Hello stranger! Long time no see!
I was disconnected for a while, for several reasons, first of all, I “damaged” my website and couldn’t make it work for almost two weeks!! Second, I have a “daily job” and it’s easy to lose track of time. I know it’s a bad excuse, probably one of the worst excuses…
This last Sunday I was chilling at home. A beautiful day and nothing better to do than chill out, and probably, go to the pool. Then I started to think, what to do on a Sunday?? I am at home!! Yet, I am not supposed to be a Foreigner in this part of the world. I remembered the days when I was in Kansas City. Good times, and there was the first time I realize I was a Foreigner.

the pool @OP

People would say the Midwest of the United States is boring. But it is not if you have an open mind, good contacts and if you are up to the challenge.

Kansas City it’s a nice and “small” city located in the state of Missouri (not in Kansas Dorothy!). From my “foreigner perspective” I think is big, but compared to the rest of the big cities in USA, it’s small. One of the things that I liked the most about KC downtown is that is quite clean and safe.

Like any other cities of the world, you can find the “old town” and the “new town” (bohemian vs. vibrant). Both of them with cool places such as restaurants, bars, parks, rock concerts, microbreweries, art galleries, fancy stores, commercial centers and museums, among others. In fact, one of the coolest and most interesting museums that I have visited is in Kansas City, WWI museum @ Liberty Memorial. (https://www.theworldwar.org/)

liberty memorial

For more than a year I called Kansas City “my home”. I enjoyed very much. I met a lot of good people, Americans you would say 😉 (Also some foreigners like me, like my buddy from Israel, Rotem). I had one of the best hamburgers in the whole world (yes! they are made in USA my friends), traveled a lot by car, road trip!! Drank a lot of beer (not at the same time), and had THE BEST BBQ in the world (it is true, it’s in Kansas not in Texas 😉 ).

I also had my scary moments with the tornadoes and the rage of Mother Nature. I went to football games at the Arrow head stadium and of course we did “tailgating” (google it!). Also I visited the Cardinals stadium in St Louis, just 5 hours’ drive from KC, (baseball! if you are not familiar) for a game, and some games later they won the World series! (KC Royals did not win that year… again!) I saw how huge corn and wheat fields look like. Drove real American muscle car. Went visit my cousin in Lawrence and experience the basketball “Final Four” between Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri MizzouTigers (go! rock chalk! 😀 ). Yes! A CRAZY college experience.

Is that the real American experience or not?!?! 

My apartment was located in Overland Park (Johnson County), it is called the suburbs of Kansas City and it’s the second most populated city in the state of Kansas. There you can find a lot of golf courses, parks, football fields, green areas and more to enjoy outdoor activities.

Lyons Gate @ Overland Park

I have more stories about these places but I will tell you more about it in “the American experience part I” 😉 .

So back to the point. Any given Sunday in Kansas city could be: Wake up, go for a quick run around the neighborhood and lake, grab a quick breakfast / bagel at Einstein Bros, chill at the pool with a cold beer (preferably from Boulevards brewery), put some sunscreen, chill more at the pool, pick up a burger for late lunch at Five Guys, have a nap. Then, go for a walk or a drink at The Plaza (4750 Broadway St. First shopping center in the world designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by car), or, spend your money on the high-end stores. If energy is not yet depleted, head to the Power and Light District for fine dining and drinks at The Chesterfield. A good start for the rest of the week 😉 .

Interesting things about Kansas state and surroundings (KC) areas:

-You can find the best BBQ in KC. Sorry Texas.

-The only WWI museum in America is in KC.

-Kansas had an important role presaging the Civil War.

-Kansas city is located in the state of Missouri, and the capital of Kansas is Topeka.

-The Helicopter was invented by Kansas folks.

-Wyatt Earp!!

-Huge wheat producers.

-First Pizza Hut was in Wichita

-KC ignored Prohibition for a while. Living la Vida Loca!!!

-A lot of Jazz music in KC.

-It’s been said that Walt Disney has his inspiration for Mickey Mouse in his first studio in KC.

See you soon,

The Foreigner