We based the Airstream in the suburbs, and made short trips in and around Madison, not only the capital, but a "college town."  There are several good Wright examples here, of course, but much more to see.  One of the best memories would be of the cheese stores out on the highway, and even the cheese in the supermarkets.  Wisconsin residents have high standards for what cheese should look and taste like, so it's no wonder that you can find the best cheese here.

Not only is every kind of regular cheese available, but also gourmet cheeses and related products that you've never heard of.  Like Horseradish and Chive Havarti.  Or Cranberry Cheddar.  Or Morel Mushroom and Leek Jack.  You can have it mailed home so you don't have to worry about it while on vacation.

The meetup was organized by Kim (DCBackpacker) and began with dinner at the Essen Haus in Madison.  Shortly after we arrived, Jeremy (festerwretch) and Jackie (happyjack) joined us.  Carrie (csabo) and two friends joined us.  We had a drink and dinner and free pretzels and began the small talk - who are you, where are you from, where have you traveled, etc.  After dinner, Carrie and her friends left, presumably off to another party, and we moved down to the bar area taking our pretzels with us. 

We ordered a round of drinks and as the waiter brought Jackie her drink, he said it will be $21.50.  That's an expensive blue drink!  As we drank, more stories came out and the pretzels were eaten.  The bar had tons of steins on the ceiling - patrons can store their mugs up there.  I hope they wash them because most were pretty dusty looking.  We decided to move on, so I grabbed a pretzel for the road. 

Next stop was the Great Dane brew pub (recommended by my mom!).  The upstairs was full, so we went downstairs to the Rathskeller.  This was fun and I liked the atmosphere better than upstairs.  The pub makes their own beers and we saw the vats in an unlocked room...  We had a couple of trespassers with us ;) but we eventually ended up in a booth with beers and dessert.  I got a delicious brownie sundae, mmmm....  After one drink, we moved on.

Final stop was the Local Bar.  We found a table and had a drink (of course!).  A bachelorette party or two passed through that night, leaving some souviners that we played with.  We sat next to a cool colored glass window that was missing a pane.  Jeremy decided it was a good place to put our empty glasses - I wonder if anyone found them yet?  After awhile, Kim left us so she could get some sleep to watch the Iron Man the next morning.  And then things got crazy.  More drinking, singing, adult humor, and who knows what else.  We finally got kicked out at bar closing by a screaming bartender. 

And then we got lost.  I wanted to find my bank that I saw earlier in the day to get some cash, but clearly I had absolutely no idea where it was.  Somehow Jeremy remembered where were parked, or rather how to get there and we found our cars.  On the way some crazy drunk photos were taken and then the highlight of the evening after bar close - the foam!  We forgot about the foam party we saw advertised earlier - oh how that would have been fun!  Oh well, we'll just use this foam laying on the sidewalk and bubbling out of the dumpster.  I suppose playing with bubbles that were on the ground and in a dumpster was not the brightest thing I've ever done, but it sure was fun!  And doesn't the soap cancel out the dirt anyway?  After some laughs and goodbyes we left Jeremy and Jackie and went back to our not 5-star hotel.  I didn't see any drunk people there except me.  We collapsed into bed and drifted of into passed out land and a good 4 hours of sleep before we had to get up to get me back to the airport.  (the next morning I found my pretzel and ate it)

We pulled into town and decided to drive around and take in the sights.  First up, try to find the meetup location.  Check.  Next, go to Olin Park (based on my mom's recommendation) for a nice view of the skyline and Lake Monona.   And it was a nice view indeed!  We walked to the "beach" and down to the boat launch and docks.  While there we could hear a loud concert so we decided to investigate.  It was a free concert but we never found out who was performing.  On the way back we passed a crazy high stop sign.  It was maybe 30 feet up the air?  And for what?  No idea.  We passed my mom's old high school and Ella's Deli.  The first hotel we tried was booked so we lowered our standards and got a cheap room at the motel 6.  As they gave us the last double room (on second floor), they implied that second floor is reserved for drunk college students.   Hmmm, this could be fun.  It was a little sketchy but it turns out that we did indeed return drunk (or at least I did) and then the room seemed fine.  On the way back to the meetup location, we "cruised the square", again per recommendation of my mom, around the state capitol.  Apparently that was the cool thing to do in high school - I don't know if it still is.  It was actually harder than it sounds - there are apparently two squares and the inner square is one way only.  But we finally figured it out ;)

We parked for the meetup and walked back to get our pics of the super high stop sign and a few signs of the Essen Haus and other random things before the meetup.  Turns out there is an Iron Man competition in town this weekend.  I thought maybe Madison had almost as many bikers as Amsterdam, but I guess they were there for the race. 

