This morning our first stop was Boys Town. I wanted to see it because of the movie reference - a movie I've actually not seen, but when else was I going to be here? It was rather disappointing. It looks exactly like every other private school I've ever seen, and I've seen a few. So we took the photo opt and moved on.
Our next drive by was Malcolm X's birthplace. This too was disappointing but for other reasons. There is a Malcolm X Center, and according the Internet they have some property. The place however was near the end of a road that seemed like it should be going to the town transfer station or DPW, not a site. The marker at the site looked official like all places of interest do, however, getting to it one had to traverse what seemed like an abandoned parking lot and the associated 'center' was closed. A few blocks away, however, the MKL center was big, robust and doing just fine. While I was happy to see Omaha having an African American frame of reference, we were a bit annoyed that MLK got the big, nice building and Malcolm X got the abandoned lot off the beaten path - since it was MX's town.
With a bit of resign we headed down town to our next stop, the local arts collective. It reminded both M and I of his grad student days and the grad student art studios. This was less aggravating for me than M. For me it was some what pleasant memories of hanging out in the studio with him among the smell of oil paint. For M. I think it was more a reminder of all the unpleasantness of grad school. And the art, well, it just wasn't that interesting.
From there we traveled cross town to the Latino section of town. Is it good that Omaha has an ethnic population if the town is so segregated that almost by street you could identify one's heritage? At any rate, we stopped at the Museo de Latino - the first or only, I am not sure how it billed itself museum of Latino art. It's small and located in a community center. But again, far more interesting work inside than most places. It was very striking here, in that we have spent the recent past looking at Native American art and then seeing Latino art, the differences in personality, style, color choices, etc. etc. was striking.
I know I've said this before, but M. and I are thoroughly convinced that the smaller museums are better.
At that point, we were both ready to leave Omaha - it's worse than Memphis in terms of it's crazy roads, traffic, bad driving, etc. In fact, we were completely ready to leave Nebraska. So, on to the Interstate and Eastward Ho!
Iowa on this return trip is not seeming as flat or as bland, but I have to say I still like it in its own way. And don't get me wrong - it's still FLAT. Today was a bit windy and the wind waved over the soybeans, making them shift in color and appear like undulating waves. It was ocean like and I had to wonder if maybe I could exist out here. It would be a green and seasonal ocean, but it was very ocean like.
Prior to reaching Des Monies we turned south to Winterset, John Wayne's birthplace and the heart of Madison County - as in the Bridges of. It was a surprisingly larger town than I would have thought - three horses at least. Don't get me wrong - it's a small town, and hasn't changed a lot over the years - the Pharmacy still has a soda fountain. But while there we had a bit to eat at the down town cafe - it was in the movie. We saw the stool Clint sat on. (oooohh!) And we say the Duke's birthplace - a postage size house on a corner. It looked cute. Sadly, we did not pay to take the 20 minutes tour - I'm not that much of a fan. Seeing the house was sufficient for me. We did go see a couple of the bridges. Yup they are covered bridges! They're very nice bridges, but I guess coming from New England, covered bridges just aren't that exciting. And well, I've never actually seen the movie... or read the book. Maybe I will now.
Our plan was to spend the night in Des Monies, but upon our arrival we found no room at the inn - any of them, Candlewood Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn... apparently there is some volley ball ...event happening in town. Fortunately we were not in any serious need to stay so we headed slightly East of town. We are planning to continue East to the Mississippi for the next few days and be back in Des Monies Saturday - Sunday will be out last day here - and Monday we travel. (We did make the reservation in Des Monies for the weekend...just in case.)
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