Glad to hear you got there safe and sound ....and Matt proud of you for saying how it is....good or bad experience let it be told we love to hear ..I read the other day its not the destination its the journey ..love to Marg.
Sorry I've taken so long to write but I just needed some time out to recover from the fact you asked Marg before I did!!! I guess I should say congrats tho he he he - Hurry back so we celebrate with you! Got a photo to send you from our girls lunch on Sunday. I'll e-mail it to you next week xox
Winnipeg Glad to hear you liked Winnipeg. We'll have you back anyday!
Folks around here are very relaxed (as you probably noticed) and appreciate visitors in the low season.
Enjoy your travels.
Please let me know... Matt, I stayed in a really trashy youth hostel in Athens, Greece. Cockroaches outnumbered guests by the hundreds. After reading your posts, I hope you will share with me the name and address of the youth hostel that you visited. I will check into it and find out if they are violating any ordinances. By your photo, it looked like a comfortable youth hostel, but that neighborhood is very mixed in terms of the people that it attracts. Best wishes in your travels. I hope I wasn't too intense. Minneapolis has a lot to offer for people who have time to really spend time getting to know it. Best wishes, Barry
WOHOOOOO!!! It's getting like days of our lives on here!!! Go Matty!!! Trash every US town you go to and we'll start up a schweepstakes here on whether you'll make it back alive!!!
RE:Matt Missed Out That's completely fair enough. I DIDN'T get to experience Minneapolis properly, but the experience I did have (during the only 24hrs I could spent) I wrote about. Without getting completely personal and shooting the owners of the hostel in the foot (or naming names), I had a very negative experience. NOT IN Minneapolis or with the people themselves, but with various guests / owners. The 2 people I spoke to from Minneapolis suggested that I "move on cause there is nothing to do here". Obviously that's untrue but I had to move on anyway.. and I did.
I wish I could have truly 'experienced' Minneapolis.. also Winnipeg, Madison and Calgary. But I have commitments and have already spent 2months 'experiencing' other cities. I don't like traveling across country in 10 days, but I needed to do it and I'm thankful I took that long.. most people suggested I just drive 12hrs a day, rest and do it again.
Matt Missed Out I live in the 60's style apartment complex profiled by Matt. That peice of real estate sits at the nexus of seven metro transit routes leading to Mall of America, the largest mall in the United States. The stop at MSP International Airport is down while construction on a new parking ramp is underway.
Near that 60's style building (four blocks walking distance), is University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management (CSOM), named for Curt Carlson, founder of Radisson Hotels and TGIFriday's. My cousin was one of Curt's directors, designing both Curt's Fiftieth Year Jubilee and his memorial service.
Near CSOM is the Hubert H. Humphrey Scool of Public Affairs, named for U.S. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, who was also, among other things, a Minneapolis Mayor. My dad went to law school with Humphrey's son, Skip (a former state attorney general).
Across Washington Avenue from the HHH Institute is Walter F. Mondale Hall. Mondale, known as Fritz to his friends -- one of the being Curt Carlson -- was a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Vice President, and a much lauded U.S. Ambassador to Japan. I went to summer camp with his kids, and he and his wife Joan live down the block from my childhood home in the upscale Lowry Hill neighborhood -- not far from the youth hostel that Matt profiled.
Mr. Mondale is also a friend of one of my older friends, Dr. John B. Davis, Jr., President Emeritus of Macalester College (Saint Paul, MN). John was also chairman of our district's central bank, the Ninth District Federal Reserve Bank. He reported to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank.
I think Matt is making too much about his world travel. Anyone can stay in a city for a few days. A *real* traveler gets to know the cities they visit, and they make an effort to be objective and informed about the cities through which they travel.
Minneapolis is home to The Guthrie Theater, The Walker Art Center, and a theater and sports district in downtown Minneapolis that draws people from around the midwest, and others visiting here from around the world. University of Minnesota and Macalester College draw students from all over the world. Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan (like myself and Vice President Mondale) attended Macalester College. Kofi and one of my other friends were great friends in their younger days, and they continue with some degree of activity in the Ghanaian-American Society.
Minneapolis is bespeckled with glassy highrise buildings, and those made of cut stone from throughout the world, that serve as a regional hub for major financial institutions, international corporations and law firms. Moreover, the city and its neighborhoods have a great history of rejuvenating the look and vitality of the area, bringing great beauty and a greater sense of hope and peace to members of all economic backgrounds.
If Matt returns to Minneapolis, he can look into Minneapolis cycling clubs. My parents are active leaders in one, planning trips around the hundreds of miles of urban bike and jogging trails in a city also known for its many lakes, and around the State of Minnesota. Our park system in Minneapolis is grand and award winning, and our natural preserves, and state and national forests are treasures that have been visited by princes and statesmen and women from throughout the world.
Dogging my city was crude. I've travelled throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. I made an effort to get to know the histories of the cities through which I travelled -- big, small, sophisticated and poor.
Leaders from Minneapolis, and elsewhere in Minnesota, make great efforts to reach out to the rest of the world in an effort to energize business, cultural and academic affairs, and personal friendships.
Travel as you may, Matt, you're missing the point of exploration if you criticize without sharing positive information. Next time, try the Hilton. Their Mother's Day banquette is usually very enjoyable.
