Beautiful Galena, Illinois
I just celebrated my second wedding anniversary in the picturesque little town of Galena, Illinois and in what must be one of the most unfortunate moments of forgetfulness, I didn’t bring my camera. We stayed at the beautiful Victorian Mansion, a cozy and historic bed and breakfast, where, apparently, U.S. Grant’s “departing speech was delivered to the citizens of Galena.”
The town has many little gift and antique shops. Too many gifts and too few antiques if you ask me, but enjoyable nonetheless. I walked out of my favorite Galena shop with an old copy of a volume from the Harvard Classics that includes John Stuart Mill’s Autobiography and On Liberty. I think that is the sixth or seventh volume I have bought so far.
A visit to U.S. Grant’s home was, of course, mandatory, and certainly interesting. After a rainy day on Saturday, it was dry long enough on Sunday for a relaxing bike ride along the Galena River.
Crossing the mighty Mississippi (spelling that without hesitation), I set foot in Iowa, making it the 14th state in this country that I have visited. Trips like this one make me realize that the United States is a truly interesting country, whether it is New York City or Galena, Illinois.
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