The Gateway Arch

We did a little sight seeing while in St. Louis. A group of us went to the Gateway Arch - Jim, Ginger, Bill, Jewels, Me, Don, Giselle and all of our respective children. The weather was nice getting to the Arch, but clouds began to form on our walk from the parking garage. By the time we made it up to the top the wind was really blowing. The Arch is built to sway...and it was. Giselle didn't last long and headed down within minutes. The kids and I held out a little longer, but #1 and #2 were getting uneasy (queasy) so we went down after 10 minutes. I asked a tram attendant if they closed the Arch due to wind. He said when it swayed more than 5 inches. I asked him what it was doing at that time. His response was, "only 2!" Trust me, 2 inches feels like 200 at 630 feet!

My parents and I visited St. Louis in 1977. MaryLynn and John were living there, and we spent Thanksgiving with them. Donald was a baby. I remember visiting the Arch then. The "tram" that takes you up to the top is basically a glorified dryer drum. It holds 5 people uncomfortably. The view from the top is great, but scary. The windows tilt down, so you have to lean over to take in the views properly. I remember going up the tram in 1977, peeping out the window at the graffiti on the emergency stair walls wondering how anyone got in there. I then thought how in the world we would go from the tram to the stairs if it got stuck. Then I remember looking at my mom and the look on her face. I think child #1 and I had a similar experience this year. My favorite quote of the day was #1 saying, "Mom, you know I don't like elevators, right?" With #2 piping up immediately, "You know I don't like ROUND elevators, right?" #3 thoroughly enjoyed the ride by saying "WEEEEE" all the way up. Jewels and I sat hunched over during the 8 minute rocking ride up to the top.

The airports need to hire the security screeners from the Arch complex. We got there just minutes after it opened. The line to be searched was already long. And, we were searched. The strollers even got checked. Once through the metal detectors, you travel down a ramp. The area below has two theaters, gift shop, a cool "dry goods" store that sold the best soap, candy, pretzels, and summer sausage - we all got food there for lunch, and a "Gateway to the West" museum. We saw "Lewis and Clark" on the IMax and a "how they made the Arch" film. That film was as old as the Arch - I remember seeing it in 77. OSHA was not around in the days of the Arch construction. Workers (who were all white!) smoked, did not wear shirts or safety harnesses. I guarantee there are just as many pounds of cigarette butts in the Arch walls as concrete.

As we left the complex rain started to fall. By the time we got to the cars it was pouring. By the time we made it on the freeway back to the hotel it was flooding. The sun was out when we got to the hotel! We felt quite at home with the crazy weather.

We had so much fun in St. Louis. We left Sunday. Everyone else stayed another day or two and did more. My parents even went on a Segway tour. We really enjoyed seeing other "parts" of the family. My hope is we can meet in the central US again soon!