Minneapolis Revisited

Tuesday 5 October


We returned from the quiet, but dangerous giant, Lake Superior on Friday (1 October) and are back in Minneapolis. Denis and Kay continued to endeavour tirelessly in their efforts to bring learning and cultural education to the Hawkers . These efforts, we hope, have not been in vain.

Another play awaited us, The Vigil, by Morris Panych. Terrific – a black comedy, performed at a local community theatre. I could bumble on, but the review says it better than me (Not difficult) http://www.howwastheshow.com/2010/09/vigil-a-play-at-the-pillsbury-house-theatre/
I apologise to Denis, for stating, during the interval, a (correct) guess at a possible twist. (I am not really apologising – just showing off!!)

Saturday morning saw Hazel viewing a photographic exhibition, while I cycled around some of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota. Only 9,989 to go.

In the afternoon, we were taken to the Scott Fitzgerald theatre, to be present at a live broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion”, hosted by Garrison Keillor. This may not much to you Brits. It is a nationally broadcast show, runs for two hours, and mixes comedy, jazz and country blues and keeps the audience effortlessly enthralled. If you have heard of “Lake Woebegone Days” (which Hazel had), then this is where it comes from. If you have not heard of it, well...what can I say?
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/

In the evening, we dined at the Dakota restaurant, well known for the visiting Jazz musicians who perform there. We enjoyed listening to Nachito Herrera (Cuban Jazz pianist), who had announced with pride of his approved forthcoming U.S. Citizenship.

(On a 50 foot wall, in the nearby parking lot, some piano music has been drawn. No photo, I am afraid. I think that it is Chopin; perhaps a Ballad or a Scherzo. Does anyone out there know?)



...and there is still more, as if this were possible. The very next morning, the Twin Cities Marathon took place and ran past the front door of Denis and Kay’s house (at mile 18, in case you were wondering). They lay a small Grandstand (“bleachers”, a new word for your English – American dictionary), food for guest and loud and encouraging music for the 11,000 runners. Quite an atmosphere. They even put up a flag to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. (You did know that this was the anniversary, didn’t you).


At mile 18, there are some pretty tired legs, which need all the encouragement that they can get.

Well, it only remains to say thank you to Denis and Kay for looking after us, and stretching our minds, which will never be the same again, with new ideas. Denis – I know that I did not get that quote exactly right, but it is not too far off.