St. Louis travel pics! EXTREME DIALUP WARNING!

[EstimatedProphet]

The fun we had...

7/3/07
We rented a car, because our car doesn't have AC right now. Enterprise upgraded us several jumps - we rented a Cobalt, and we got this for the same price, which was HALF of the next best deal from other car rentals!



We got into town, and went to Ted Drewes, as many ex-St.Louisians do when they return. Best ice cream on the planet.



We placed an order to take home, then went to the Fair St. Louis, better known as the VP Fair. It was a mess, thanks to major design flaws in traffic flow put forth by idiots.



If you look real close in this picture, you can see part of a leg of one of the Goo Goo Dolls.



Here's the Arch, in the sunset:





The fireworks pretty much sucked. It was a good display, but far too short for a major metro area display.



The VP Fair used to be a lot of fun, but this year it was done badly. There were probably 350,000 people, all crammed into the waterfront along with the main stage, and 6 FOOD BOOTHS! The lines were literally 1,000 people long! Dumb.

7/4/07
So, the next day we went to Market Street Brewery to meet up with St. Louisians. It's in Laclede's Landing:



I got a beer sampler:



I liked their honey wheat so much, I bought a growler to take home:



We met up with Landaddy, on the right:



The Schnuck's (local grocery store where we got supplies for the night) near our hotel has a problem with headless zombies.



So after the disappointing time at the riverfront, we decided to head to St. Charles for the 4th celebration. Much more fun! There was a huge crowd, but it wasn't forced into one narrow place, and there was plenty of food and crafts booths to go around.



St. Charles is a cool little town:





Beautiful sunset...



Then the fireworks started, which was a better display than the big one downtown IMO.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Estimatedprophet/STL/?action=view¤t=100_4467.flv

Here's some links to video we shot of the fireworks:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Estimatedprophet/STL/?action=view¤t=100_4466.flv
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Estimatedprophet/STL/?action=view¤t=100_4467.flv
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Estimatedprophet/STL/?action=view¤t=100_4468.flv
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/Estimatedprophet/STL/?action=view¤t=100_4469.flv

Afterwards we went to another brewpub and had a couple beers waiting for the crowd to dissipate. It was a busy day.

7/5/07
The next day we went touring. We got produce and meats at Soulard Market, then went to G&W Meats for bratwurst. G&W is a great place, in part because they give you a beer to drink while you're shopping, free of charge. Nothing like a beer at 9:30 a.m. while picking out brats!

Lunch at the Scottish Arms. I had haggis fritters and a smoked salmon club. The Prophetess had Shepherd's pie. Really good food. Neat restaurant:









Then off to Swiss and Hermann. We toured Stone Hill Winery in Hermann. REALLY GOOD STUFF! This is Hermann:



Here's the wine storage rooms, carved out of the hillside:





So, 2 fireworks displays, 2 trips to get ice cream, 3 butchers, and 1 winery in 2 days. We're tired. St. Louis is a fun place with a lot to do, and a very friendly city indeed. Everywhere we went we ran into people who were happy to strike up a conversation at a moment's notice.

[Maestro]

1. Thanks for sharing.

Nice Cruiser and the winery looks cool. I'd love to own one I think.

[EstimatedProphet]

16. A Cruiser, or a winery?

I'd like to own both, actually.

We're sold on the Cruiser now. It was a dream to drive!

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. Great pics Prophet! Thanks. n/t

[darkstar]

5. See what I missed?

I suck a mile long lump of suckage.

[EstimatedProphet]

11. Dude, we'll be back! Promise!

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. I love St. Louis!

Went there for my friend's 21st bday a couple of weeks ago - we went to a Cardinals game and afterwards out to a couple of bars on Laclede's Landing. There's also a great zoo and botanical garden, for those into that sort of thing.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. The zoo is first rate

Not many people know this, but it was Marlin Perkins' zoo, of Wild Kingdom fame.

[darkstar]

4. Bummer of the summer. Looks like I missed a good time all around.

Again, friend, I appreciate the extended hand and hope it works out better on future trips.

Rock on!! :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear EstimatedProphet!

I really enjoyed seeing your pics.......

The countryside looks beautiful...

I haven't explored that part of the country at all...

Now I know what I'm missing!

Glad you two had such a great time!

:toast:

[darkstar]

7. As above, I missed it too.

Would have been my first DU get together. And my first DU pictures. Instead, I'll remain a cipher.

Good to see you so early in the evening, Peggy!!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. My dear darkstar....

Aw, sweetie....Nice to see you as well!

I'm not going to be here much longer, though...

My dinnertime approaches!

I will be back later, though, I promise!

I'm sure that one sweet day you will get to a DU meetup......and then you'll be a cipher no longer!

:hug:

[EstimatedProphet]

19. Why, thank you!

I would definitely say you should travel to the Ozarks someday for the scenery.

[Solon]

9. You came to MY town, Moranville, and didn't stop by to say hi?!?

:grr:

Just kidding! :)

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Dude you should have come to the meetup!

[EstimatedProphet]

18. Oh, and I forgot to say...

When we went in Trailhead brewpub, I got weirded out. I had on a sleeveless shirt (it was hot), and they made me put on a t-shirt to stay in the bar!

1) there's women in the bar wearing tank tops and spaghetti strap tops,

2) it's a BAR, not the Savoy!

Good beer though.

[bigwillq]

10. Those are great pics!

:bounce:

[EstimatedProphet]

14. Thanks! It was a great trip!

[scarlet_owl]

15. Those pictures make me homesick for my hometown.

Glad you had a good time! Mmmmm. Ted Drewes *drool*.

[EstimatedProphet]

17. Always my first stop

And they ship too!

[snailly]

20. Glad you all had fun!

You were about 2 miles from me, dammit! Wish I'd known you were here. I probably would have gotten you shit faced on the Landing or in St. Charles and made you pose for some embarrasing pics. lol

[EstimatedProphet]

21. And I would have drunk it all, and enjoyed it!

[snailly]

26. Isn't Missouri beautiful?

Seriously, next time you come through send me a pm. We would have a blast!

[EstimatedProphet]

28. OK

[SeattleGirl]

22. Great pics! Really love the sunset one.

:hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

23. Thanks! It was a beautiful night

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. How did you like driving the Cruiser?

They're SUCH cute cars!

Love your pics! Wish I could go brewpubbing out there... :toast:

[EstimatedProphet]

25. We were sold almost immediately

We're now seriously considering getting one.

[Arugula Latte]

27. That restaurant reminds me of that SNL skit: "If it's not Scottish, it's crap!"

Thanks for the pics!

[EstimatedProphet]

29. Really good food though

And a lot of it. We were stuffed for hours!

[pstokely]

30. Did you see this guy?

[EstimatedProphet]

32. I sure didn't

[GirlinContempt]

31. How much were the sporrans?

I see them under a sign that says they were for sale

[EstimatedProphet]

33. They didn't have prices on them

I was wondering too, but since I hae na kilt, there wasn't a point in looking into them this time, really.

[OzarkDem]

34. I'm homesick!

Laclede's Landing looks great, as do all the other spots you visited.

Wouldn't it be great if Cleveland's Flats looked as good? No way.

[EstimatedProphet]

35. Yeah, I felt like I was home again

I've been in any number of cities but St. Louis seems like home to me.