Connect Cleveland on Repeat

Anyone who knows me knows that I have an undying love for adventure. While Oberlin thus far has been an adventure in and of itself through bike path explorations and student activities, I’ve recently been taking advantage of the free shuttle service Oberlin provides to Cleveland. While every freshman visits Cleveland as part of the Connect Cleveland program, it’s my observation that many students forget that this is always an available resource.

This past weekend, I had a particularly lovely day in Cleveland, which I plan to repeat and expand every weekend until summer comes. It started with the hour-long trip from campus to Cleveland, which was particularly pleasant as we drove past views of blooming fields and farms. While spring has officially sprung, I felt a hint of a summer road trip. 

The bus dropped me right in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where admission is free, and one doesn’t even need to buy a ticket. It almost felt like I was breaking the law just walking in and strolling straight past the ticket booth. I visited the museum as a freshman, but to my surprise, I hadn’t even explored half of the collection. I’m always a big fan of ancient artifacts and old paintings, and I had quite a time in the ancient Egyptian and medieval art sections. I have to give an honorable mention to the Arms and Armor collection, where I almost felt like I was back home in New York at the Met. 

After spending a few hours in the museum, I embarked on the ten-minute walk to Cleveland’s own Little Italy. I walked around until I found a small lunch shop with customers spilling onto the street, and purchased a sandwich the size of my head. I sat by the window and watched people go by; I always love seeing new faces, and often miss the people-watching at home. After a few stops in some cutesy vintage stores, I spent my remaining time in a coffee shop with a latte and an Italian cookie.

The shuttle leaves campus at 10:00 AM and leaves Cleveland at 2:00 PM from the same spot where students are dropped off. In my opinion, this is the perfect time for an adventure while still leaving room for campus activities and homework time. The Obie Express has a shuttle to Crocker Park for shopping in addition to the Cleveland Shuttle, and I can’t wait to embark on more extra-campus adventures.