MiNnESoTa

September - October 2022

Land of 10,000 lakes Read more

35footprints
3countries
32days
108photos
4videos
15.5kkilometers
13.5kkilometers

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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 16, 2022, 12:00am
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Netherlands North Holland Gemeente Haarlemmermeer Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Schiphol Railway Station 52.307706, 4.76240552°18’28” N 4°45’45” E
Day 1
Schiphol Airport
September 16, 2022 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Are we in the airport, or a Sims simulation? While I cannot understand a single word, somehow the Dutch language feels familiar.
Successfully made it to our layover before our flight to Minneapolis. Observations: hands-free toilets (10/10); Stroopwafels (8/10, too sweet); first signs of loud Americans (classic); Filiz’s first vanilla latte (“ I cannot taste the coffee, which is why I like it”); full rainbow. Eagerly awaiting our gourmet plane-meals, hoping they have vegan options. Stay tuned!Read more
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 17, 2022
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 244 m
- United States Minnesota City of Coon Rapids Coon Creek Cenaiko Lake 45.136403, -93.31023245°8’11” N 93°18’37” W
Day 2
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
September 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We have arrived! After 9 hours of flights, “randomly selected” drug test subjects, and sub-par airplane food, we made it.
Asked Filiz to count how many American flags she saw on the drive from the airport to Grannies—she lost count. 🇺🇸 An American Eagle welcomed us on a hike by the dam— appropriate.🦅 Could barely keep our eyes open on the hike because of exhaustion, but still managed to appreciate a beautiful sunset. Filiz tries root beer for the first time and likes it, “it reminds me of bubble gum” (it’s not supposed to). A very strong start!Read more
Traveler Die 'zufällig ausgewählte' Drogentestperson war nicht rein zufällig Filiz? 🤔🤭😉
10/10/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 17, 2022
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 258 m
- United States Minnesota Hennepin County Cloquet Island 45.204612, -93.45138145°12’17” N 93°27’5” W
Day 2
Dayton, MN
September 17, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
What a better start to the day than waking up to the pitter patterns of rain on the window? 🌧 A tranquil morning greeted us, followed by my favorite Caribou Coffee, a regional coffee chain in Minnesota. Sipping the dark chocolate mocha was a necessary boost for the jet lag, and Filiz was delighted with her first Pumpkin Spice Latte. Tis the season 🍂🎃☕️
Luckily the weather cleared for some hours for a massive family pool party. Filiz learned how to throw the American football 🏈 in between freezing-cold pool swims and jumping on the trampoline below a massive, lightning-filled storm cloud ⛈ We love the temperamental nature of Minnesota!
Filiz was a champ as seemingly every family member tried out their limited knowledge of German: from random words like “Herbst” to “Esel” to Denglisch “Ich bin ober durrr” to full “Ich mag kartoffeln” — even I was impressed with the memory of those who learned 9th grade German over 50 years ago. Auf Wiedersehen!Read more
Traveler ... very impressive. Seems, you really enjoy every single minute in the US. Keep on going 'big'
9/19/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 18, 2022
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 274 m
- United States Minnesota Andover Bunker Lake 45.217156, -93.27686645°13’2” N 93°16’37” W
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Day 3
Game Day
September 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Filiz got her first taste of dining out in the US ~ free refills on coffee and water? Cheerful, over-the-top greetings from waitresses? 20% tips? What is this place?
Later, Atkins family pictures in a regional park outdoors. Needed to massage my face and cheeks from minutes upon minutes of smiling. Still recovering.
After, a Atkins family game night! Appropriately, we played a board game “Picture Perfect” (Der Perfekte Moment) and ate some delicious spaghetti squash. Filiz translated a song that the kids have been listening to for ages but never knew the lyrics: “Rolltreppenmax” Now I have an Ohrwurm 🐛🎶Read more
Traveler Models!
9/25/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 19, 2022, 6:32pm
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 279 m
- United States Minnesota Cambridge West Park 45.563653, -93.24071245°33’49” N 93°14’27” W
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Day 4
Spirit River
September 19, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
After an early-morning rise, we headed to Eastman nature center for an autumn hike. The leaf-crunches were a delightful sound with each footstep we took through prairie, woods, and wetlands. Chai teas were a welcome post-hike pleasure at Avant Garden cafe.
