#7 Marquette, MI

I’ve had this dream of living in a small city with great restaurants, interesting culture, and easy-to-access nature. I explore Santa Fe, New Mexico and consider if it might be the place for me and Nick. For more on Santa Fe's Pueblo Revival architecture style, listen to "Stuccoed in Time" by 99% Invisible - https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/stuccoed-in-time/ I interviewed Marja Martin, the owner and manager of Paloma, for this episode in May 2021. Tragically, her son Leo lost his life in a car accident in October. Leo’s girlfriend, Lisette, was in the car with him. She survived, thankfully, but was badly injured. Marja organized a Go Fund Me to support Lisette with her mounting medical expenses. If you want to lend a hand to some lovely people, please consider donating - https://www.gofundme.com/f/y6vug-help-lisette-with-medical-expenses Places is written, edited, produced, and hosted by Mia Sullivan. Additional editing by Christina Sullivan and Nick Baciu. Special thanks to Blair Sullivan. Original music for this episode was composed by Tim Vitullo. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. Our theme song is by Brent Curriden. Our show art is by Christine Hostetler and Michelle Anderson. If you’d like to sponsor Places—or just like to say “hi!”—reach out to us at [email protected] For transcripts, photos, and full show notes, visit www.placeswelive.com

A quick update on what I've been working on.

We turn inward and reflect on the ups and downs of van life, after 10 months on the road.

You probably know about the Trail of Tears: the forced removal of indigenous people from their homelands in the southeast to land the US government designated as “Indian Country”.⁠ But you have you heard the story of the Cherokee people who refused to leave? ⁠ The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have been living in their place for over 10,000 years. Join us in Cherokee, NC as we learn about the Eastern Band’s history, culture, and tribal government.

We learn how COVID is impacting business and life in a quaint Poconos mountain town. And we take the town's political temperature.

We happen upon a town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and find something unexpected.

We settle into life in our van and dive into the history and culture of an authentic Wyoming mountain town.

Nick makes it to Tulsa and races to finish the van, in time for summer.

COVID-19 delays the trip to July. But is getting out this summer even realistic?

Nick and Mia chase van leads and find themselves on a mini adventure.