Under construction

After our brief side trip in the Dells, we were back on the road to Mad-town and arrive around 4 PM. From I-94/I-90, we exit onto Highway 151/Washington Ave and decide to drive towards the capitol find the Essen Haus. The road into town is a rather nice wide boulevard with a great view of the state capitol building. Just as I think we’re about to drive on to the capitol lawn and through the front door, Alyssa tells me we have to turn left and the Essen Haus should be just a couple blocks on the right, but as we approach the parking lot we see the weirdest stop sign mounted about 30 feet above the road. We made a point of coming back later to take photos.  Having found the Essen Haus, goal #1 was now accomplished that left the other priority of finding some accommodations.  However, we first decided to check out Olin Park and take some photos of the Madison Skyline across Lake Monona. While at the park, we hear some music from a concert across the street and decide to drive by and see what’s up.  A security guard informs us that Southern Comfort is putting on some kind of free concert and that there was an Ironman triathlon going on in town this weekend.  This and the Badgers football game could make finding a room rather difficult, so we decided to head back through town on the same road and try our luck at finding some accommodations at one of the several hotels we drove by on our way in to town.  Our first choice was a dead-end and it was getting close to the meetup time, so we quickly lowered our standards and got a room on the next try at the “lovely” Motel 6.  Definitely not one of the nicer hotels, but it would serve its purpose of giving us a place to crash for the night.  We quickly dropped our bags off and head back out towards the meetup and even have time to make a stop at Ella’s Deli for a few pictures of this unique Madison establishment and also cruise around the capitol square. 

