With my travelling partner, my sister Jocelyn, we were able to make this trip together to visit my daughter Aria, who has spent the last year working on her Master's degree in Italian Language and Literature at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I'm so happy we were able to travel together. Jocelyn is the best travel buddy, so kind and sweet and we all appreciate her great sense of humour.We booked "The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club"
1 W. Dayton St., Madison
It was a wonderful location for us. Close to the capital and the associated activities like the farmers market, close to State Street shopping and food venues, close to campus and just a couple of blocks from Aria's apartment.
This map will show you how this part of the city lies on an Isthmus bordered on one side by Lake Monona and the other side by Lake Mendota. Our hotel was on the corner of Dayton and Wisconsin. Aria's apartment was located two blocks away on Gorham and Pinckney so it was a very easy walk for us to her place and central to all the sights in the city. The map also shows Cafe Monmartre which was a good stop off for Happy hour margaritas and good pizzas. You can see how close we were to the Capitol and to State Street which runs directly into the University. We did not need a car. There are restaurants, museums, great shopping all around the surrounding areas of our hotel. The bus lines are convenient to local attractions that we wanted to see. Madison is a great walking city. We loved it.Touring the University of Wisconsin campus
This is the patio of the student union. With such great weather everyone was outside. This looks out to the Lake. What a great view.
These are the famous sunburst chairs that are everywhere on the patio of the student union. I love them!
State street runs directly into the campus.
If we turn up this street we will arrive at Aria's apartment
We're here!!!
This is the view from the front window. I liked that house on the corner.
This is looking down the street. Lots of student housing.
Here's Aria with her boyfriend Daniele. He arrived Monday night from Boston. He just finished a year of teaching at Holy Cross College. They'll be travelling back to Italy together to visit his family and for some R and R.
This is Kate, Aria's room-mate. We had a great time meeting her. She was such a good person for Aria to live with this past year.
This is us waiting for the taxi to take us to the airport. The five days in Madison were wonderful. We learned alot about this beautiful city and it made me so happy to experience a bit of Aria's life here.
For the next few days I will be posting more about Madison and the things we experienced while there.
11 comments:
Hi Barb, I enjoyed this post. It sounds like a great trip with your sister (I'm trying to convince my sister to go on a trip to Italy with me). I love all of your photos and learning a bit about Madison. It's beautiful there.
Thank you so much for sharing and glad you had a fun time.
Trekcapri, I hope you do get to go to Italy with your sister. I travelled to Europe once long ago with my sister and we had a blast. Sisters ROCK!
Great photos, Barb! Sounds like you had a great time.
Madison looks like a beautiful city. My brother taught computer science there back in the 80's, so I visited the campus once then.
His house had a huge back yard with no fences in between houses. Is it still the same?
Nancyhol, I think it's still the same. I don't recall any fences. In fact I took some photos from Aria's apt. back steps and I'll try to post the backyards of her neighbors.
Hi Barb, so glad you had a wonderful trip. Love seeing these photos of a place I've never been. It looks like a cool town and campus! Looking forward to reading more about your trip. I LOVE those sunburst chairs!
The campus is beautiful. I am so glad you had a great time. Loved seeing all of the photos. The chairs are very cool!
Barb, I loved reading about your trip to visit your daughter with your sister. Yes, I agree, traveling with your sister is great fun. I had a great time on our trip to Italy with my sister, and now we are planning another trip to Italy next May. Really like those sunburst chairs!
Hi Barb: I, too, thoroughly enjoyed your posts. Never been to Madison but it looks like a great college town! Agree that Sisters Rock! I've been fortunate to travel with mine a few times too...sounds like this was a great trip! Your daughter was wonderful in setting up your travel days. The photos from the FLWright - Monona were spectacular. The exterior photos you snapped seemed to capture his essence. Mahalo! menehune PS: Holy Cross is my 'neck of the woods'. Actually, very familiar with that college --! Too funny a coincidence.
Menehune, why am I not surprised about the Holy Cross coincidence. I think just from the little I have found out reading your blog we may have many such coincidences (or have you read the book, "There are No Accidents"?) Happy also to hear that you have a great travel sister. We are lucky! Great to hear from you. Thanks.
Sandra, I loved reading your trip report when you first travelled to Italy with your sister and the sound track that went with it. (Big fan of Dean Martin here!). To think you will be able to experience further adventures in Italy...ooh the mischief you two will get into...so much fun. Look forward to hearing all about it.
Wonderful photos, Barb. Your daughter's apartment looks great! It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Post a Comment