Labor's Day Trip - Getaway to St. Louis, Missouri - Day 2 & 3

Continuing from the last post.. We had one whole day to spend in St. Louis and a few hours in the next day before going back to Champaign. :)

First stop was St. Louis Art Museum, located in Forest Park area, the same as St. Louis Zoo. :D The museum building was simply artistic and reminded me a lot of Greek temples.

St. Louis Art Museum

Across the museum, there was a very large park with a big pond in the middle. It was called the Great Basin.

The Great Basin

Inside the art museum, there were a lot of sections, representing the style of the art pieces exhibited. We found some interesting art pieces and took pictures of them.

The curtain fold in Japanese style

Contemporary art

The journey in Forest Park ended here. Next stop will be the Hill, an area in St. Louis famous for its Italian style houses and restaurants. On the way to the bus stop, we passed W.P. Pavillion in Forest Park, another landmark in here. :)

Leaving Forest Park..

W.P. Pavillion

After a long ride, we finally reached the Hill. Apparently, there was a cycling competition at that day and a lot of residents were gathering outside their houses to watch.

Even the hydrant is painted in Italy flag colors

The cycling race almost started

Our lunch place, Guido Pizzeria

For lunch we had the famous toasted ravioli with meat sauce in Guido Pizzeria, a famous restaurant in the Hill. We left the Hill area at about 3 o'clock and went straight ahead to St. Louis Galleria, a shopping centre we went in the first day. And that's how we ended our second day with shopping fiesta. :p

On the last day, we only had about 2 hours to spend before the bus departed. So, we walked around the downtown area near the hotel and visited the most famous landmark in St. Louis, the Gateway Arch. I believe the arch was used to symbolize the westward expansion in the US a long time ago. :)

The stunning view of the Gateway Arch

It looked like a white rainbow :p

Jefferson Expansion Memorial,

located across the Gateway Arch

It was finally time to waive goodbye to St. Louis as the bus left towards Champaign..

Last view of St. Louis and the Arch

After a tiring 3.5 hours bus ride, we arrived in Champaign safe and sound. Moreover, we just realized that fall has started and the temperature went down rapidly. :D Back in the house, all the NICI friends were curious about our St. Louis trip. And there's also a newcomer in the gang..

Hmm.. Who are you? We never see you before..

Hi, I'm St. Louis Cardinal's mascot,

my name is Mr. Rave :p

Let's be friend from now on!!

And everybody was happy to meet their new friend... ^^