Trip to Wisconsin - Living in a Motel…Argh
There aren’t many reasons that come to mind when I try to think of why I would ever want to visit Wisconsin, but for the past few days I’ve spent my time in one of the most interesting small “cities” of the US, Madison, Wisconsin. My sister graduated this weekend from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, so I flew out to Wisconsin with my brother, mom and grandparents to watch my sister graduate, and compared to my first trip to Madison during my Senior year “Reading Days” break in the fall of 2006, this trip has been completely opposite, which is somewhat unfortunate in some ways because I really loved my first trip out here.
Of course I’ve loved seeing my family and being with my grandparents who I don’t get to see that often since they live in Florida, but as I write this post, I’m stuck in a miserable motel - The Comfort Inn - which is practically everything but enjoyable. It sort of reminds me of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in some ways.
Every room is identical and provides all the same amenities for each guest. A bed, a television, some random furniture, a fridge, microwave, lamp, bathroom with shower, bath and toilet a few lamps and someone stops by to clean the room when we’re away. I find it somewhat despicable because I feel caught in an air-conditioned box. The room isn’t even that bad compared to where the motel is located.
You can’t even go outside for a run in parks, or see a park or woods or anything for miles around. We’re not located in downtown Madison, we’re nowhere near the students, we’re nowhere near anybody or anything except for fast food restaurants that are located across the double-sided highway that is inaccessible to a pedestrian. The only way to get around anywhere in this area of Madison you need a car. It’s the ONLY way to get around and it’s miserable. One can’t even go on a walk without being on a highway or surrounded by a million fast-food joints and a million cars.
On the contrary, downtown Madison is a cool city. State Street - the main commercial street in downtown - has been totally destroyed and looks as if Madison was a military battlefield, roads have been overturned, large tractors are randomly placed throughout downtown, red fences prevent people from walking freely from one store to the next or crossing the street, but I’ve been to Madison when there wasn’t all this construction, and State Street is actually a fun strip if you’re into shopping.
To counter this miserable motel feeling I have, I was charmed by a farmer’s market on Saturday morning when I walked around Capitol Square where local farmers had stands with home-grown foods and drinks. Cheese was the main attraction for most of the stalls, but I was fortunate enough to taste Ostrich jerky, some wine, and well, a ton of cheese and cheese spreads. I thought the “squeaky cheese” curds were the most interesting attraction because the curds actually squeak in your mouth.
This is a criticism more of the motel/highway culture, and not of Madison, because I actually enjoy walking around the city.
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