The Organ Room is like being in a steampunk engine room built by a mad-scientist giant. All kinds of cool-looking industrial stuff has been joined together into something that looks like it might work but probably shouldn’t. This giant lighted “chandelier” was actually supposed to have an office inside for Alex Jordan himself!
Lights and statues.
Us in silhouette.
We finally left the house about five hours after we entered. It was intense, and so worth visiting. Here we are at a nearby lookout with the house far off in the distance behind us.
Our other stop in Spring Green was Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio. (It’s also the MURDER HOUSE where his family got chopped up!) We had booked in for the “Highlights Tour.” Here’s the Snook trying not to wilt in the heat and humidity outside Hillside, Wright’s architectural school.
Here’s a view of Hillside from the outside, where we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes. (We were only allowed to take photos outside.)
Snook and I outside the front door of Taliesin.
And another. Look, I’m gonna be honest, we probably shouldn’t have done the tour. We were tired from the House; it was hot; and we’re not really huge architecture buffs. (In fact, I intensely disliked some aspects of Taliesin.) So I’d only recommend it if you really, really like Wright and have a high-tolerance for shuffling through shoddily-built buildings with low-ceilings wearing special booties on your feet.
Sweet Home Chicago! We headed back to Chicago to meet up with a bunch of friends on our last night in the States. Here’s Kel, me, Sal, Rodd, and Crawfy at the Brauhaus. Jen and Jenny came along too. It was lots of fun!
I got in a few cuddles with Kel and Jen’s son PJ before we left.
We had a 5-hour layover in L.A., so Liz (aka Pants) picked us up and took us to dinner. Here we are on the beach. It was so great to see her!
And that’s it! We made it back to Sydney to two supremely indifferent cats. Thanks to everyone who housed us or met up with us on the trip. We miss all of you already.