Thanksgiving travel

I flew in to Midway, as usual. Thanksgiving in the Midwest promised to be quite cold - except that San Antonio had been under a bit of a freeze for the last week so it didn't seem that big of a temperature drop. The rental agency gave me a a Buick Encore - which I believe is some kind of rebadged Opel. It is a dull, soporific compact SUV with its only saving grace being the short wheelbase and the somewhat responsive steering. The engine was anaemic and the transmission just plain lazy. I don't usually drive SUVs or trucks so the high seating position was new to me. Having said that, I simply do not understand why people keep continuing to buy these vehicles. I certainly felt like the high CG of the vehicle was making it unstable. Don't other people feel that way?

Anyway, I made it to Lafayette rather late - it was practically morning. The next day, we (the missus and meself) headed out to Ann Arbor, via Toledo. Nandi met us for lunch at Toledo. A good time was had. We got to AA by early evening. The kids (YS/YV) had us over for an old school Tamil dinner. YK and P were in attendance. It felt like happier old times.

I met the boss the next morning downtown. Showed the missus the diag, the M and a few of the sights of central campus. It was bloody ccccold. The line at Zingerman's deli stretched around the block and then some - this place is a veritable institution. We finally brunched at Angelo's - a good second choice, as it happens. The raisin bread is quite nice. 

Afterward, we went to Zingerman's shop on the outskirts of town. A reasonably well stocked bakery and an excellent creamery are side by side. The bakery yielded a chocolate covered goodie called a "rugelach". Which is not bad with tea. Is utterly unremarkable otherwise. The old Kathleen bakery at the corner of Padmashree/ No. 45 bus stop near home has better offerings. 

The next item we brought home (why?) was an espresso-something flavoured cake. When I was a kid, I had once bitten into a bar of Lifebouy brand bathing soap. Just out of curiosity. The cake was certainly better than that bar of soap. But not by very much. The cheese and salami collection at Zingy's though - is a thing to admire. Ann Arbor punches far above its weight class in things cultural and culinary. This is a good example.

The way back took us straight across the great state of Michigan (gawd, the roads!) - thankfully via the Interstate. We stopped at the big outlet mall near Michigan City - and found close to zero bargains. Not worth a visit - IMHO.

Anyway, here I am back in SA - and it is cold here too.