Couchsurfing in Columbia, Mo!

An essential part of vagabonding is traveling inexpensively and learning and growing from the locals. As someone who's idea of roughing it is a Best Western in need of remodeling, my wariness of a new, inexpensive way to travel courtesy of the information age was considerable. Yet, young people have been adopting this new way of traveling in droves, saving all kinds of money, and having a fantastic time with the people they met.

What is this new way? Couchsurfing! There is a user-friendly website where people all over the world create a profile offering their spare guest bedroom or the couch for travelers who may be passing through. While there are other home stay organizations, such as Servas or Hospitality Club, I appreciate the speed with which you can get started with this website. I decided I was going to take the plunge and give it a try.

My first hosts - Walt and Mary Jean-Gerard,
they gave me confidence in the whole process
because we had so much fun!

The Couchsurfing Mission:

"CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding.

As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing isn't about the furniture-it's not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it's about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans,continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!"

Could you get a room like this in a hotel?
I think not.
Mary and Walt's house celebrates 50's funk
and it's so much fun to see.

Mary and Walt made my stay in Columbia so much more interesting because they knew so much about the local area and they have incredibly interesting lives to share.

I loved hearing about Mary and Walt's six children who are scattered over the globe doing interesting things - one son is the chef de cuisine at Tru, Chicago's top, top restaurant, another is a jazz musician in Chicago and has played the Green Mill (one of the famous historic jazz houses), another is an independent filmmaker in Edinburgh, Scotland. I share this because I think it's easy to be scared to try couchsurfing. I found it completely enriching and I'm just getting started!

Here's the story about how the service began from the Couchsurfing FAQs:

"Well, the idea solidified when founder, Casey Fenton, got a cheap ticket to Iceland for a long weekend one April. With his ticket in hand, there was one problem: he had no place to stay and no desire to rot in a hotel all weekend and play Mr. Tourist. So, he came up with the 'brilliant' idea of spamming over 1500 Icelandic students in Reykjavik and asking them if he could crash on one of their couches. After exchanging emails with many of the students, he had several groups of friends offer to show him 'their' Reykjavik. So, after spending an amazing, crazy weekend just south of the Arctic Circle, Casey decided he would never again get trapped in a hotel and tourist marathon while traveling. From that point onward, it was all about crashing on exotic couches and cultural exchange. And, thus, the CouchSurfing Project was born."

I've now stayed in four different homes through Couchsurfing, and hotels seem kind of impersonal and boring after staying with the people I've met so far.

Isn't it exciting what the Internet has made possible? There was a huge meetup of 200 couchsurfers in Prague this month. I'm so sorry I've missed it! Was it fun? What's been your experience with Couchsurfing? Link to the website via the title.

The Ants Go Marching In

After some time in Wisconsin, it was back down to Illinois. I had a very pretty day in the Chicago suburbs, with my friend from Cottey College, Major Jennie Olsen, USAF, retired. Yes! I have a retired college friend. How can that be? Where did the time go?

We had a great time exploring Morton Arboretum, a beautiful 1,700 acre park created by the man who owned Morton Salt company.



Jenny is now studying to be a massage therapist. Guess who got to volunteer to serve as guinea pig? Hey Cottey girls, Jennie is doing great and says hello!

"The Onion" can almost make me laugh until I cry

I want to make one last post about Wisconsin culture as I continue my slow tour of the American Midwest before moving to Prague.

As regular readers of the blog have already surmised, I love politics and all things political -- especially political humor. If the news gets too hard to take, leave it to our comedians to help us find the humor in our very human national predicaments. Paraphrasing American humorist Mark Twain, "Nothing can stand up to ridicule."

Every time I go to Wisconsin, I make a point of picking up The Onion, which facetiously calls itself “The Finest News Source Available.” It’s at least one of the funniest American fake news source available, along with John Stewart’s Daily Show, and Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect.

The Onion was founded in Madison, Wisconsin by a couple of college students and has free distribution throughout the city. It somehow must have a national presence though, because The Onion book products are sold nationwide and I’ve heard national pundits refer to the newspaper.

When The Onion misses on humor, it misses badly. Something that was meant to be funny turns out to be merely vulgar. But for the most part, this newspaper gives me the giggles.

Check out a sampling of the most emailed stories from this week that skewer American culture by clicking on this link. Some of this week's article titles:

"Wealthy teen nearly experiences consequences"

"Palin brushing up on foreign policy at Epcot"

"Bush goes Blonde for Remainder of Presidency"

"Report: 60 Million People You'd Never Talk To Voting for the Other Guy"

"John Kerry Actually Pretty Good at Windsurfing Now"

A Magnificent Milwaukee Morning

On a drop-dead gorgeous day it was impossible to go inside
my favorite building in America, the Milwaukee Art Museum.
The weather compelled me to enjoy it from the outside.
This is the original wing of the Museum,
designed by Finnish-American Eero Saarinen in 1957.
Looks completely of the moment to me.

Here's the part of the Museum that I adore,
the Quadracci Pavillion,
by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
Genius!

A view of the lower level cafe which is a perfect place for watching the promenade of people enjoying the lakefront.
At high noon, the bird begins to open her wings.

Fantastic, yes?
Below is another newly developed museum
for children, Discovery World.

The Milwaukee lakefront is perfect for boaters, kayakers, sailors,

kite-flyers, rollerbladers, bicyclists, paddleboaters, strollers,
and tourists just enjoying the day.

It is a terrific city for pedestrians -
always something to see

This is the newest addition to the city: Bronzie Fonzie.
Fonz, was a central character on the sitcom "Happy Days,"

which was set in Milwaukee.

