Tom`s travels: Midwest Trip (13-17/10/2017)

During our research track semester in Indianapolis, we had the opportunity to take a trip around the Midwest of the United States to gather data for our research paper. The five of us participating, had to pick one European immigrant group and research on it. So we picked the Czechs in Cedar Rapids, Swedes in Minneapolis, Poles in Milwaukee and then Dutch in Holland, MI and Italians in Chicago in another trip. So after arranging the date we rented a car, booked the accommodations and set off on an adventure. We drove for nearly six hours stopping here and there to stretch our legs and for bathroom breaks and finally reached the first destination: the Amana Colonies. This group of seven villages was originally built and settled by German Pietists who were persecuted in their home country. So after parking the car, we decided to stroll around the town for a while admiring wooden houses filled with Halloween decorations. We were starting to get hungry so we decided to stop at a place called PHAT Daddy's Restaurant where we all had a filling meal. Back in the car we then headed further to our next destination: Lake Macbride. We got off and continued on foot walking along the shoreline and admiring the start of the fall foliage. We were also able to spot a large flock of pelicans enjoying a swim on the lake. From the lake, we then drove off to the final destination of the day: the town of Cedar Rapids. This was the first stop of the research trip as a large community of Czech people inhabited this town. We first checked into our hotel and the northern end of the city and then drove back into the city center to see a little around the place. We first headed to an area called New Bohemia but found out it had just little to do with the Czechs as it was just called so to attract visitors. Our real destination, Czech village, was in fact right across the river and we immediately headed there. We first passed by the National Czech and Slovak Museum, which was already closed at this hour but we would visit it the next morning. Nearby we walked the streets and admired the many shops, restaurants, and breweries reminiscent of the Czech ones in Europe. For dinner though we opted for Lucky's on 16th which served with a classic American burger. After dinner, we then went back to the hotel to relax a little and go to sleep. As the place had a hot tub too, Ania and I took the chance to sit there a while and relax a while before heading to sleep. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast we checked out and headed to the Museum where we had an interview with the Library Curator, that provided us with all the info on the Czech community and offered us a free tour of the Museum collections. As the name suggests the museum covered both the Slovak and Czech communities living in the city mostly because of the time the two countries were united into one. After the interesting and informative visit, we got back in the car and drove about four and a half hours, finding a bit of traffic on the way inside the city. After finally arriving at our quite shabby motel for the next two nights we left our luggage and Sandy, my brother's host mom from his year in the U.S. had come from St Peter to have dinner with Ania and I and catch up. We went to a restaurant nearby as it was already quite late and had a great dinner talking about our lives up to that point and so forth. Then we thanked Sandy waved goodbye and finally went to bed. The next morning after waking up we had breakfast at a nearby restaurant and then headed into town to visit the American Swedish Institute where we had an appointment to be toured around and gather info for the paper. After seeing the museum we then had some free time and decided to head to the nearby Minneapolis Institute of Art to see its huge and famous collection. After seeing the entire exhibits we headed out to a nearby cafe where we hung out for a bit while some of us started putting their notes into writing for the research. For dinner, we then crossed the street and had Pho soup at a Vietnamese place. After our last night in Minneapolis the next day we woke up, had breakfast on the go, and drove south-east along the Mississippi River. We took the scenic route and it was well worth it as we encountered several spots where we had an incredible view over the river. We stopped in a small town called Alma where we had lunch at one of the only places which were open. We were then told by locals to just drive up the hill overlooking the town as we would have a great surprise. We followed such suggestion and reached Buena Vista Park which in fact provided us with an amazing panorama of the Mississippi. After admiring the view and taking several pictures we went back in the car and drove onwards. We reached Wisconsin Dells a few hours later and after parking the car, headed down a trail through a forest leading us to the shores of the Wisconsin River. This beautiful gorge-like area is called the Wisconsin Dells because of the bends that the river has formed. It was around sunset so the surrounding forest and river took on a golden light which made the place look even nicer. We drove further and reached the city of Madison. We visited the center a little walking from the imposing State Capitol, which resembled a lot the one in Washington, all the way to the university campus. As we got hungry we then stopped for dinner at a Nepalese restaurant we happened by. Finally, we then headed on to our last location of the day where we had rented an apartment: Milwaukee. The morning after we headed into town to see around before heading on. We passed by the main sights in downtown including the skyscrapers along the Milwaukee River and the promenade along Lake Michigan with the famous building of the Milwaukee Art Museum built by Calatrava. Then we were off driving around the city to explore the sites which marked the Polish presence in the area. We visited the churches of St Stanislaus and that of St Josaphat. We stopped by a shop called A & J which had all kinds of polish foods and the owner himself told us a bit of the history of the area and of the current polish inhabitants remaining. A bit further out we then visited the Polish Center of Wisconsin where some kind ladies showed us around and gave us all the info necessary for our paper. That was the last stop of our long yet exciting travel and after another five hours drive, we finally reached our homes in Indianapolis.