We had a smooth drive from Knoxville to Indianapolis, right up until we entered the city, where it became more congested. We parked and walked most of the Canal Walk, which wound through the center of the city. The canal was broad and clear, and we could see carp swimming in the depths. Swan-shaped peddle boats, kayaks and gondolas passed us on the surface. Ducks and Canadian geese populated the edges of the canal.

The city was remarkably clean and seemed to have few homeless people on the streets, and the ones we saw looked in pretty good health; less evidence of the active drug use we were used to seeing in Baltimore, for example.

There were multiple war memorials of vast size, many built in the 1930s, and the buildings housing the Etilejorn Museum of Art, various parts of Indiana State, and local government were imposing and handsome. The weather was fine at a dry 84 degrees, and we’d walked a pleasant 4 miles before we realized it. People are friendly here, greeting strangers as they pass with a smile or a hello. One skyscraper caught our eye as workers on scaffolding were putting final touches on a huge Gatorade ad.

People were lining up to see a triple A day baseball game of the Indianapolis Indians. Many wore banana shirts or costumes, surely for some promotion benefiting the team.

We drove to our hotel and noted very heavy traffic on all the major thoroughfares heading into the city. We were fortunately headed the other way. We had a very nice dinner near the airport, Flights Craft Bar and Kitchen, where we enjoyed Sriracha brussels sprouts, a Salmon Pastrami Rueben with waffle fries for Tom, and a “Flight” of 3 mini street tacos for Paula. One was pulled pork, the next carne asada, and the last was mushroom. All great.

We dragged our full stomachs back to the room to prepare our post for tonight before the much-anticipated Presidential Debate. Tomorrow, Columbia Missouri.