Out and About in Des Moines
I mean no disrespect to my hosts in Des Moines when I say that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of life in central Iowa. Frankly, I had pictured a sleepy, somewhat backwards little burg rising out of the cornfields. And yes, that description does fit Des Moines to some degree. But Iowa's capitol city has a lot to offer for visitors who bother to look.
I found excellent chai latte in Des Moines. I went to a nifty little art museum. I jogged and strolled through a pretty, riverfront park. And I drank German beer in the Iowa Polka Music Hall of Fame. Sure it wasn't as cosmopolitan as New York or as naturally beautiful as San Francisco. But it was pleasant and clean and friendly, and a damned nice place to visit. Oops, make that darned nice. This is Des Moines, after all.
Want to check out what Des Moines has to offer? Peruse the Des Moines photo gallery.
Maloney Madness
Of course, the best thing about spending the holidays in Des Moines was the hospitality of my hosts. They welcomed me into their home and made me feel like part of the family. I ate too much, laughed a lot, and had a blast watching the kids enjoy Christmas.
Maureen had warned me about her reputation for getting a bit obsessive/compulsive this time of year, but "Holiday Maureen" only made a few, brief appearances. Otherwise it was a peaceful and relaxing holiday. See for yourself in the Friends & Family photo gallery.
Now Playing
Eventually I'll get around to reviewing the three movies (hey, despite my assertions above, there's not that much else to do in Des Moines!) I saw over the holidays: Munich, Syriana, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
For now, check out the photo gallery of the drive from Des Moines to Minneapolis.