Later, we drove an hour north to my parents’ house. My mom proudly showed us her garden, where we snacked on yellow cherry tomatoes and marveled at her last, massive “Old German” tomato harvest. We took another long hike through Spirit River, where we spotted the unofficial state bird of Minnesota: the mosquito. Luckily, Filiz and my mom fared well, though I just narrowly escaped with a dozen bites on my legs. We ended the night with classic American (veggie) burgers and cuddles with my Cairn terrier, Whizward. Another wonderful day.Read more
Garden hugs are the best hugs! [Terese]
9/21/22Reply
Traveler Yes they are 💜
9/22/22Reply
Traveler Awww
9/25/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 20, 2022
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 344 m
- United States Minnesota Saint Cloud Township 45.533555, -94.24141745°32’1” N 94°14’29” W
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Day 5
The Quarry
September 20, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We cannot get enough of the pumpkin spice lattes ~ morning fuel for a Mississippi hike with Mama T and the adventures to follow. Filiz came face-to-face with a beautiful deer looking for lunch. Though there is much evidence of our neighbor beavers, we haven’t seen them yet.
Katie joined us for a small road trip to the Quarry’s, where we took a lovely swim and cliff-dived into the refreshing, cool water. Pink clouds, heat lightning, and good tunes made for a great car trip back. We now eat some veggie pasta while relaxing.Read more
Traveler ... incredible stunt !
9/21/22Reply
That’s incredible! [Terese]
9/21/22Reply
Traveler Woo!
9/25/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 21, 2022
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 244 m
- United States Minnesota City of Coon Rapids Coon Creek Dunn Island 45.136341, -93.31062345°8’11” N 93°18’38” W
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Day 6
Bike Rides, Ciders, and Skeletons
September 21, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A peaceful day here in Brooklyn Park. We took the bikes out to the park behind grannies. Filiz cruised on what she described as “the most comfortable saddle ever” and I got to hop on my extremely light road bike again ~~ oh, what a difference it is from my shitty, €30 bike back in Kiel! We zoomed along the Mississippi, through the prairie and woods.
After, we went shopping in Uptown Minneapolis. We ordered extremely sweet chai lattes, rummaged through a charming bookstore, and found some treasures at the thrift store. Along the way~ the first signs of Halloween 🎃 towering statues of skeletons and serpants can be seen in the neighborhood!
We closed the night with a childhood friend of mine, picking up Mediterranean wraps and doners and sipping on some locally-brewed cider at a cidery. The weather suddenly got crisp and cool ~ jacket season is upon us!Read more
Pretty smooth ride! [Terese]
9/23/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 23, 2022
- ☁️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 242 m
- United States Minnesota Dakota County Mendota Minnehaha Falls 44.915566, -93.21021544°54’56” N 93°12’37” W
Day 8
What Falls?
September 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Today we visited one of my favorite brunch spots in Minneapolis— the Modern Times. It’s features a front AND back menu of vegan options, of which Filiz was very impressed. I had a Kate Bush sandwich (🎶 been running up that Hill) and Filiz had some vegan French toast.
Afterwards , I was looking forward to showing Filiz the majestic Minnehaha falls in Minneapolis. We must be in another drought, because the falls was not there, folks! That was a first. We took a long hike down to the Mississippi anyways, spotting a friendly weasel along the way. A family of turkeys greeted us back at grannies. We love the wild life!Read more
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 24, 2022
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 280 m
- United States Minnesota Saint Bonifacius Parley Lake 44.875583, -93.73144544°52’32” N 93°43’53” W
Day 9
Grape picking: mid sneeze
September 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Traveler The bee under the tree branch is about to be in for a surprise
9/25/22Reply
Traveler 😂😂😍
9/25/22Reply
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Traveler MiNnESoTa
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- Sep 24, 2022
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 280 m
- United States Minnesota Saint Bonifacius Parley Lake 44.875496, -93.73143244°52’32” N 93°43’53” W
Day 9
Grape Harvesting
September 24, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
There’s nothing like a glass of wine at noon on an autumn day! 😋 We volunteered at Parley Lake winery to harvest grapes 🍇 in exchange for a free bottle of wine and glass of wine 🍷. The best part was the peacefulness of the grape harvest~ being on a small, quiet farm in the morning with an idle mind while harvesting. The wine was tasty~ I enjoyed a glass while Filiz had a respectful sniff and taste. The bees 🐝 enjoyed her glass 🍂 We spent the rest of the day packing up for the log cabin and camping to follow. 🪵 ⛺️Read more
Traveler Looks like you had great weather!
9/25/22Reply
Traveler We sure did! It started really chilly and by the end I was in a tshirt
9/25/22Reply
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