The statue went up along the Milwaukee riverfront in August 2008
and the city had a parade for all the cast members.
The only one who couldn't come was "Ritchie Cunningham"
who was off directing a movie (in real life).
The city wants you to send them your pic with the Fonz!
Clink on the link to see some fun examples.

Behind this hidden, non-descript entrance
in a Milwaukee downtown alley
is a top-secret bar and restaurant that is sure to make you smile

at it's silly creativity and playfulness.

You have to know the password to get in -
after all, only top spies get the highest clearance.
I'd tell you more,
but I've programmed this picture to disappear in five seconds....

you'll have to ask a Milwaukee native to take you...

And today the New York Times published an article
"36 Hours in Milwaukee."
Click on the link to reach it.

A Visit to Hog Heaven

What else would be parked in the parking lot?

I am not a biker.

I have to admit though, when the 100th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson company happened a few years ago, I couldn't help but notice the sheer quantity of people who l-o-v-e-d their bike and the company that made it so much, they came from all over to ride into Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the festivities. Many of these people passed through Illinois on the way there and you could tell they were having a blast.

Were I to buy something motorized and on two wheels, I'm more of a Vespa or Honda Metropolitan kind of gal. Yet the rabid, passionate brand identification of Harley riders made me want to know more about the Harley mystique. There is nothing I love more than exploring yet another one of America's many subcultures.

I had total respect for the success that this company has achieved marketing iconic machines made in America (could you see the manufacture of Harleys outsourced to China? I couldn't. The mystique would not be the same).

The new museum opened in July 2008

I must not be the only one who's interested. This summer the company opened a very cool, very hip museum celebrating all things Harley. And like someone who never wants to give up the memories of the love of their life, this company and the people in it, saved every memento from the very beginning. The long view of a relationship this community of bike lovers has with their beloved product is amazingly rare.

Until I came to see this, I didn't realize that Harleys are a global phenomenon. Ninety percent of the visitors in the museum the day I was there were from Europe or Asia. When I saw the look of appreciation on their faces at the distinctive sound of a Harley starting up, it moved me. People from all over care about this distinctly American cultural institution! Who knew? Is this how you feel when tourists come see your sights in your area? What cultural institution where you live is similarly appreciated?

It makes me happy that people love this because it represents the best of America: freedom and the power of the individual.

In keeping with the industrial feel of Harleys,
the benches outside the museum are I-beams.

Harley admission staff welcome people
from all over the globe

Admission is $16 for adults and an audio tour is available for $5. I highly recommend adding the audio tour because sound is such an important part of the experience and there's lots of commentary from people who've been involved from the beginning.

The very first Harley from 1903

I would think a reintroduction of vintage Harleys
could steal market share from scooters.
I could ride this.

Bikers debating the relative merits
of individual bikes in the
world's largest collection of Harleys

A mother and twenty-something daughter rode this bike and sidecar across country in the early part of the century. When the bike sprang a flat tire, the daughter walked into town from the desert to get a new innertube; her mom needed to survive for two days without food and water armed with a pistol she didn't know how to use. They made it without regrets!

Way cool vintage motorcycle toys

The mom in me thinks there couldn't be a museum better
than this one for showing a teen
the fun of a career in industrial design.
This display lets you listen to the sounds
of Harley engines through the ages.

"Form follow function -
but both report to emotion."
~Harley-Davidson Chief Styling Officer

Remember the movie "Easy Rider"
with Jack Nickleson and Peter Fonda?
Here are reproductions of the bikes.
One of the most fun and campy spots of the museum
is a collection of motorcycle movie clips.

Harley staffer Gary can answer your questions
in one of the motorcycle galleries

Customizing your Harley
is a big part of making a bike your own
This guy obviously did not worry about being over-the-top

Neither did this guy

Harley-Davidson has created the finest example
of corporate archiving I have ever seen.
They have everything: early sales brochures,
board minutes,
individual motorcycles,
and motorcycles of celebrities like Elvis.
On Fridays the museum offers a "back roads tour"
of the archives.

Here an archivist carefully unpacks
numerous items of Harley clothing

I was ready to test drive a bike after that tour!
Bravo to the vision of men and women in Milwaukee
who created a great product and a storied company

The Aspens are Quaking!

I've arrived in Colorado where my mom and sister live. My timing couldn't be better. The aspens are at their peak - it's as if someone poured liquid gold on the mountains and let it follow the path of least resistance this way and that creating stunning beauty amongst already stunning landscape.

Before leaving the American Midwest I took a trip through Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska to see some of the people and places I had a hankering to see. It was fantastic! One of the things that happens with an empty nest is that I'm able to devote more time to my friendships and letting people know they matter to me. Plus, I saw a lot of neat stuff. Over the next few days, I'll highlight some of the sights that I enjoyed. Meanwhile, I'm off for a picnic lunch in the Rocky Mountains!

Casting My Vote

I moved out of my home in Illinois before absentee ballots for the presidential election were scheduled to be mailed out. I called to see if my ballot could be forwarded, or sent to a P.O. Box, or all kinds of different scenarios. None of them were allowed.

If I moved to Prague immediately, I would have two residences in the first 40 days (student housing and then my own apartment), which probably complicates my voting. I was not willing to risk not being able to vote.

So I'm slowly making my way to Colorado where my family lives. I want to spend some serious face time with my Mom and my sister before going overseas and it turns out if I live in Colorado for thirty days, I can cast my vote there. My vote will actually matter more in Colorado because it's a swing state. I don't care about that as much as just getting to add my two cents. People gave their lives so I could do that!