Ulysses

Galena, Illinois: A little town made famous for its proximity near the Mississippi, its surviving Victorian architecture, and its most famous resident Ulysses Simpson Grant. Mostly surviving now-a-days as a Midwestern hamlet, Galena embodies the idea that drives people to bed and breakfasts. It is a place my mother has been taking me since I was small and a favorite little town of mine. I believe I have been on a tour of Grant's home there around 10 times.

"Hey Brian, Did you see that? I know you have the time; they most definitely have the beer."

Political, sometimes what seem like obvious governance goes by the way side for other political reasons. This is news to no one. Recently, the voters of the city of Cedar Rapids turned down a proposal to build a flood wall for the Lower West side for all the typical reasons (no taxes are good taxes, it would destroy the river, or people should never live anywhere where they could be flooded). I had to admire what Galena did creating a natural flood wall to protect its downtown. Instead of making the downtown district worse, it actually greatly enhanced it by giving the city an inclosed feeling that made the whole city feel more intimate. The top has become a walking trail and the wall gives Galena a natural earthy feeling. It feels like a small town version of Cartagena.