On the 28th we went to Cincinnati to hear Bonnie's recital...and she was totally amazing. That night, Aine (Zadie's sweetheart) was throwing a cook-out birthday party for herself with her family and friends. There was an olive and feta theme...mmm. Neil had played a church gig that morning (a Memorial Day service...lots of battle hymn of the republic and armed forces medleys (medlies? lol!), and a random guy telling him all about Lake Okeechobee) so it was a sort of big day.
We stayed overnight at Aine's and then drove to Ann Arbor on Monday to stay with my friend Mara from high school. I haven't seen Mara in a couple years...not since we randomly ran into her in the Detroit airport one fall. She lives in a co-op with 13 other people and they were having a cook-out for Memorial Day. We got to meet some of her friends and watch some formula one racing...a completely new experience...wheeeeee!
After a very restless night's sleep on an uncomfy sofa bed (we ended up putting the mattress on the floor) we drove up to Traverse City. On the way we stopped at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, MI. That was...well...highly entertaining.
Here I am picking Santa's nose.
The first night in Traverse City, we ate at Hanna Bistro, which is housed in a century-old firehouse. We thought it would be cool if they had left the pole up so the waiters could slide down it with the wine. The food was incredible - very very fresh and deeeelicious. Two thumbs up!
Wednesday (5/31) we started the day with a trip to the Music House Museum where we saw some really super-cool mechanical instruments. I totally want a nickelodeon now. One with a xylophone in it. And maybe a violin.
After the museum we drove out to Interlochen, where Neil spent his junior and senior years of high school. It was really fun to see it after so many years of being told about it. What a beautiful place. One of the highlights of our visit, for me at least, was seeing their new library facility (nerd). Who knew a gym could clean up so well! We walked around the campus for several hours and got bitten by a ton of bugs.
Neil on Kresge Stage, Interlochen
Neil gazing at Green Lake, Interlochen
By the time we left, we were super hungry, so we went to eat at Boone's, where Neil remembers going to dinner with parents while at the Academy. Yum...steak.
After dinner, we thought we might try to get over to Sleeping Bear Dunes to see the sunset. It was remaining light until about 9:30 or 10pm, so we thought we could make it. Unfortunately, the dunes were steep and exhausting to climb, so we didn't quite make it to the lake shore, but we did get a nice view nonetheless.
Sunset at Sleeping Bear Dunes
The next day (6/1) we drove up to Mackinac Island...well, we drove to Mackinaw City and took the ferry across to the Island.
Here we are on the Mackinac Island Ferry. It got really windy!
We had lunch at, I think it was called Mary's Bistro...and their patio was right on the lake. In the restroom, I detangled my hair from the ferry ride (what a mess!), and then we walked around the island and enjoyed the beautiful day.
A yellow lady's slipper on Mackinac Island.
Arch Rock, Mackinac Island
We bought a lot of fudge and went back to Traverse City completely exhausted. But this sunset greeted our return.
Sunset over Grand Traverse Bay.
Friday, we drove to Chicago to visit Andrew, Nadeen and Molly. On the way we stopped at Warren Dunes State Park and put our feet in Lake Michigan.
Lake Michgan. Chicago is somewhere out there in the distance.
Ikea beckoned to us on Saturday...so went went...and bought some much-needed furniture. We were there from 11:30am or so until almost 4. Phew! I could have spent even longer. Mmmm...containers, bookshelves, cool lamps....
We had brunch with Andrew, Nadeen and Molly on Sunday (at A Taste of Heaven...yum!) and then we hit the road.
Over the course of the trip, we listened to all but a few hours of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on CD. Woo hoo!
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