Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Glide St. Louis Monday

(Click on the title above to link to Glide St. Louis)




Monday, October 5th, we got up early and hit the street. A busy schedule this morning before we leave for Branson. Sally found a Segway tour outfitter, called Glide St. Louis, and arranged for us to take a tour. She also booked passage for us on the riverboat "Tom Sawyer".


So, at 8:00 we headed to the Marriott, the square block on the other side of the street across the bridge.



There on the right by the fancy street lights is the Marriott entrance.



This is the very stylish Marriott Hotel lobby. The tour meets in the lobby of the Courtyards by Marriott at 8:30. Since we are about a 1/2 hour early Sally calls to verify our tour time. Oops! Wrong Marriott!


I won't do the "I told you so." Back on the street, head west, about a block the other side of our hotel. Now we can just make it. That worked up a good glow and got some exercise.


The Segway tour was not without problems in the booking. We originally discussed whether we preferred the Downtown St. Louis City Tour, the Forest Park Tour or the Historic Soulard Neighborhood Tour. Sally and I decided on the Downtown St. Louis City Tour.


Sally called to book Sunday afternoon a week in advance. Monday Joe called back and apologized, his partner had booked Forest Park for Sunday afternoon. We could do the Forest Park Tour Sunday afternoon. Then he called back Wednesday, the tour was already full. Joe was really sorry and we can do any tour we would like on Monday morning. It would be just the two of us and because we had so many changes it would be 1/2 price. Sally said the only problem is we have a riverboat cruise at 11:30 Monday morning. Joe said that wasn't a problem. We could start early and he would get us back in time.



Sally stepped right on without a problem. Joe steadied the stick and she followed directions well. I had the advantage of hearing everything described by Joe then seeing it executed by Sally.


Okay! She can stand! Now the instructions on how to move. No comedy filmed. She went without a hitch.


We maneuvered in the parking lot for a few minutes to get the hang of going, turning, stopping and backing. The comedy was me when I went up the sidewalk ramp and turned. The sidewalk is sloped side to side after the turn and I was staying upright on the Segway. Well, that made me move the stick and I turned too sharply. There was a drop off of a couple inches and I turned more and sped over the curb. I just bent my knees like skiing and rode it down.

Like in the commercial, "I'm good."



We're off! I'm in back so I can take pictures. So maybe you don't realize that after 15 minutes of training and practice I am taking pictures WHILE driving. This is just that easy to pick up and go. And it is fun. You have to try this some day. You can donate to my Segway Fund then apply to ride mine.




We went by the FBI office. I didn't get to ask about the Epps brothers.


The post office has a part in my past. This is where I reported for the draft.


The Kiel Opera House is right next to the Auditorium and was a performing arts Mecca in central Illinois.


This is the Scottrade Center, home of the NHL's St. Louis Blues. A very modern building next door to an old one.



The Sheraton Hotel City Center is beautiful trompe l'oeil. This is in reality a flat facade, totally unremarkable. If you click on the photo and look at the "obelisk" on the right, there is a painted falcon. The story is that birds were fooled and kept trying to land on the obelisk so the falcon was painted to keep the birds away.


St. Louis City Hall is modeled after the Paris City Hall. It had become black from the air pollution of an industrial city. When it was cleaned it was determined that some stains were deeper within the limestone and could not be removed without damage to the stone. So today it is a mottled pattern of stone and discoloration. The architecture is still grand.

The mayor's office is still on the third floor.


This is the Thomas Eagleton U. S. Courthouse, the largest courthouse in the United States. It opened on September 11, 2000.

Thomas Eagleton was a candidate for Vice President with Eugene McCarthy. He was force to withdraw because he admitted to having received treatment for depression.


Cupples Station is one of several warehouses that have been re purposed and "saved" as a part of St. Louis History.


On to Busch Stadium. This is the third stadium in my lifetime, so far. I saw Stan Musial play in the old park. Then they tore that down and built the white one that I found reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome. Now that too is gone and we have this park. This park has a good 'feel' to it. It is done in the red brick that is famous in St. Louis. The statues in front are of Cardinal heroes. Down the street on third base side is a plaza in the bleachers.


The red brick building is the first skyscraper. It isn't very tall by today's standards. It may not be true as told. It may be the only remaining one on 'Real Estate Row'.


This is Kiener Plaza situated directly West of the Thomas Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.

The Morton D. May Memorial Amphitheater is a favorite for weddings.


These arches were like the Chicago bovine of a few years ago. Various entities bought and decorated these arches that were then distributed around the city. They were then auctioned for charity.


This reflection on the UMB Bank contains the old courthouse. It is famous as the site of the Dread Scott case was argued here.


Citygarden is a Park full of artwork that people can touch and sit and enjoy and kids can interact with.



The walking animation is the art. The sound is ground keeper's equipment.

The "World War Memorial" commemorates WW I.
Of course at that time they didn't know there would be another.

Aloe Plaza constructed 1936 to 1939.
Joe leading the way.
"The Meeting of the Waters." This sculpture represents the union of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers by the male and female forms in the center. The smaller water spirits represent the seventeen tributaries to the two rivers. It us 'anatomically correct' and was scandalous in the 1930s.
When it was completed, it was filled with water from each river and each tributary during a ceremonial opening.

1 comment:

Kyle said...

Very impressive! It looks like you got to see a lot on the tour. And all without crashing. George W. Bush, eat your heart out. I bet you guys can eat pretzels without choking too! Show offs.