Before heading into the meetup, alyssa_ob and I walk back to take photos of the stop sign and also a take a few photos of the exterior of the Essen Haus and its surroundings.  Having satisfied our picture taking quota outside, we check into the restaurant for our reservations and find out DCBackpacker (Kim) has already arrived and claimed a nice big table for our meetup dinner.  Introductions are quickly done and we start talking like old friends.  Shortly thereafter,festerwretch  (Jeremy) and HappyJack (Jackie) arrive without Jeremy losing any tires and even wearing a different shirt than in his profile photo.  It was a reunion of sorts with Jeremy, Alyssa and I having met previously at the Twin Cities meetup in August.  Jeremy introduced us to his niece, Jackie, and beverages for our newly arrive TravBuddy’s were quickly summoned so the meetup conversations resumed.  A short while later, csabo (Carrie) and a couple friends showed after having attended the Badgers football game.  The waitress came to take our orders, but we were so busy talking that I wasn’t ready to order.  I hastily decide on the Weiner schnitzel wishing it would come with spaetzle, but I can get that at my sister’s the next time she decides to cook some German food.  Carrie and her friends tell us about their travels and the highlights of the football before leaving.  Unfortunately, the rest of us must have been too busy talking and stuffing our faces to take any pictures with the group at its peak attendance.  Sorry about that Carrie!  After the rest of us finish eating, we adjourn from the dining area to the bar area for another round of drinks before heading out to the next watering hole.  Now, for some reason, the cameras start coming out!  Jackie decides to be trendy and confuses the waiter by ordering some fruity blue drink called Blue Max Tea or something.  Apparently, it wasn’t worth the hassle as she was very willing to share the drink with everybody else, but it was an interesting conversation piece for a bit.  While we’re sitting at this table, we also noticed that there are personalized beer mugs hanging from hooks on the ceiling. An interesting concept, but I just hope they wash them before using them as they look a bit dusty.  After Jackie’s blue drink is finished and everyone else finishes their round, the meetup is on the move.  The next establishment came as a suggestion from Alyssa’s mom was The Great Dane.  At the Great Dane, we head downstairs to the Rathskeller. On our way to bathrooms, Kim and Jackie break into an unlocked vat room where the house beers are brewed and pose for pictures through the glass. Things were getting interesting! After this little adventure, we find a cozy corner booth and order some samplers of the Great Dane’s various micro brews.  My beer of choice was the German Pilsner.  One of the waitresses volunteers to take a photo, so we finally have our group photo. After a couple of deserts were ordered and shared with the group, it was time to move on to the next Mad-town watering hole.  This time there was no plan, so we just walked a couple blocks and found a suitable establishment when Jeremy spots a bar called the Local. Having gone to the Local during the Twin Cities meetup, it seemed like good reasoning to the rest of us, so in we went.  The Local was an interesting bar with several characters among the patrons including a couple bachelorette parties on scavenger hunts.  It seemed like we were here the whole night and before we knew it, Kim had to leave so she could get up in the morning to attend the Ironman.  And then there were four.  At some point, the girls decided to coasters had alternative uses. I’ll let the pictures explain that one.  Jeremy kept us amused by hiding empty glasses behind a broken stained glass window while I made sure to take photos of even a video of the evening interesting events at the Local.  Throughout our time at the Local, we amused ourselves by taking turns sending odd text messages on Jackie’s phone.  Jackie and Alyssa even graced with a sing-along to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhaposdy”.  At closing time, the bartender was yelling at us to leave, but there were several people not leaving so we didn’t want to leave either because that would have meant the meetup was over.  However, after the bartender yelling a couple more times and then finally his girlfriend yelling, we reluctantly leave and debate what to do next.  Alyssa insists for some reason, she needs to find her M&I bank that we drove by earlier, but of course doesn’t remember where its at.  After walking around a bit, we change plans and decide its time to call it night.  Luckily Jeremy kept his bearings and led us back to the Essen Haus where our cars were parked.  As we get back to Essen Haus parking lot, we pass a bar we saw earlier that was having a foam party. Somehow we forgot to come back for this, but Jackie and Alyssa still managed to have some fun with the foam that was being pushed out the door.  Alas, all fun things must come to an end!  Reluctantly, we say our goodbyes and head our separate ways.  Definitely a fun evening in Madison with new and old friends!!!

Ok - I'm on dial-up ... so ... no entry yet

The hostel is one of the best places to stay at in Madison, because it's located just a stone's throw away from the Capitol. It doesn't look like anything special from outside, but lounge area is spacious and the dorms are cozy. All the rooms are spotlessly clean as well, but at least one of the reasons for this is that the customers have to remove their shoes in the hostel. All in all the hostel is tastefully decorated and the atmosphere there is warm and welcoming. The staff is also very friendly and professional. The bad things about the hostel are that it doesn't have 24 hour reception, which is a big disadvantage, because not all the customers are able to arrive to the hostel before 9 pm. Another thing is that there's no wireless connection and the only computer they have there is really slow.

I 90 and I94 merge for a while 

Well its 11.15pm and I´ve just arrived in my hostel in San Jose and I´m sweating. Its muggy as fuck here and my room doesn´t have aircon. Brilliant. I´ve been on the go since 7am this morning and Im in a shitty mood, mostly because of having to wait around all day for various things. My first flight from Madison was delayed by an hour and a half for some unexplained reason so I got to Dallas with very little time to spare. So I ran through the airport to make my connection (just) only to sit on the runway for an hour and a half while they figured out what was wrong with the aircon. I took a sleeping tablet on the plane cause I couldn´t be arsed sitting through a four hour flight with a bunch of school kids giggling and poking eachother behind me but that didn´t do nothing other than make me yawn all the time cause anytime I tried to sleep the hostesses pushed into me as they walked up the aisle. My seat was broken too it wouldn´t stay up straight so I was in the most uncomfortable position for the whole flight. Then it comes in to land and has to have 3 goes at it cause of a low cloud  putting an extra 40 minutes on the flight. Then I get to my hostel and the skankiest bitch prostitute tries to be all sexy and alluring at me and fails miserably. I think all the good karma I´ve enjoyed over the last 2 weeks has finally come back and bitten me on the ass. Lets just hope thats the end of it and I can enjoy myself proper over the next 3 weeks.  

