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.

 

 

 

 

Fort Leonard Wood with Kristy, John, Anthony

 

On our way to visit Kristy, John and Anthony we stopped at Lambert's, a restaurant that we had seen on the Food Channel Network. It is noted for its Southern food and throwing rolls to the patrons even a couple of aisles over We did catch our rolls. Not only do they toss rolls around the place but workers come over with samples of fried okra, sorgum for the rolls and fried potatoes. The food is so-so but it is a fun place

 

 

a view of the section of the restaurant that we sat in

the young man about to toss a roll to a patron

We spent a day and a half with Kristy, John and Anthony. The night of our arrival we went to The Cave Restaurant for dinner. The restaurant is located in a cave up  a very narrow, one way,steep hill. One parks below and a driver takes you up to the restaurant and I was one the cliff side looking down. They also have rustic log cabins for rent as the water below is noted for its trout. There a couple of little shops on the side of the cliff - one with beautifully carved wooden chest and other objects and a candy store much to the delight of Anthony.

you can take the spiral staircase up to enter or down to exit or go inside the structure in the rear. You can see Patsy entering and there is an elevator that will take you up.

The tables inside - you can see Kristy on the left lower side

Anthony, wearing his Darcula sweatshirt, standing below a cougar

a picture of us about to enjoy a very nice meal

 

coming out of the candy shop, Anthony has his bag of sweets and Patsy bought the waxed lips for Anthony to wear

I am at Anthony's school at lunch time which is 10:40. They a a special table for students and their parents or family members to eat. The kids cannot talk during lunch and there is a drill sargent aid who enforces the rules. She put 3 kids in the timeout table for talking during lunch time. If a child has a family member visiting, he can whisper.

the line up to go back to class. See Anthony the fourth from the last

 

In the afternoon, we took a ride around the base, which is very large - a PX, Commissary, fast food places, movie theater, bowling lanes, golf course, indoor pools, etc.

 

a beautiful river on the base where Kristy and John take Anthony swimming and tubing

Waynesville on Route 66 just outside the base

 

 

Branson, MO, day 4

Today was a beautiful day with a nice breeze in the air so Patsy and I went to Thousand Oak Golf Course. We had done the show things for the past 4 days and this is our last day here. I drove the cart around the very hilly course. It reminded me of The time we golfed at Stone Mountain in Georgia.

Patsy teeing off on hole 1

teeing off on hole 3

on hole 3, two other men joined us, Bill from Kansas City and Greg, who was with his wife and from Oklahoma, so from here on there was a threesome.

 

This evening we had dinner at the Keeter Center, which is located at the College of the Ozarks. The college has 1500 students with 44 majors and minors. They only accept qualified students of need - 65% from the Ozarks and every student gets a free 4 year education. They must work 15 hrs. a week and one 40 hrs week a semester in any of the colleges jobs. Our waitress was from Slovenia. The building that the Keeter Center was located in was a replica of a Maine lodge. The original lodge was and exhibit in the St. Louis World's Fair and moved to the college. It burnt to the ground and a replica was built in its place.

 

the outside of the Keeter Center

the inside going into the dining room

outside the dining room

on the back patio looking at the grounds - there is a herd of cows at the end of the lawn

a bouquet of real flowers on our table

Patsy and me after having a very nice meal. Most of the food on the menu is produced right here at the college.

the college emblem

 

a look at the dining room - note the copper ceiling, the chairs are made of tree limbs, a beautiful stone fireplace.

 

Branson, MO, day 3

the Branson Belle paddleboat located on Lake Taneycoma

the Chateau on the Lakes Resort and Spa

another resort on the lake

 

We went on a luncheon cruise today on the Branson Belle, a paddlewheeler boat, on Lake Taneycomo. It was a picture perfect day to be out on the water. Our cruise also included a show, "Made in the USA." We had an unexpected twist while on the cruise as you will see.

the dam constructed on the lake, which generates electricity for the area

looking down at one of the paddlewheels, which powers the boat

the pilot house

 

one of the acts, a fiddler, who was very good. When we were in Pembroke, Ontario. there were 10,000 fiddlers and dancers performing at one of the parks on the lake. This fiddler was there. Can you imagine that!!!

Next was a vocal act with four young women singers. Patsy was invited on stage to participate in the act. He looks a little like he has stage fright here, but it was short lived.

getting into the act - first time jitters

look, he has his arms around two of the singers

 

Now they are hugging him and a third singer is trying to get into the act - he is in his glory!

Patsy begins to sing with the group

getting into a little dance with a little two step - What a guy!!! I think he likes it. I can tell you that many of the men in the audience were jealous.

 

the finale - our fiddler, the 4 singers and a great ragtime pianist

 

We went to the Legends in Concert in the evening - saw Greg Straits - country music, Aretha Franklin - Nedgra Culp a look-a-like double - even fooled Patsy but she has a fabulous voice, The Blues Brothers who did a fantastic job, Liberace - more of a comedian who acted liked Liberace than a great pianist, and Elvis -not a good look-a-like except for the hair who sang all Elis' songs but didn't have the moves - Tony Roi played a much better Elvis.

Got 3 pictures during intermission as flash cameras could not be used.

 

the Blues Brothers during intermission

Aretha Franklin look-a-like talking to a fan

Greg Strait