So, I can write that and actually mean it! Who'd 'a' thought it... There was 2-3 inches of snow last night, which meant 'the guys' went on a beer crawl in a wee bit of a blizzard. Spent last evening quaffing different 'craft' beers in a couple of bars with Marty and two of his friends, Tom and David. As the empties stacked up, an argument broke out over what kind of art should be made accessible to all in the city. When was the last time I sat in my local and had that kind of discussion!
Today was spent with Bonnie doing a spot of shopping and then visiting the new Guthrie Theatre building, a beautiful example of modern architecture located in the until recently derelict area of the city close to the river. Combined with the fascinating Mill City Museum ("the most explosive museum in the world!"), this has rejuvenated an area that for so long has been abandoned buildings and vast parking lots. Minneapolis was the centre of grain-milling in the USA, but times changed during the mid-60s, and by 2003 all milling had ceased. The museum is located in what was the largest flour mill in the world and overlooks the Mississippi and the old Pilsbury Mill on the other side. Quite fascinating to visit and see how the mill operated, and a very affectionate film 'Minneapolis in 19 minutes' was a very funny race through the beginnings of the city, through its history to date. Then on to the Walker Art Gallery, where the various modern/contemporary art exhibitions left me a bit bemused. Sometimes fascinating, such exhibitions can also often be random and theme less. Didn't do anything for me this time! A quick trip to the post office to mail my winter coat and boots home (ridiculously expensive), and back for 'Walleye Thai', Marty's delicious Thai fish dinner. Am now all packed and ready for the off early tomorrow.
California - currently 26 degrees in Santa Barbara, it will be a huge shift from the frozen Twin Cities. However, I'll be really sad to say goodbye to this wonderful city, steeped in history and full of vibrancy, and especially to Bonnie, Marty, Carter and Caroline. I have laughed my way through four lovely days, eaten wonderful food, walked for miles in the icy-cold, marvelled at the architecture, cuddled an Irish Terrier in the snow, drank a small lake of coffee and generally had a glorious mini-vacation with such good friends. I think a return visit for a longer stay may be required in the not-to-distant future.
So it's t-shirts at the ready and a 5 hour flight west tomorrow, to visit my friend Tracey who I've known even longer than Bonnie - 30 years! Now where did I put my sunglasses...
PS Had my first and hopefully last taste of the American Health Care System yesterday. My surgery scar wasn't right, so I went to 'Urgent Care' to have it checked out. Good grief, so many tiers of nursing to wade past, with questions, questions... one nurse actually corrected my pronunciation of the word 'vitamin', while the doctor talked to me like I was about 8 years old ("are we going to put the gown on?"), and again corrected my pronunciation, so I made it quite clear that seeing as I am pushing fifty, and in fact spoke english like a native, she really could talk to me like I was an adult! One surgical consultation later and I was none the wiser, ascertaining only that the wound "may open up" and to put a compress on it if it did. Said surgeon then tried to depart but I put on my best 'scary' voice, stopped him in his tracks and interrogated him until I got some semblance of explanation. I fear neither doctor nor surgeon considered me their favourite patient of the day!
And the whole episode cost $300. Maybe we should all stop moaning about the NHS after all!
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