Adventures: 2009 - Kansas Country Life...

Ever wonder what it's like living out in Kansas? Well here it is!!!! :-)

The roads are great, using only the best gravel made in this fine state!

 
The driving is good and no posted speed limit signs.

Speaking of signs... STOP signs and road signs don't grow on trees and thus are not cheap. So what one city does is they write their name in paint on the back of them, I guess it makes it easier to get back if stolen (?!?!)...

I guess this is one that the city got back... not exactly a great attempt at masking the township name on the back of the sign after they stole it... I guess the thief got mad after the city took it back and took their anger out on the sign afterwards... LOL!!!

Can you think of any better way to save a city money and save the environment than by replacing those expensive street signs with .... tires!!! If you are not used to country living then you probably wouldn't know that this is the intersection of Woodlawn and 77th St :-D

At least the streets named after numbers are easy to read!!!

Across the street is a "rich" city which likes showing off their fancy signs ...

Just watch out for the occasional strolling cow....

Moving along at country speed...

The cows are rather nice, they always say hi in a moo-ish kind of way... :-)

And if cow tipping isn't your kind of thing, there is always putting your hand prints on the back of a STOP sign.... I'd rather see that than a bunch of bullet holes through one of them!!! ;-) ...

 Does it make you wonder? Who drives around with black paint and is tall enough to reach the stop sign, but would have such small hands .... hmmmmm

Just be sure you keep an ear out for the trains... no fancy lights or bells on these here railroad tracks ...

So anyway... that's the country life here in Kansas, yall come on up sometime and enjoy!!! I'll be wait'n!!! :-D

Burger Adventure: 2010 - K-State's Aggieville and So Long Saloon

Time for another food flashback! This time to February, 2010 and the place is Manhattan, Kansas :-).

February 12, 2010 - Friday
6:08 pm: Aggieville @ K-State is pretty awesome. Having a Guinness and about to order a great burger at a true burger / bar joint.... ahhhhh life is good again!

6:25 pm: Today's food blog starts at So Long Saloon (located in Aggieville, across the street from K-State University) with their Chipotle Raspberry and Black bean Dip topped w Zesty Cheese. I'm pleasantly surprised at this Manhattan, KS appetizer. Served authentic Mexican style in a ceramic skillet, this appetizer has a wonderful smoky flavor and is surprisingly light. Can't wait for the resist temptation burger!

6:33 pm: Did I mention the chips? Served generously in a side basket, these consist of Corn Tortillas cut into strips and lightly fried to perfect crispness. Definitely San Antonio grade! Yum!

6:39 pm: The "Resist Temptation" burger has arrived! Luckily I switched from a hearty Guiness to a much lighter Long Island... LOL! The burger is a 1/3 lb'er w bacon, cheese and a temptuous fried egg on top... wow ... This burger has reportedly won a statewide competition and frankly I believe it! Burger goodness! This burger's layers are so evident, it does it an injustice to describe them when such a succulent picture is available. Trust me, the taste matches the visual. :-) I already ate the other half in case you are wondering :-).

6:52 pm: I've reached for napkins! The feeling of fullness begins to overcome me. If I stop now I think I'm good calorie-wise until Tuesday. But how could I face myself in the morning? I must go on, for you my reading faithful! :-D

7:02 pm: Finished! I must say I give So Long Saloon a 4.75 out of 5 stars. A cozy bar and grill, it is enhanced by the apparent no smoking ordinance in place for Manhattan, KS. The decor has a definite Southwest/Mexican feel with Dia de los Muertos skeletons sitting above the bar :-).

There was a 20 minute wait when I got there and that grew to about a 45 minute wait. That is with most other eateries on the block only half filled... the locals know about this place! The waitstaff is wonderful, as would be expected in a college hangout that is Aggieville. :-)

7:05 pm: It is time to move on and see what else Aggieville has to offer.

7:19 pm: Why am I so dizzy? LOL! My poor body can't take the culinary intake like it once could :-(.

7:23 pm: K-State Wildcat'rs know how to travel in style ... if you look closely, that is a really tall bike he is riding!

7:34 pm: And they know how to party! Although they are dressed like it is 72 degrees instead of 32!!! Brrrrrrr!!!!

8:03 pm: Obviously I won't fit in with this crowd dressed as I am. Time to go undercover so that I blend in with the crowd. I picked up a K-State hoodie and put on my backup prescription glasses.

8:17 pm: The dizziness has subsided, time to make up for forgetting to order the Cowboy Cookie at So Long Saloon. Radina's Coffee Shop looks highly promising!

8:24 pm: I was right! Ordered the Hot Chocolate and they make it for you in a REAL MUG!!! Fresh made whipped cream on top makes this the perfect "warm me up" after being out in the freezing cold!!! Radina's is on the edge of Aggieville and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for coffee or my personal preference, hot chocolate! I give it 4.6 out of 5 stars!

8:43 pm: K-State'rs take their pets everywhere, even to Radina's :-).

9:32 pm: All good things must come to an end :-(. I now bid goodbye to the little apple. However I must say I was quite impressed with KState, Aggieville and the quaff that defines the little apple! I give it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5! Time for one last drink, a Shiner Bock draft (amazing they have such a great Texas beer up here!) and a Goodbye! to everyone from the bartender!

Adventures: 2009 - Hershey, Pennsylvania

Time for another quick trip to the past and talk about my adventure to Hershey, PA!!!

Home Of Every Chocolate Lover's Dream City :-)

I took a short visit to Hershey, PA in Feb 2009 and took a few quick pics. This town is definitely worth taking a detour for if you are anywhere in the area.

As you drive into Hershey, the most prominent landmark is the amusement park: Chocolate World: It was closed when I went by, but then again it was February so a perfect time for it to be updated.

Driving toward the Hershey plant, you are pleasantly surprised by the thoroughness the city goes through to ensure you experience the full Chocolate effect:

Hershey Kisses Lamp Posts line the street going up to the plant. Both wrapped and unwrapped. It is soooo cool to see that!

The Hershey plant itself looks much like any other plant. 

 

But the real treat is just down the street at the Hershey Chocolate museum and store! 

Of course there is the Hershey Chocolate gift shop and the requisite memorials of all things chocolate there... but there comes the time when you just have to sample some of the yummiest chocolate there is and this is the place to do it...

The chocolate samples come best in trays of 6! Each generous sample glass represents a chocolate from different regions of the world. Starting with bitter chocolate and ending with the smooth sweetness that is the world favorite milk chocolate.

And as is usually the case in such visitor friendly places, the staff is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and generally the best there is!

I bid adieu to Hershey, Pa with fond memories of the deliciousness that it is.... :-P