Travelling around the Midwest

During the last couple of months we have done different trips around the Midwest. The Indiana University has organized various visits, mostly school visits, for the whole group and at the same time we have had the chance to see different places in the states of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Here are just some examples of the places we've got to see over the past few weeks.

Indianapolis is the beautiful capital of Indiana and also the biggest city closest to Bloomington. So far I have had the chance to visit a couple of schools close to the city. As a group we also learned about the history of the American Indians by visiting the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. Even though there are not many native Americans living in this state anymore, the name Indiana still refers to the "Land of Indians".

After visiting a couple of schools in Columbus, Indiana, we also stopped by a lovely old cafe, Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor, which is also a museum at the same time. Such a pretty place!

A couple of weeks ago Indiana University organized a visit for us to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, a museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, which presents the cruel reality of slavery in the past. The so called Underground Railroad was a network of secret safe houses used by enslaved people trying to escape to freedom by crossing the Ohio River.

A couple of weeks ago we also got the chance to visit a school and spend a few days in one of my favorite U.S. cities, the biggest city here in the Midwest, Chicago! I had visited Chicago some years ago and I was excited to go there again. This time it was literally the Windy City, since the weather is now slowly getting colder, but it was still as gorgeous as ever. We went on an Architecture River Tour, visited the America's tallest building, Willis Tower (or Sears Tower as it used to be called), and many more. One of the things I like about Chicago is its amazing location. Lake Michigan never ceases to amaze me, it's like a sea!

 

A few friends of mine and I also visited the Amish country in Montgomery, Indiana, some time ago. It was an interesting experience, like going back in time. We had the chance to have a dinner at an Amish restaurant and also visit their auction where they were selling goats, old items, etc. Attending the auction seemed to be a common pastime for their whole families on a Friday night. 

While driving to visit all these different cities and places, it’s been wonderful to also see more of the countryside, places I would not necessarily have seen as a regular tourist.