So yes, we backtracked a little - instead of continuing on I-80W, we hopped onto I-80E after our visit with Amanda and busted butt up the border of Iowa, across the southern foot of Minnesota, and into Meira's darling little hamlet of Edina, MN. We raided her kitchen to make an excellent seitan and quinoa stir fry (a welcome detour from 8,000,000 ingredient road food we'd been eating) and slept in her unicorn bed, which, I'm not sure if Jared mentioned, she painted herself in middle school (a little insight into the brilliant world of Meira :)).
Our day in Edina and Minneapolis, despite the rain, proved wonderful. Again, our how-can-there-be-anything-to-do-in-the-midwest? attitudes were dashed as Meira took us on a walk around one of the 10,000 lakes to a miniature door in a tree. Your eyes are not playing tricks - there exists in Edina, Minnesota, the home of "Mr. Little Guy," who lives in a tree and answers any question that may be left for him on tiny sparkly paper in a tiny font. Not even kidding.
And the best part is that everyone in town participates. We city kids were stunned that it hadn't been vandalized beyond the point of no return - it's been there for years! While Meira was grumbling good-naturedly that we had forgotten a pen and paper, a lady biked up on a trick bike, dreads to her buttocks, a tattoo spiraling down her leg from beneath her short-shorts, and excitedly bent down, dug through the sparkly mini-letters, and jumped up and down with a 5-year-old's excitement when she found her letter addressed to "Laura Who Gave Me Candy." "I searched all over town," she said, "Until I found mini candy hamburgers. I wanted to offer something he would be able to enjoy." She biked off just as a pouring rain started, grinning hugely.
Despite the pouring rain, we ate incredible ice cream in a famous parlor, car-toured Minneapolis, adventured around the new, stunning Guthrie Theater, which has neon plexiglass windows in alternating colors depending on the floor you're on. We snuck onto the 9th floor only to find a bunch of caterer-looking elderly women in cummerbunds singing classic harmonies in the green neon glow of the windows.
And then we went to what may be the best idea (although possibly also non-pc) for a restaurant ever. Chino Latino's had both ahi tuna and tacos, sushi and fajitas, margaritas and sake. AMAZING. After a brilliant round of food, we sake-bombed, which apparently comes with appropriate ninja headbands at this particular establishment. (Christie's got some awesome pics - look for them when she gets a chance to post.) For the 800th time, we talked to someone who had only wonderful things to say about Portland. He recommended two restaurants, Isabel's and Mother's, which I am documenting here so I don't forget.
All in all, an amazing stop along the way, complete with advice from the well-traveled-with-dog Deb, Meira's awesome mom. My only regret is that we were enjoying ourselves so much that we forgot to take pictures. Simply wonderful.
More later about our mind-blowing trip through South Dakota.
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