Matt
Sounds like you've been having a prairie doggin' time of it lately. But that’s what makes it an adventurer I suppose. I’m so upset about the severe lack of photos with your shirt off. You teased us at the start of the blogs but now the shirtless Matt pics have all dried up. Don’t let the -35 temps stop you. Your public demands it. Just don’t lock your keys in the car in the process. You might get a bit chilly.
What goes on after I leave!!?? What the?? all these bad things happen after I leave - its a sign - you should come home... NOW!! I need good news, not news about you breaking down on the side of a highway - no wonder i'm not sleeping at night!! Love you to bits babe.. keep the awesome blogs coming - they help pass the loooooong work days! LUG
Brrrrrrr That sounds like NO FUN. No fun at all. I hope Chicago is kind to you and you make it to that final destination problem-free, friend! Take care~ Lee-Anne
awesome Hi Matt
you may not remember me but a friend of Kirsty's - your sister inlaw to be.. hee hee
Just want to congratulate you on your engagment - was sooo excited to hear about it all from Kirsty.
Awesome to read your blogs also - glad you are enjoying, keep enjoying.
:)
Cheers
Lauren
Change the title of your blog I was all geared up to hear stories about you having your skinny little white butt hanging out a window in a desperate need to do number twos, but still trying to hang on til you found a dunny. That my friend is what you call prarie doggin', have you learnt nothing on your travels. Apart from the fact that "Ultra bogan" is a word no longer used except by bogans themselves!!!! See now after all that abuse, you'll be glad your over there and not here with me!!!! Don't forget to visit my Uncle Denny while in Toronto. He promised me he'd take you to a good kiwi pub. Who knows you might even get free room and board! HA HA
Hey Matt, how are you? Good to hear you're havin a great time. I've arrived in Oz! Spent Christmas and New Year in Sydney - amazin, partied in Surfers and Brisbane and now live in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast - its beautiful! Love it! I don't have ur e.mail!
Nicky x
We all concur! After an indepth Conference with KT, I am not longer known as the Morbid one! HA HA...Good to see Marg got back in one piece. Don't forget contact my uncle if you get too lonely. he's see you right for a feed and let you cry on his shoulder....
What a great surprise..but I knew...mothers know theses things..If I had to pick a daughter in law Marg would be the one..so you did well..can I bring out the little boys pics now.....it really looks like you both had a great time..and the Ring is just beautiful. Can't wait to see it in person. take care .love you both.
HUH WHAT?! How did I miss this entry?!! I saw "fiance" on the last one and was like...HUH? ANYWAY! Major congrats to both of you. I have tons of LA and San Diego pics on my myspace...haha. I enjoyed both...especially the weather!
I resign from my title as Morbid Mary I hearby Christen you "Mobid Matt!" MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Suffering Lizards, it's enough to bring a tear to the eye!! Thanks for coming and goodbye!!! (reaches for the tissues). My philosophy is it's never goodbye, it's "See you later"...you can choose whether to add the gator to the end of it. Anyway I'm sure all your devoted blogsters want to hear how many buckets you cried. You're just a S.N.A.G aren't ya!? Take care...
Good times & miss you like crazy Wow, that was so surreal reading that about myself! The best 3 weeks of my life. It brought tears to my eyes reading that. Awesome blog, if only it ended with you coming home with me babe... All in time - I know. I LOVE YOU!!
Roswell No Kt, I haven't heard from Mitch lately. Maybe he's at the Raelian conference, being probed by aliens it's in Byron Bay his home town. Can't think of any other reason why he would not wish me Happy Birthday! Matty was always his favourite...Matt have you heard from Textbook Teddy?
Big Questions in life Me and the carpet walker (Timbo's affectionate term for KT remember?have been discussing how much the asteroid cost you....What happened to Mr Tight Wad "I'm not paying that much to go for a cruise on Auckland Harbour"! MUAHAHAHAHAHA??????????? I thought you subscribed to the Radio 2DU philosophy, "If it's free it's for me if I have to pay I'll walk away!"...That or it has to be on contra. oooh Maybe you could do the wedding on Contra through Zoo FM!!!
WOHOOO!!! What can I say!? If you look back a few blogs ago...I Said propose!! So Marg don't let Matt take the credit for my idea!! HA HA!! WOHOOO Me and Marg are now ring twins! Like you and Marg, I am still enjoying just being engaged but from one engaged person to another, you will get sick to death of hearing "Whens the big day?" LOVE the asteroid! It's on parr with mine! Well done son! By the way Happy Birthday Matty!!! I didn't forget just haven't been able to get on the internet over xmas as my computer sucks!! I managed to connect via my new mobile, but chomped through $20 credit in a matter of minutes! Back to work today! Sucks to be me! Will send you an email on all my comings and goings as much as your blog readers would be entertained by my family dramas....I think probably best not to submit them to it, least they feel like their lives are too boring!!! Anyway better go and so some stupid stupid work!!!! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Congratulations and "Whens the big day!?" Man I am so funny I crack myself up!
hAPPY nEW yEAR Congratulations Matt and Marg on your engagement, best wished from Dad Dawn Chris and Gary!!!!. We are in the mountains, finally had some decent rain to start the year with. Going to read your blog when I get home (Chris printed it off) Hope 2007 is good for both of you. Lots of love from Dad and co.
mum
non-member comment
Glad to hear you got there safe and sound ....and Matt proud of you for saying how it is....good or bad experience let it be told we love to hear ..I read the other day its not the destination its the journey ..love to Marg.