Baraboo? No, Bara-yay!

Wow! I can't believe that my trip is nearing its end. Doesn't seem like that long ago that I was on my way to Peru, Indiana, and now I'm in my last research stop: Baraboo, Wisconsin, home of the Ringling Brothers' winter quarters. What a crazy journey it's been.


OK, ok, it's still too early for nostalgic reminiscing. I still have a little bit more time here for learning and exploring. And there's still plenty for me to share with all of you. So, hold your horses: we're going for one more ride on the circus parade.


Before all of that, though, let me start from the beginning of today. I woke up in Davenport, Iowa, with the smell of bacon in the air. I made my way downstairs, and I met Matthew Fuller for the first time, my other couchsurfing host. Over bacon and eggs, Matthew and I got to know each other, exchanging travel stories and history facts. Though I didn't have the chance to meet them together, Matthew and Jess were each wonderful hosts, and made me regret not spending more time in Davenport. Maybe next time I'm in the Midwest...


Though Matthew did invite me to stay another night if I wanted, I only a little reluctantly passed him up, and set off on my merry way to Baraboo. 


The route to Baraboo was not paved with cornfields, like the rest fo the Midwest, but was lined with lush trees and green pastures. Welcome to Wisconsin! Also, apparently, the road to Baraboo is paved with swampy armpits because it is dang hot out here. 


Fortunately, Baraboo's impressive winter quarters were an excellent distraction from the heat. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge my camera battery, so it died part way through my trip. So, sorry kiddos: gonna have to wait on the image overload until tomorrow. I have a couple I took with my camera phone, but thought it would be best to save my photography orgy until I could take quality pics.


I spent three hours wandering around the grounds and the museum, exploring their vast collection of circus posters and wagons, and most of all the original buildings of the circus's winter quarters. I had a rather profound moment in the building that once housed the draft and parade horses. It's a rather large building, and unlike the other ones on the lot, which are filled with exhibits, this one has been left empty. It was dark in there, with only a little daylight filtering in through the windows. I'm not a very spiritual person. I don't believe in ghosts or spirits, or energies or anything like that. But walking around on those old, uneven floorboards, I felt that kind of special chill down my spine that I get in historic places, as if I'm walking in the footprints of the dead. That moment alone was finale enough for this trip. But wait, there's more.


OK, this next bit isn't as metaphysical or serious as the previous account, but it was pretty bizarro. I stumbled across a circus performance as I was wandering, which apparently happen daily at the Circus Museum. I happened to catch Harriet Hannah's "lilliputian pony show." Not to be a critic, but it wasn't the most impressive display, but what I found most hilarious was the fact that there was a circus version of the "My Little Pony" theme song playing. Another fitting end to a rather surreal journey in its own right.

Mediocre picture of a rather mediocre performance, save for the adorable mini ponies and its peculiar and hilarious soundtrack

I only had an hour left before the Circus Museum closed, which was not enough time to visit the library. Since I knew I would be back tomorrow anyway, I decided to call it a day and go meet my new couchsurfing compadre: Rob Nelson. As with all my couchsurfing hosts, Rob welcomed me with open arms, offering me beer and a home cooked stir fry. Him and his lovely girlfriend invited me to a reggae concert in the town square in downtown Baraboo. I joined them after showering and changing (no swamp pits here), and soon enough, was up there in the front dancing with all the Baraboo natives (of course, those who know me, know that it doesn't take much to get my booty shakin'). 


My favorite dancer up there was a little girl who had no shame in dancing to every song by herself, even after her shy friend refused to join her up there on the makeshift dance floor. She had the best moves out there. Always inspirational to see kids unencumbered by self-consciousness. 


So that was day one in Baraboo. Pretty epic. What lays in store for tomorrow? Human cannonballs? Real live sideshows? Or maybe at least a working camera? Tune in tomorrow to find out.*


*Disclaimer* There is a possibility that I will not get to posting tomorrow as I will be reuniting with the radiant Niloufar Assar, after a many, many year hiatus. Antics are sure to ensue, which might delay my posting. Apologies in advance if this occurs.*