I began my travels in December, a chilly time of year in Chicago which made me extra excited to go to sunny Mexico! Chicago sits on one of the Great Lakes, which sometimes creates a microclimate that makes our weather unique from the rest of the state of Illinois. Does anyone know how many Great Lakes there are and what they are called?
The most important animal to me in Chicago is Sophie, my dog! She's a Havanese terrier who loves the snow. I knew I would miss her, but I wasn't able to bring her on my travels to Oaxaca.
Part of what makes me excited to travel to new places is the opportunity to learn about plants. I run a vegetable farm in Chicago so I'm always on the lookout for vegetables and fruits that are unfamiliar to me. The week before I left for Mexico, I checked on my farm and found many interesting seed pods waiting for spring.