an amazing view and awesome home. 

Danielle’s father is an Australian native (how cool!?) and he was preparing dinner for us when we arrived! He grilled steak, chicken, corn on the cob and vegetables. It was deeelicious. We ate and drank wine and Eric and Danielle reminisced over their days in Archmere. (Danielle’s family moved to Minneapolis three years ago, but she went to high school w/ Eric in Delaware).

After dinner, we had ice cream with dark chocolate and cherries for dessert, and then we started playing and singing around their piano J We even sang some traditional Australian songs with Mr. Thomson!