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The City Grocery Restaurant tucked in one
of Oxford, MS's old buildings surrounding the square. A real
breath of fresh air for us. They even offered fresh ground pepper
for my salad -- something we haven't found often in the south! |
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The square in Oxford with the courthouse.
All around it are very nice shops and only about a mile from
the Ole Miss campus. We could live here. |
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One of the shrines to Elvis at Graceland.
Many of his old costumes and awards line the walls of his old
racquetball court on the grounds of Graceland. |
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A rather impressive home on a hill at the
end of a long driveway, but inside, a real throwback to the 70's.
Green shag carpet, fake animal fur chairs, and really outrageous
period decor. His parents and grandmother also lived in this
house with him. |
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His favorite car -- The Pink Cadallic.
The car museum has many of his cars and motorcycles -- quite
a collection he had. |
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From the ridiculous to the sublime. This
is the award winning Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR.
A gorgeous setting in the Ozarks made almost entirely of glass
with a unique wood support system. Very Frank Lloyd Wright feeling. |
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In Branson, MO the variety of entertainment
is awesome -- even now, before the season really starts. This
evening was The Platters -- complete with the female singer in
a wheelchair from--what else, a broken ankle!! |
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The Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial
Park. A full scale replica -- that is Phil standing by the pillar
-- gives you an idea of how large it is. Quite beautiful. |
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Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff in bronze at
the Ryman Theatre -- the facial expressions are wonderful --
full of life and fun. |
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I'm sure these two will be huge Grand Old
Opry stars any day now -- what do you think? |
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A great view from the balcony of the Ryman
-- from the historic to the modern -- Nashville is definintely
a city on the move, they are doing all the right things to make
a vibrant town. |
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Dinner at the Outback with The Ritters
-- Bob and Marti, from Brookings SD. They came to join us in
Sioux City, IA for an afternoon. Bob and Phil went to middle
school together in Tacoma. Marti's 1st graders are following
our trip in class. |
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Lincoln, NE restored Haymarket district.
The warehouse district right by the train station. Nicely done
with restaurants, shops, etc. but that is about all we found
to enjoy here! |
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President Eisenhower's boyhood home --
and they raised 6 substantial boys in this very small home. It
is just as it was in 1946 when his mother passed away. Now part
of the Eisenhower Center in Abilene, KS |
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Statue of General Eisenhower in the garden
area of the Center. Also at this location is his library, the
chapel with his and Mamie's graves, as well as a very nice museum
of his life. |
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The second largest train station in the
country, very prominent in Kansas City, MO. |
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The inside of the main terminal building.
Spectacularly restored with $250M of funds! |
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Part of the station has been converted
to Science City -- a huge interactive exhibit for families. This
fountain goes all the way around, but allows entrance by stepping
on the metal in front of the fountain -- the kids loved it! |
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A typical building in the Contry Club Plaza
area of KC. This was the first "planned" shopping area
in the country, and still very nice with lots of great shops,
restaurants, etc. I even got my hair cut -- the first time since
Christmas!! |
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Lots of these cute whimiscal characters
all over the Plaza. We were particularly taken with this one,
since her name is Amy!! |
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Back in the 1850's the Dalton Gang planned
a robbery of this and another bank in Coffeyville, KS -- but
3 of the 4 outlaws met their demise in the attempt and are buried
in the cemetary here. The jail where the 4th was interred still
exists! |
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Phil braces for the hold up that never
happened inside the bank. |
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The Oklahoma City Memorial is absolutely
the most moving thing we have been to on the entire trip. A river
of water runs where the street was, and granite from the building
outlines where the Myrah building once stood. |
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The two entrances to the memorial read
9:01 and 9:03. The minute before and after so many people's lives
changed in this city. |
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Where the building once stood are 9 rows
(representing the 9 stories of the building) of chairs -- 168
in all -- one for each person who died -- small for children,
larger for adults. Each in the row representing the probable
floor they were on at 9:02. Truly a tragic day in our history. |
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A wonderful bronze statue outside the Cowboy
Museum of a cowboy at the end of a long day on the trail. Lots
of expression. |
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One of many statues in the museum. This
cougar is huge and so powerful looking. |
