Kansas is the first state that feels like a story book. I went to Lawrence with relatives and got back late. Took Armani for a walk down a long dirt road. Horses, soil and grass lend top and base notes to the humid air.
I'd never heard cicadas till I got here. You would not believe how loud they get. I looked up at the funnel-shaped clouds and the stars and couldn't help but click my heels.
The prairie has a similar appeal as the desert. It puts me, a lowly human, in my place. The landscape fosters simplicity, clarity.
On the other hand, Kansas planners love their toll roads. There is a fairly high sales tax and an income tax, too. Bigger cities have metered parking, though it's cheap.
There are some wonderfully unique houses here, including a Frank Lloyd Wright and others with unique detailing in Wichita:
And in Lawrence, I found some yin and yang:
Lawrence is one of my favorite towns. If you stick around, look around for a dance hall party: my friend Doug plays guitar in a band that plays traditional dance hall music.