the great minnesota get together! part one

I cannot describe to you how wonderful and magical the Minnesota State Fair is. Unless you’ve been you just can’t appreciate the awesomeness to the level to those who have, but today I’m going to try to describe it to you ;) Last Friday my parents and I got to the fair around 9:00 via the brilliant Park & Ride state fair bus system from our church. The first thing you MUST do is have your cheese curds from the food building for breakfast. It’s truly the breakfast of champions, guys. Next, grab your map and coupon book for $5 at an information stand for super wonderful savings at about 50 different businesses. Check out the Creative Activity building for arts and crafts projects from all around the state with traditional blue, red, white and honorable mention ribbons on them. My grandfather is an alumni of the blue ribbon club from about 20 years ago when he would enter cute little wooden animals he would carve in his shop. This year my aunt also joined the club with a collage of Christmas cards from the 1930’s. The blue ribbon prize? A whopping $8! It’s cute little kitschy things like that that make the state fair what it is. Among many food stops (I ate cheese curds, Sweet Martha’s chocolate chip cookies, fried pickles, french fries, a pickle on a stick, walleye on a stick, a Jamaican meat patty, an apple popsicle, a deep fried candy bar and 3 glasses of beer—everyone binges, okay? And this is all you eat that day) we also stopped at the many vendors selling their trades, the miracle of life barn—full of baby cows, pigs, chicks ect., a couple free outdoor concerts/events including Garrison Keillor and Vocal Essence and a couple times down the giant slide and the space needle. I even went to Fan Central at 2PM and visited my old boss at the Minnesota Wild, Chuck Fletcher. Overall, it was a wonderful day! I will for sure make it back every year from Chicago!

World famous Minnesota State Fair cheese curds!

An accidental snap, but oh so funny.

My aunt's blue ribbon collage!

My pride as a Minnesota Golden Gopher Alum will never die! Ski U Mah!

cabin photos i mean to put on a week ago...

My cabin near Laporte, Minnesota is probably my favorite place in the whole world. It's truly one of the things I'll miss most moving to Chicago. Cabin culture is huge in Minnesota because of our 10,000+ lakes; everyone goes to their 2nd home on the weekends during the summer for a quick refreshing getaway and fun with their family and friends. This was my last trip there for the year, and leaving was much more sad that usual. We took the dock out, cleaned and moved things into storage. We took one final trip to Walker and Leech Lake (above) and met some old friends for the last time this year. No matter where I go, this place will feel the most like home to me.

Cabin meals are always two things: 1. Eclectic 2. Served outdoors. This meal included bruschetta, sweet corn and beef roast.

The half-dead willow down by the lake that is a classic photo op that my friends and I took advantage of lots when we were younger.

My fresh salsa made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers and cilantro. Seriously the best thing I make.

The second best thing I make (though my mom made these!): wild rice burgers. 

Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

While Prague is the most famous, historic and populated city in the Czech Republic, I would have to say the most beautiful is Karlovy Vary. It sits on the other side of the country to the west, close to the German border, surrounded by hills and forest. Haven't heard of it? Well, I can almost guarantee you've seen it before, you're just unaware of it. Ever seen Casino Royale or Last Holiday? Well, then you have seen Karlovy Vary! Both movies were shot here, as well as a series of other lesser known films and TV shows. While that's all fine and dandy, the real reason people come to K.V. is because it is a world famous spa town sitting on top of a thin layer of earth covering gigantic hot springs that are thought to provide medicinal healing. It also shows a film festival every year and was one of the favorite haunts of Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was John and my first trip to this beautiful city where unfortunately, we only had a few hours to explore, but we're both thinking about scheduling either a Christmas trip if John has a long enough break, or one in the springtime!

Seem familiar? That's because it is! While currently abandoned, this building's exterior served as both the casino in Montenegro in Casino Royale and a concert hall in Last Holiday.

Once again, this building should seem familiar to those having seen Casino Royale or Last Holiday. The Grandhotel Pupp (pronounced "poop" not "pup") keeps it's name in Last Holiday, but has a name change as the hotel in Casino Royale.

The hot springs of Karlovy Vary (the coolest is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and the tiny $2 cups sold to drink from them. They taste pretty gross, similar to the spring water I've had in Colorado, very iron-y.

A rite of passage to any virgin Absinthe drinkers going to a country where it's legal. You'll have fun. Trust me ;)

If you ever go to Europe, don't be afraid of veal, guys. It may be a politically incorrect meat, but this was probably my best meal of the trip.

Prague, Praha, Prag, Praga part four

The ceiling in one of the many buildings in Prague Castle.

One of the oldest standing buildings in all of Europe. A Roman chapel that dates back to around 700 A.D.

The house of Czech writer Franz Kafka in the Castle District.

On the way to Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic: Kegs and beer are available for sale at gas stations and road side stops.

Drew, a 16 year old from Arizona, shows off the Hannah Montana champagne at the gas station.

 The Czech Republic is very similar in south and western Minnesota in a lot of ways. This picture could very well look like farmland in Alexandria, Minnesota.

 Kinder bars are probably my all time favorite candy. HUGE in Europe, but hard to find back home. I'm always on the look out at candy stores in the states.