The Czech Boys of Cedar Rapids

When I was growing up in Rock Island, Cedar Rapids  I knew all about the towns within a 60-mile radius:  Davenport, Bettendorf, Maquoketa, Tipton, West Branch, Iowa City.  Friends had relatives there.  They were mentioned in news reports.  We visited for school events.  But Cedar Rapids, about 80 miles northwest, was at the edge of the universe.  No one ever talked about what lay beyond.

What is life like at the edge of the universe?








126,000 people.

Strong Czech heritage -- the National Czech and Slovak Museum is worth a visit.

Muslim heritage -- the oldest standing mosque in the U.S.

Unfortunately, the river keeps flooding, destroying heritage sites downtown.





But the beefcake is never flooded out.














Three high schools plus Coe College (I almost applied there, just for the fun of saying I was going to college at the edge of the world)

The usual wrestlers in tight singlets.














Lots of wrestlers.

More after the break.



















Men who take their shirts off in order to demonstrate their dating potential.


















Or just lift their shirts to give you a glimpse of...their sides?

















Obviously kids don't count as beefcake, but this science fair winner was so cute that I couldn't resist posting him.  Dozens of boys in his junior high must be writing his name in little hearts in their science notebooks.















Back to the beefcake.







Swimming is very popular in Cedar Rapids.















Hey, kid, could you move out of the way?