Sunday October 7
It was another chilly morning but leaving Springfield behind we travelled through Illinois and 164 miles onto Missouri and St Louis.
It's on the bus again for another busy day!
A comfort stop on the way to St Louis and a quick photo with Dennis the bus driver.
Crossing the Mississippi River we stopped to walk over the old bridge that once formed part of Route 66 years ago. These days it is not used for cars but we were able to walk along the zig-zag, iron network of steel spanning the Mississippi. It was not hard to image cars of yesteryear driving across this old bridge joining the two sides of the mighty river.
The old bridge following Route 66 in years gone by.
Next it was on to the Gateway Arch which towers over the city of St Louis on the shores of the Mississippi. Although not as tall as the Sears Building if does rise 192 meters up. The tour made quite a “close” ride in small five seated capsules to the top taking four minutes to reach the top to an observation area before travelling three minutes back to the bottom.
The Gateway Arch - an impressive structure
Getting ready to travel to the top with everyone waiting to enter the numbered doors.
The "Pods" did not allow a great deal of room when travelling to the top of the Gateway Arch.
At the base was an interesting museum with displays of America during the wide west days.
Even the bear enjoyed learning about the cowboys and indians!
Lunch was at the old St Louis Union Station which was absolutely incredible and majestic. Today it has been converted to a hotel and shopping court but the essence of the building is still in keeping with the old, although now new.
After lunch it was off to a traditional drive-by ice-cream parlor (Ted Drewes) which had been part of the original Route 66. It was as if time had stood still and it wasn’t too hard to imagine cars of by gone days pulling in to buy the family an ice-cream.
Everyone lining up for ice-cream.
Ted Drewes ice-cream - part of the Route 66 tradition.
Yum, yum
The last stop of the day was completed by a trip to the Budweiser factory. This place was incredible and not what was expected. The complex is large and the buildings have been restored and maintained not just a brewery but a work of art. This Budweiser facility is one of five across the US and the volume of beer produced per minute was incredible. Everything was spotlessly clean and the architecture even in the beer making buildings that we saw was architecturally beautiful as well. To top the visit up everyone was able to partake in complimentary ale or two.
Budweiser Brewery - St Louis
Ted having a good time.
The facilty was also a piece of art.
Budweiser bottling department
The Budweiser Clydesdales, which is mascots these days for the company, have stables that are also incredible and are housed in a lap of luxury not just at the facility but also live in a farm in a nearby county.
One of the Budweiser "ponies"
Nothing but the best for the "nags"!
Even horses equipment room was a work of art!
The St Louis Union Station Marriott was the accommodation for the night and part of the complex where we had had lunch and part of the old railway station. Although a little bit scattered due to it being set up in the old railway station (not just your run of the mill suburb station but it would be the same or even larger that the Adelaide Railway Station. However the interior and fittings reflect an era a long time ago and from the outside looks like a castle.
St Louis Union Station food court and arcade.
St Louis Union Station Marriott Hotel and home for the night.
The Lobby and bar
The detail was incredible! No expense spared.
The view from above looking down the main foyer.
This was one of the busiest railway station in the US.
It has been another full day and everyone ready to drive on to Branson tomorrow.
Hey I hope Ted didn't have too many Bud's. Its fantastic Judy, really interesting.
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