Images of St. Paul / Minneapolis

This is Chapter Two of the big trip to Minnesota and back. Gail joined me for a few days while we occasionally helped Nick and Cassidy get furniture, etc.  We also had time to wander around St. Paul and see some sights.  Our timing happened to coincide with the foliage colors, and the weather wasn't too bad either.

We had time to walk from our motel to the Como Park Conservatory. It, the museum, and the zoo are free.

Looking across the Mississippi River at night towards Minneapolis.

The next morning, Gail and I walked along the Mississippi River and went down the bank to check out Shadow Falls.  In this picture we are standing behind the falling water looking outward.

After a few blocks we walked by Andria's and Dave's old apartment on Montrose Street.

This is the street in front of the apartment.

Another view of the Mississippi River, with a rowing team in training.

We saw woodpeckers and robins in these trees along the river.

Our hotel at Bandana Square was quite unique.  It was an old train maintenance building made into a hotel.  That is the lobby down below, with old tracks running across the floor.

The night before we left, Nick, Cassidy, Gail, and I went to a concert at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown, Minneapolis.  Since I failed to take pictures, I grabbed a few pictures off the net for illustrative purposes.

It was a very cool venue, elaborately sculpted and decorated in kind of a retro/Alice in Wonderland way, with shades of Madonna Inn.  The sound and lighting were top notch.  (Picture stolen from net.)

The opening group was Faun Fables (minus the 2 little girls).  They were a duo out of Oakland who were refreshing in their creativity.  (Picture stolen from net.)

Then came Rasputina, who blew our minds with their cellos, drums, voices, looks, and music unlike anything we've heard before.  So talented!  In the middle is Melora Creagar, the founder and directress.  She has kept the group going for 20 years with various musicians coming and going.  Rasputina's music seems perfect for the Steampunk movement.  (Picture stolen from the net.)

On our last morning, we took some pictures of Hamline University where Gail's mother taught art for a short time after graduating there.

The Hamline campus is very Ivy League looking.

This is a sign you don't see too often!

Nick's and Cassidy's neighborhood has some neat old family run businesses that really make you feel at home.  We loved the mural on the outside of the little drug store just around the corner from their apartment.  This is just part of the whole mural.

Well, we finally had to say goodbye to Cassidy and Nick, and begin Chapter 3 of our road trip - a meandering drive back to San Diego through the Great Southwest.  Post coming soon!