we're back

    We made it back last night from St. Louis.  It is amazing how great of a vacation it was for only taking off one extra day.  I had been to St. Louis for a concert once before, but it was so fast that I didn't really get to see the city. 
    On the second day, we got up early and went to the Contemporary Art Museum.  The space is small but the work was pretty good.  This girl was my favorite of the show.  We walked around the loop area for a bit after that.  I tried to spend some money, but I didn't find anything I couldn't live without.  We had lunch at Fitz's where they brew and bottle their own root beer in the dining room.  We then headed to the art museum.  Of course, I forgot my camera.  It is a really great museum.  Big but not overwhelming.  There was an exhibit of quilts from around the world that was probably my favorite.  The permanent collection (especially the mummies) is broad and really impressive.  Oh, and did I mention that all of the city owned attractions are free?

  

     After resting at the hotel for a bit (so much walking!), we walked to a little place called the Broadway Oyster Bar.  I fell in love with this place.  The dining room is an enclosed patio with a tree growing in the middle of it.  It's dirty, the music is loud and the food is great.  We had raw oysters followed by really yummy Cajun food.  We tried to go bowling at this place but it was just too busy.  Really great space though.  The best bowling alley I have ever seen.  My mom would have loved it.







   
Yesterday, we got up early to go up into the arch.  I think we rode the first tram.
As beautiful as the arch is in photographs, it is stunning in person.  So big and shiny!  It is so great to be driving around the city and see it peeking out from behind the other buildings.  It is unlike anything I have ever seen. 
    The view from the top is great.  They have the walls slanted so you are literally laying on your stomach looking down 600 feet.  Once you get up there, you realize what a feat of  engineering it is.  It really does not seem like that thing should be standing.













    Then, to the zoo!!!   I have not been to a zoo in so long. The animals
were great and we had a great time. 

    All in all, it was a great trip.  It was my first long drive with my new car (we even drove past the place where my old car decided to die).  I don't know if we will end up in St. Louis but I feel like I could live there, for sure.  It really is part southern and part mid-western.  Anywhere you go for dinner has free music, the people are great and the city is really beautiful.  They have managed to keep the old parts of the city in good shape while adding new.  There are tons more photos here.