Indiana is for Friends

September 24 to 25, 2008

 

Ah, The Crossroads of America.

Honestly, we didn’t expect much out of a place that prides itself on being the thing standing between you and the things you actually want to see.

But that’s the thing about lowered expectations — it takes very little to exceed them. Like Sarah Palin. Remember her?

 

Apparently, hidden in the vast cornfields, is a semi-vast metropolis. Indianapolis: the City of Indians.

 

We really couldn’t find anything about Indianapolis to complain about. It’s clean and modern and — if the amount of hobo sightings is any indicator — it has a low unemployment rate.

 

 

This phallus was erected in honor of Indiana’s heroes who died in wars before The Great War. It’s right at the center of the city and an intersection between four roads. Apparently, it’s the place to go. We saw lots of students lounging around on the steps, reading thick books, and lookin’ hip. And, even though the statue may look narrow, there’s an elevator that takes you most of the way to the top for a dollar. You have to go up a couple flights of stairs to get to the observation deck. The inside is cramped and dingy and, as our guidebook put it, it’s quite a “Soviet experience.” We didn’t spend long up there, though. The view must have been better before all the skyscrapers came in. To make matters worse, there’s no ventilation and plenty of sunlight so all the windows were fogged up and the heat was stifling.

 

A few likenesses of Indiana’s fallen.

 

The Indiana capitol building.

Months ago, Andy and his roommate, Aaron Arm, went on a road trip and ended up in Indianapolis. As they were filming, a hobo on a bike spotted their camera and assumed they must have been loaded, and that they wouldn’t mind having their shot interrupted. Aaron Arm gave the nice fellow a shiny new nickel.

 

We spent the rest of our time in Indianapolis exploring the mall, part of which hovers over a busy intersection. There was some chocolate festival going on, but we spent our money in the food court instead. Panda Express makes a mean orange chicken.

 

The real attraction Indiana held for us was further north in West Lafayette. Our beautiful, classy, and prudent friend, Allie, grew up there. Not that she lives with her parents or anything, but her parents gave us a place to sleep at their place and Allie was there as well.

 

The best sights West Laffie has to offer.

 

Old roommates/partners in crime.

 

That guy was probably important or something. What an exciting town!

 

Allie’s mom took us out to dinner at an upscale baja-cuisine restaurant. This parsley-piercing is Allie’s way of fighting Maisy the Greyhound for her mom’s love.

 

Nothing suspicious here. 

 

 

 

We spent most of our time at Allie’s house begging to look at old photo albums. We couldn’t get our camera near them but, suffice it to say, Allie had an awkward phase just like everyone else. It began around age 11 and we think it might end around age 30 or so.

Our visit to the Crossroads of America was nice and relaxing, and it prepared us for our next adventure: The Windy City.