Top 3 from Day 3

Oh my lord. I just wrote a nice long post and the internet ate it. Where do the words go when that happens?? Is it the same place that the typing goes when I hit buttons and nothing appears on the screen? Argh. I will attempt to recreate.

South Dakota: Best State Ever

1. Wall Drug: “Wall” is a town in SD. Wall Drug is their local drug store, or what used to be the local drug store and is now a major tourist destination. There are signs for it up to a hundred miles away! I was expecting your typical drug store with some bells and whistles, you know, ice cream, toys, maybe a t-shirt or two. What I got was a mini-wild west down town complete with saloon, tacky souvenirs and figurines, and perhaps 2 aisles of actual drug store. Crazy. It seems they have perfected the art out here of creating a destination out of absolutely nothing that needs to really be seen.

2. Badlands: Badlands is a national park comprised of the most incredible rock formations somewhat akin to those in southern Utah, or even a mini-grand canyon. The Indians named it Badlands because it was “bad” or “difficult” to cross this section of land that was created when a volcano threw up in what used to be a lake. You drive about 10 miles off of the main highway through prairie grasslands, then all of a sudden the land just drops off and voila, jagged rocks, cliffs, plops of stone formations for miles and miles. It is the most primitive landscape I have ever experienced. I’m pretty sure I saw a woolly mammoth being chased by a saber toothed tiger. Oh and there was also a guy in a buffalo skin chasing them with a spear too.

3. The Corn Palace: Another example of creating a destination out of absolutely nothing that should be of any interest. The Corn Palace is a giant county-looking building that is literally covered in corn. They have created frescoes for the outside and made them out of corn and corn parts (husks, etc.). Apparently important political figures like John McCain think it an important place in front of which to speechify. Across the street is the Enchanted Castle Doll Museum. Very Creepy.

Speaking of creepy, I ordered dinner at the bar/restaurant in the hotel tonight and while I was waiting for the food to be ready, three middle aged guys at the bar tried to entice me into getting wasted with them. Sometimes being a girl just kinda sucks. Do I look that desperate?

On another note, in trying to buy dinner last night, I encountered the mid-west grocery store. Sister tells me I need to develop a better understanding of the normal American diet. I walked into the store across from the hotel in search of something green, vegetarian friendly, and edible. It took me 10 minutes to navigate around the store and to find the fruits and vegetables. Fruit included apples, apples, and some over priced cherries. Veggies available were shredded cabbage of various forms, prepacked broccoli, and…onions I think. Definitely not Whole Foods.