Father/Daughter Trip Day 2

The view from our hotel room (17th floor).

Lunch at JJ's (Jimmy John's) - the girls choice.  They each got the #1. (Note from Jolene: I am not sure if you needed to add #1 sandwich, Dad!!!!!   But it was good!)

We took the train out to Central Park and went ice skating.

On the way back from Central Park we stopped at Union Station  to get some Subway sandwiches.  I had no idea this destination existed.

Union Station is an old train station (at one time the busiest in the world) repurposed into a mall with food, shopping, and a hotel.  This time of year it is decorated and had various groups singing Christmas Carols.  We should have allowed more time here.

With supper in hand, we boarded our 5:30PM train headed northbound for home.

The girls are convinced that supper tastes better on the train.  We made it home a little before 10PM.

A good time was had by all.  It was a trip to remember.

Father/Daughter Trip to St. Louis

We left Bloomington/Normal Amtrak station at 9:14AM Friday.

We carried everything in two back packs.  Dad necessities accounted for about 1/6 of the supplies we brought.  The girls made up for the rest.

Eating oatmeal on the train made with hot water we got from the snack car.

As our train came into St. Louis there was a low fog such that all you could see was the base of the arch. When Jolene saw this view she exclaimed loudly "Oh look, the buildings are leaning!"  I had to explain to her that she was seeing just the bottom parts of the arch.

We arrived in St. Louis at 12:20PM and it was raining.  We walked a mile in the rain to our hotel.  We got wet, but it was fun.  We are staying at the Hilton at the ballpark.  We have a view of the arch from our 17th floor room.

After we checked into our hotel and got dry clothes on we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch.  We got to eat in the trolly car.

We went to the arch next.  This is our attempt at a groupie at the arch.

Going up in the tram.  Note from Jolene: Notice my face-The Tram was about going to go. I was nervous that Dad would not make it on the Tram on time!!!!!!(Note from Dad: Someone has to do the worring)

There were not very many visitors at the arch, so we were the only ones in our tram.

It was so foggy that you could hardly see the court house!

A nice lady offered to take a picture of our group.  To our suprise when looking back through our pictures we saw that there was a guy that was posing in our picture.  We don't know him from Adam and did not know he was there.  We don't even remember seeing him up top.  Wierd.

After about 5 pictures he began to back away.  I hope he enjoyed it.  I don't know why the nice lady taking our picture didn't say something unless they were working together on a practical joke.

After we got back from the arch we went swimming and then dressed up nice to go out to eat at a fancy restaurant.  

Carmine's Steak House which was a block away from our hotel.  Cloth napkins, candles, pretty plates. We didn't know how to act.

For dessert we went to "Yo My Goodness Frozen Yogurt".

This was interesting in that you serve yourself in a bowl.  Lots of different flavors to choose from.  Then you add whatever toppings you want.  At the checkout they weigh your creation and charge you $.44/oz.  It may sound cheap, but it adds up.

We concluded the day with a second swim. Note from Jolene: Dad did not get in the second time!!!  :( 

It was a great day.