Right thats the end of my rant, last night being my last night in Madison, Sarah made it her mission to ensure I went out on a big one so we got a keg and played a round of kegball. It´s kind of like baseball only you kick a football. And all the players have to have a beer in their hand at all times. The keg sits on 2nd base and you have to chug your beer and refill every time you get to it. Sounds simple enough and it is, but its the punishments for breaking the rules which make it really fun. If you run out of beer by spillage or other means you have to do a 10 second keg stand. It´s better if I just post a pic of me doing one rather than try and explain. Of course I didn´t actually do anything wrong to deserve one other than be on holiday and leaving the next day which is fine by me.

So thats the craic, Im going to see who I can find to play with in this crazy town.

Madison, Wisconsin

My trip to Madison was a short yet memorable visit.  I arrived on a Saturday for the weekend I indulged in the six Farmers Markets throughout Madison.  The variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, dairy and flowers was a delight for the eyes and taste buds.

From there I was off to Olbrich Gardens where I delighted in landscape, floral designs, architecture, and summer concert in the gardens.  I was able to catch the tail end of the Blooming Butterfly exhibit which over-flowed with exotic butterflies and the traveling display of exotic insects in North America.  Experience the joy and delight of strolling through a tropical rain forest while searching for the fleeting butterflies.  The live butterflies are emerging from chrysalises daily in the Bolz Conservatory, which houses live butterflies.  It is a two-story glass pyramid filled with exotic plants from around the world, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids, and free-flying birds and for one month out of each year thousands of colorful butterflies.

The dainty painted lady, the exquisite swallowtail, the tropical zebra butterflies and up to two dozen other species of butterflies native to Wisconsin and tropical areas of the US can be seen feeding on the nectar of bright and fragrant flowers.

Then off to a must see when in Madison Monona Terrace which was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.  The Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened its doors after nearly 60 years of debate in July 18, 1997.  It was first designed by Wisconsin native and internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 as a cultural, governmental and recreational building.  Wright reworked the design several times between 1938 and 1958 before signing off on the final plans seven weeks before his death in 1959.  Madison Monona Terrace is state of the art ad an architectural master-piece.  The building ends on the water with an amazing view.  I stayed long enough to see a remarkable sunset.  Then off to the night life, as a college town things liven up at night and there is plenty to do and see. 

After a late night and a bottle of Advil I was off and running and headed to the University of Wisconsin of Madison for a full campus visit.  The campus offers many attractions starting with a 100-minute guided walking tour.  It is best if you schedule the tour in advance because at times there is a wait.  If you enjoy the path to nature there are many choices for you on and around the campus the top five places include The Arboretum, Allen Centennial Gardens, Botanical Garden, Lakeshore Path (which is a walking, bike, or rollerblade path) and the Greenhouse.

The campus is full of sites for Art and the inspiring artists.  One of the highlighted spots is Chazen Museum of Art which houses a permanent collection of 16,000 works of art dating from 2300B.C to present day.  Then there is the Memorial Carillon a 85-foot tower which houses 56 bronze bells and on Sunday at 3:00pm enjoy free concerts.  There are three other places of interest that I heard amazing things about but did not see which includes Wisconsin Union Theater, University Theater and the Design Gallery.

There are six museums on the campus ranging from Art, Geology, Physics and more.  After a long day of walking, listening and photographing campus life, it is time for a trip to Babcock Hall Dairy Plant and Store.  This building was recently renovated and transformed the 50-year-old Babcock Dairy Store in to a fully designed snack factory with many treats to eat.  This is a perfect place to purchase cheese and their famous ice cream of many enjoyable flavors.  A note for the traveler on Sunday the store is closed, I visited on a Saturday on a home game weekend.

This trip was not planned although it was one amazing outing and the pictures are to come.

Visited Zack's friend Todd and his family over Memorial Day weekend.

I attended a wonderful wedding in Madison (as photographer and friend) and got to spend a few days in Madison with my family. I also hit the target and walgreens several times picking up last minute things, including a cooler for the case of spotted cow beer I bought. A case might be a bit much to take on a road trip, but I hope it will make it down to Texas for my friend Jess in Austin. Also, a case got me two free spotted cow glasses!