SUNDAY IN ST. LOUIS, MO

May 17, Sunday

We had to take a taxi to church today but one of the members took us back to the motel. The Fulton Ward has a large membership of medical and law students and their families. A very sweet feeling in the ward with the young couples and their young families. Sharp teachers and great comments in the classes. Here again there was a "Linger Longer" being held after the meetings. It is scheduled on the third Sunday to accommodate the High Councilor and companion speakers who usually have to come quite a distance. Our ride home wasn't staying for the dinner so we went back to the hotel and did a little more sight seeing. We first rode the metro rail train to see the St. Louis Basilica, a Catholic cathedral constructed in the years 1907 - 14 in honor of King Louis of France. It contains the world's largest collection of mosaic art on the ceiling and walls. Most of the mosaic is German with some Italian. As Rusty and I approached the Basilica there was a group of about ten in a tour with a Catholic priest. He was the priest of their parish and was giving them kind of a "personal" tour. We just slipped in with the group and hoped to blend. :) We missed his information about the outside of the building but went inside to the foyer and down to the museum. Tours or tourists are not allowed into the cathedral when mass is taking place but the priest was able to take his small group in the back and continue his private tour in very hushed tones. We found it very beautiful and interesting. I wonder if later people in the group said "who were those people?" " I thought you knew them" "No, I thought you did."
We rode the train back to the Jefferson Expansion Memorial Arch and took the "side car" up to the top. The ride takes 4 minutes up and 3 1/2 down but tickles your tummy all the way. The little side car had no windows, which was a good thing because I was remembering the movie from the day before. Once on top we could feel the arch move and sway kind of like being on a cruise ship. One of the other tourists said she had been up there once before when the wind was quite strong and the arch was swaying. Oh my!
We can now say we've been tourists in St. Louis!