St Louis, Missouri; St Patrick’s Day Parade – 3/14/2016

March 14, 2015 (Saturday)

Slept pretty good, even though the hotel was full of kids running up and down the hall (volleyball I think). Around midnight they seemed to settle down a bit and we were able to sleep better.

We woke up and looked outside. I saw some horses a little ways away but didn’t think much about it. We lazed around as we were loving the internet speed and were able to catch up a little bit (but still have a ways to go). Around 11:00 AM, we headed out. When we got out into the parking lot, we noticed a bunch of people dressed in old clothing standing near the curb. We walked over and saw old cars, people, bagpipes, dogs – all sorts of things. Stupid me asked what was going on and we were told it was the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is a big deal here, as evidenced by the size of the parade. I then knew why I had seen horses earlier.

The parade was gathering right in front of our parking lot.

Grumpy looking at the arch we want to see. Looks like it connects the two tall buildings in the center.

I got excited about the parade but knew it would be impossible to drive to the St. Louis Arch with the parade going on. I looked down the street and saw the arch right there, about a mile away. Very walkable, especially after the hikes we had taken in Europe. Nothing to it. We locked up our car and left the car in the Courtyard by Marriott parking lot and started walking towards the St. Louis Arch. Along the way we saw some amazing things – green people, dogs, etc. Huge parade and was fun going down the road seeing them all getting ready.

Their excitement went straight to Edie's head. She is an emotional chameleon. — Their excitement went straight to Edie’s head. She is an emotional chameleon.

We felt like we saw most of the parade before it began.

Old cars, green hair, Edie gets so excited. (Even saw a green beard and a green dog.)

About two blocks into our trek, we were approached by two women who offered us some green beads if we filled out some paperwork for H&R Block. We needed something green (didn’t want to get pinched), so filled it out and she not only gave us beads, but a drink cooler thing and some green pencils. We proudly put on our beads and continued walking towards the Arch and enjoying the people, animals, and architecture.

Both Michael and I were both so grateful that we had to walk to the St. Louis Arch because we had no idea how beautiful St. Louis was. So many statues, parks, old and artistic buildings. We loved all of it and decided we want to add St. Louis to our list of places to come back and explore more. Thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want to leave but needed to get on the road.

Big fire fighter in it's day. — Big fire fighter in it’s day.

The building is beautiful with great detail, especially the lamps.

Not a great display given the police tensions in the area. I just think low profile is smarter than high profile.

We had no idea there was so much interesting architecture.

Those Greeks, square columns with doric capitols. — Those Greeks, square columns with doric capitals.

The sidewalks get crowded, we are still headed to the arch. — The sidewalks got crowded. We are still headed to the arch.

Pretty woman zeroing in on the beastie statue.

Excellent words. Not sure what good they have done, but better with them than without them.

Corinthian capitols...Greeks. — Corinthian capitals…Greeks.

Reliefs. I wonder if the Greeks copied from the Egyptians.

The picture does not do justice to the shinny roof on the top of the round structure. — The picture does not do justice to the shiny roof on the top of the round structure.

Of course, a couple Greek columns with Doric Capitols. — Of course, a couple Greek columns with doric capitals.

Strange square box with a Greek temple on top.

I loved these and took to calling them Corinthian Nouveau. — I loved these and took to calling them corinthian nouveau.

The whole building had, for me, great touches.

Old city hall we think, getting closer to the arch. — Old city hall we think. Getting closer to the arch.

We stopped at a little place near the St. Louis Arch, called Angelo’s. They said they were famous for their baked ravioli, which we ordered along with a vegetarian pizza. The raviolis were mouth watering good. We wished we had just ordered more of them. The pizza was excellent but the raviolis were so different and yummy.

They were trying to make it look like a wall in Italy, not nearly enough graffiti. — They were trying to make it look like a wall in Italy, but there wasn’t nearly enough graffiti.

These baked ravioli were delicious, we chomped them up. — These baked ravioli were delicious. We chomped them up.

We left Angelo’s and walked a short distance to the St. Louis Arch. Such a marvel. It was build in the 1960’s to commemorate the Westward movement. It’s about 630 feet high and made of metal. It was on my bucket list to see so I had to touch it. Loved it, loved the parade, loved the ravioli, loved St. Louis. What a great day.

Even the odd in interesting and pretty. — Even the odd are interesting and pretty.

Heading back, arch reflected in the windows of the building.

Pretty woman in a park on the way back to the courtyard. — Pretty woman in a park on the way back to the Courtyard by Marriott.

A cafe called, "Death in the Afternoon." — A cafe called, “Death in the Afternoon.”

A veteran's memorial. — A veteran’s memorial.

We left around 3:00 PM (hated to leave) and drove to Sheridan, Illinois. The drive was almost five hours. We ate leftover pizza for dinner along the way. We stopped for gas and a potty break somewhere along the way. We were a little surprised at how agricultural Illinois is. We were also wondering why the lakes were such a different color, until we realized most were still frozen over.

We got into the resort around 7:00 PM. Check-in was at the reception/activity center and was quick and easy. We found our unit and went inside and were surprised because it was supposed to be a studio but we got a lovely two bedroom unit. No washer/dryer and no internet, but it’s quite lovely.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!