Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

The Basilica is a great example of Byzantine architecture. With many green domes and half domes supporting it’s roof, it is reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia. The interior is adorned by more than three million mosaic tesserae, many of gold and silver leaf. It is a dazzling sight.

St. Louis Capitol Building

The original captitol building stands in downtown St. Louis. It is a lovely building in the classic style. The dome is particularly impressive seen from within.

Caverns

I love to visit caves. Something about the dark and the cool makes me happy. There are several large cave systems in Missouri, so we decided to visit one that was on our travel path. The caverns were very dramatically lit, with many tall features. The finale was a light display set to music in a tall space called the Theatre.

This particular cave system featured several undergound lakes, areas where the water was still and shallow. The paths had been setup to take advantage of these areas and showcase them to visitors. I did not see any fish.

The Depot

An old train station in St. Louis has been reclaimed instead of demolished, becoming a welcoming shopping mall. The wrought iron and glass ceiling still covers the platform area, where restaurants, carts, and boutique shops now stand. Featuring the Hard Rock Cafe and a 5 star hotel, it is a downtown destination.

Ready To Eat

Outside Captain Bo’s restaurant, there are canals filled with koi. A vending machine dispenses fish food pellets. The big koi are ready. Whenever a person steps up to the edge of the canal, dozens of koi crowd the surface, jostling each other for position closest to the person and opening and closing their mouths waiting for the food to be dropped down.