Days 107-110: Green Bay, Wisconsin

When we started this journey on September 3, Greg and I thought the season was likely to be short. We figured that the NFL would be so hampered by Covid that they would have to cancel the season or postpone it after a few weeks. After all, in a world where close contact is perilous, it seemed silly to think that the sport that arguably features the most contact (besides wrestling) would be able to keep playing for an entire 17-week season. But, as we rolled into Green Bay we marveled that somehow, by sheer audacity, the NFL managed to keep going. Players have gotten sick, even stars, but the teams just sub in other players and/or reschedule games. 

Green Bay is definitely the most football-obsessed town we've been to. Folks take their Packer-mania seriously. For example, the families who live across wide Lombardi Avenue from the stadium seem to be competing to see whose yard can show the most Packer love. Even City Hall is in on the theme. I bet they have an ordinance allowing them to confiscate your property if your display isn't sufficiently great. Don't believe me? Check out the sign below.

The yards above are across from Lambeau Field. Below, Greg and I join in on Packer mania.

  

The Packers Heritage Trail snakes its way through downtown Green Bay. Here are a few stops along the way. 

 

  

In addition to football sites, Green Bay has other interesting features. Here are a few that caught my eye. 

 

There's a distinct smell you notice from time to time when you're out walking in Green Bay in frigid weather. Turns out it is from the paper mills. Below, a mill's smoky plume. 

In the Covid era, Greg's team conducts all player interviews by zoom (below left). The Green Bay game was aired in prime-time to 100% of the country. That meant more cameras and tape machines for Greg. Here's the monitor wall he was facing in game (below right).  

On the field: Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers. The Packers scored on their first three possessions, but faltered in the second half as the Panthers defense rose to the challenge. Aaron Rodgers and his team just squeaked out a victory. Final score: Panthers 16, Packers 24.On the map: Distance from last week: Cincinnati to Green Bay -- 506 miles  

As we headed out of Green Bay on Sunday morning, we couldn't resist a stop in nearby Appleton, Wisconsin. Greg was a huge fan of Harry Houdini growing up. While Houdini was born in Hungary, his family moved to Appleton when he was a boy. He claimed the town as his home. There's a bust of him in Houdini Square. Greg looks a bit like the uni-bomber (below) but it was cold out.

  

   

Houdini first attracted notice in vaudeville in the United States and then as "Harry 'Handcuff' Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged police forces to keep him locked up. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and having to escape from and hold his breath inside a sealed milk can with water in it. (from wikipedia).