We have done A LOT of traveling in the past month- drove many miles, saw a lot of snow, took a myriad of pictures, ate more food than I have eaten in the past year, and made a lot of new friends. I am going to try and recap most of these adventures as best as I can. In addition to all these adventures, I have picked up a new hobby, which I think everyone should at least try once (no fear!)
So after we left Pittsburgh, we headed back to the Midwest for the next part of our tour. The week of February 24th, we headed to Ohio and then to Wisconsin. It was in Onalaska (not Alaska), Wisconsin that I re-discovered my love for yoga. I have done yoga before but I decided to be adventurous and take a hot yoga class. I am always weary of hot yoga since I have a history of being dehydrated and passing out... my parents will remember this one: I passed out at my Confirmation practice in grade school from dehydration- I don't remember most of it but I do remember throwing up in the bathroom and my dad bringing me home. So you can imagine my hesitance. I decided to go through with it, though, making sure to hydrate A LOT the night before. Let me just say... it was a fantastic class! If you are ever in this quaint, historic town, check out the Root Down Yoga Studio (which is actually in La Crosse, WI but it's a quick drive from Onalaska). After that we headed to Iowa and Illionois both of which did not boast much except when we passed through historic Galesburg, IL for dinner. We stopped at the Landmark Cafe and Creperie which is known for..... dun dun dunn.... its CREPES! What was surprising about this place, however, was not its crepes (which were very very good), but its polenta. My mom has made some awesome polenta dishes and this restaurant was able to remind me of home. I had a polenta meal with mushrooms all over a creamed spinach sauce with white wine. SUCH a great meal in a surprising place. On March 8 (my mama's birthday!!), we began a mini Michigan tour. Michigan has been great offering a lot of nice people and good food. I won't get into my recent bed bug episode at a Red Roof Inn in Southfield, MI but I will say that it was traumatizing and I definitely washed and inspected every item I brought with me on tour. I am proud to say that I am bed bug free.
But the real city to talk about in Ann Arbor! If you ever get the chance, visit this wonderful town! Ann Arbor hosts the University of Michigan but it is most known for being one of the most liveable cities in the US. This city has been compared to Paris in terms of food- it has some of the best and most restaurants per square mile. We ate at the Jolly Pumpkin- which I would highly recommend. They are known most for their craft beers and their homemade pizzas.
The city is also known for its fairy doors (yes, I said that correctly). Jonathan B. Wright (children's book author) is believed to be the builder of these doors. The doors began popping up in 2005 and seven of the ten original fairy doors still exist in downtown Ann Arbor today. **Look below for a picture of one of the fairy doors outside of the Michigan Theater**
Along with our adventures in Ann Arbor, I picked up my new hobby- geocaching! There is a free app for it on smartphones which I would recommend if you have never gone geocaching before- it's a great intro!
ge-o-cach-ing
noun
1. the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website.
My castmates, Dakota and Kane, decided to embark on this adventure with me yesterday. We found 4 geocaches and it was one of the most exciting things I have ever done (SEE PICTURES BELOW OF ALL THE FUN I HAD).
In the next week, we will be making our way back East, hitting up Toledo, OH and Chicago, IL. Then at the end of the week, my brother is getting married. I am so grateful that I am able to make it back for the wedding (keep your fingers crossed that no one schedules more performances for Friday!!!!) I am thinking positive though and I'm sure I will have a HUGE blog post about the wedding. I already know I am going to be crying like a baby at the wedding and I know someone will get pictures of it specifically for my blog. I'm finally getting the sister I have always wanted! Congrats to Marc and Telaina- I can't wait to see you both and celebrate with you on your special day!
Until next time...
Laura
I promised a couple facts about St. Patrick's Day...
1. St. Patrick's favorite color was actually blue
2. This is the day of St. Patrick's death
3. St. Patrick was not actually Irish- he was Roman Britain but was captured and brought to Ireland as a slave at age 16
4. The St. Patrick's Day parade was invented in the US
5. St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in space twice
Lake Erie
The Michigan Theater put us up on their marquee!!
The fairy door at the Michigan Theater. Coffee cup and wallet shown for size**
Cute bookstore in Ann Arbor! Yes, I can read!
My first geocache was hiding in a tree! AND it had goodies in it. I didn't take anything but I DID add a little bag of throat coat!
You are required to sign a log once you find the cache. Someone was JUST there on March 3! Pretty cool, huh?
Kane, Me, and Dakota celebrating our second find of the day, which was also hiding in a tree.
