Cleveland, OH Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame

This building is the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, which is well worth visiting. Every artist and band is portrayed with clothing, pictures, memorabilia, songs, and even short films. You cannot take pictures once you go into the museum, only in the lobby. As you notice the front has many guitars, which are painted to represent a particular theme. Below I have taken pictures of several that I liked.

Patsy standing by the Cleveland guitar

 

more displayed in the lobby

some very decorative cars hanging midair in the lobby

Marine Week

 

Flower Power

Super Hero

 

No Stone Left Untouched

Time Warp

I'm in with the Band

Cleveland Icons

 

Teach a Man to Fish

Underground Railroad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Arbor, MI 2012

Recently Patsy has really gotten into TruTV and is intrigued by Hard Core Pawn Stars. Mainers pronounce pawn "porn" so our friends thought that we were were watching pornography. Well, here is Patsy outside the Pawn shop on this TV program, American Jewelry and Loan in Detroit, thanks to David and Nancy for taking us there. You can see to the right some of the friends, Hector and Leon, he has made upon entering the establishment.

 

Patsy is at the back of the line entering the Pawn Shop. As you can see everyone is either pawning something or trying to get something out of pawn

Patsy noticed this item on the show and thought that it might make a nice memento to bring home but I said it was too large to fit into the car so he couldn't get it. As you can see he is in true disbelief that I would say such a thing

 

Pawn Detroit - the Golden Albums displayed in the background

 

 

We met a couple of regulars in the store, Trayvon and Tashaonda, Patsy took a real liking to them

 

 

one of the workers but this guy has signed no disclaimers so he could give me the real info

one of the sales persons Patsy favor on the program

 

Someone arguing with Les, the owner of the shop and star of the program, wants an item that was pawned but couldn't produce the receipt for the item. The bodyguard asked me not take any more pictures as things were starting to heat up 

Finally Patsy is meeting Les. he is telling Les that he has travelled 4000 miles to meet him and see the shop. Patsy is truly excited to be in the establishment and meet the owner. It was on his "Bucket List."

 

Les' comment to Patsy about traveling 4000 miles to see him and the shop, "You're an idiot!!!" Patsy was totally dismayed with his comment. In fact you can see that he is contesting that comment.

After a little make up talk, we see both of them smiling

 

This evening we went to the theater in Chelsea to see Superior Donuts

The fellow on the left owns the donut shop and was a draft dodger during the Vietnam War. He came home when Carter pardoned them, fell in love with a woman and had a daughter . He left that relationship and didn't keep in contact with his family until his wife died. His daughter let him know but be couldn't reunite with her.

The boy on the right applies for a job at the donut shop and John hires him. John eventually is able to form a bond with the boy. I really enjoyed the play. There were some funny incidents to lighten up a serious topic.

 

My cousin, Nancy, and her husband, David, waiting to see the play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin, TN

 

On our way from Kristy's we stopped at Metropolis, Ill to visit. Below is the statue of Superman, which was located in the town square

 

Here we are in Franklin. Sis and I are downtown going to a Farmer's Market and into the shops which are located in the rehabbed mill behind while Patsy, Greg and Nate are off golfing for the day. There are all sorts of artisans selling their wares. This is the product of one of the artisans, who uses scraps of old metal. I did buy a couple of paintings that I liked. I didn't take many pictures during this segment of the trip, but looking back wish I had. I guess I was too busy talking.

On our way to Cincinnati, we drove over to Fort Knox to see the depository, which was really out of the way. We had to take some back roads to get there. As I drove through the gait, I asked the guard where the depository was. He had no clue and said that if we pulled into the parking area, he would send out someone who could give us directions. He said that we had just passed it and that we couldn't go up to it or take pictures of it. He said give it a try but they might stop you. We turned around and I slowed down for Patsy to take a picture. It was rained buckets so this is the best it gets.

Further on our journey we stopped in Louisville to get bats for our grandchildren, Pasquale and Maddalena. We had them made for them and they even engraved their names on the bats.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

It was hard leaving this morning as Anthony was very surprised that we were leaving. He wanted us to stay longer. We told him that we had to get home to our family and gave him a hug before he left for school.
In St. Louis we went to see the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, which has one of the largest mosaic collections in the world. It was created by 45 artists, covering 83,00 square feet and contain 41.5 million pieces of glass tessare with over 7,000 colors. The project began in 1912 ans was completed in 1988. In 1997, Pope John Paul II designated it a Basilica because of its beauty and historical significance.The Basilica has 11 sections: the Narthex, the Historic Bay and Dome, the Central Dome, the West Transept, the East Transept, the Sanctuary Dome, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Bisshops Hall, the Blessed Virgin's Chapel, the All Saints Chapel, and the All Souls Chapel.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. I can't remember in which sections I took all the pictures.

the door into the Basilica

the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

looking down to the altar - all the religious mosaics are everywhere you see color - they are amazing

 

in the All Souls Chapel

one of the mosaic domes

 

a column which is all mosaic

 

mosaics on the ceiling

 

 looking back at the entry

 

This and below are 3 of the mosaics depicting scenes about the life of Saint Louis, King of France, patron saint of the city.