Jo’s walking and Becky’s back with her wonderful square challenge. Life is good. I’m back from my vacation with lots of photos and stories to share, so let’s start walking.
This trip was all about seeing friends but there was a lot of scenery too, autumn colors that I’d been craving. On the 2 1/2 day drive, I’d passed through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri before crossing the state line into Illinois. Especially in Missouri I drove through hundreds of miles of thousands of trees in their festive bronzes, oranges, reds, and a few luminous yellows. The day after I arrived, my friend and I drove to downtown Aurora, Illinois for coffee and friend time, starting at Endiro Coffee. Although I’m mostly a tea person and my coffee drinks are mochas or cappuccinos, Endiro serves what they call African Coffee (or tea): Easy on the espresso or black tea, lots of steamed milk and light and sweet masala spice. Once when our younger daughter and I were there, she had the African coffee which I tried and loved. That’s what I had this time.
Downtown Aurora has a rather nice river walk surrounded by lots of old, repurposed buildings. I love that they haven’t been torn down but are used just as they were.
I got my autumn color fix too.
It was a propitious start to my two-and-a-half week visit!
Jo’s Monday Walk 11.21.22
This, that and the other thing 
I know what you mean about missing Autumn colour, Janet. I always feel the same. It’s pretty here but not dramatic. Thanks for sharing!
Now I’m in Australia I rarely get to see Autumn colours. These are lovely.
😊💟
I feel the same being in Arizona, Andrew. I’m glad you enjoyed these. I certainly did.
I’m glad you enjoyed the colors here, Jo. There will be more over the next few weeks.
🤗💗
Looking forward to them
Glad you had a great trip back to autumn joy and friends.
Thanks, Ritva. It was such fun.
The fall colors were really pretty this year. Glad you had a good visit and good coffee along the way.
I missed the best colors by about a week, but that’s okay. I got to see quite a few and had a wonderful time. No complaints!
sounds like a great trip in many ways –
It was a great trip in all ways, beth. I couldn’t have asked for a better time.
What a wonderful long trip, Janet! We may not fall colors here until December. 🍂
It was an excellent trip, Amy. Here in Arizona, at least in our part, some of the leaves are just starting to change, but as we don’t have as many deciduous trees, it’s not as prevalent.
We do get some in our mountains. Katoomba, it also, sort of snows,I haven’t been there in a while.
Your African Coffee sounds delicious. Your photos are beautiful, of course.
The coffee is unique as far as I’ve found and definitely delicious. The “of course” you put at the end of the second sentence make me very happy too. Thanks! Happy Monday.
Wow – what a gorgeous city. I am sure you felt wonderful being back in your glorious Illinois. I lived in Illinois 3 years and loved everything except winter there. Looks like your vacation was wonderful. Thanks for sharing the great Fall colors.
I’m happy you enjoyed the walk today, Peggy. Illinois was showing off its beauty while I was there, even though I missed the best leaf color by about a week. It was such a joy to get to see all our friends!
❤️😊 Ah, friends are just great to visit.
oh this looks like such a great place, and what a wonderful walk
It’s a very nice riverwalk. Where we lived, one city over, there was also a lovely riverwalk. It was fun to see these places again but as I said, the friends were the highlight and reason for going. 🙂
Friends are always a highlight 🙂
The best
I’d try that coffee it sounds good. It looks like it was pretty there dressed in its Autumn colors. I’m glad you had a wonderful time. I’m looking forward to seeing more images from your trip.
I was excited to find a few new places as well as revisit old ones. Seeing friends was definitely the best.
😀
Autumn is fading away, but some vibrant colors are hanging on. Thanks for the Monday stroll.
Thanks for coming along, Frank. It’s nice to see everyone again.
Good to have you back in the swing of things.
You got some gorgeous autumn photos on your trip. I hope the coffee was good 😀 😀
Thanks, Cee. It was delicious. 😁
What a bright sunny day for a walk.
It was even unusually warm and was so almost the entire time I was there. I told everyone I brought the weather from Arizona. 🙂
Maybe you did bring the good weather! 😂
What a great trip, Janet! And that coffee sounds fabulous!! Beautiful photos 😊
Thanks. Lisa. 😘. I was skeptical of the coffee when my daughter ordered it but it’s delicious.
Now I want to try it!
You’d like it.