The train leaves tonight at 11:00 p.m. So, what to do all day in MSP? Take the bus, of course. This time we headed to downtown Minneapolis to the Nicollet Mall near Target Field, Viking Metronome, the Convention Center and Target Headquarters.
It is for those who need some fresh air to go with their shopping and need to kill time before a game. One the pictures above is the inside of a shopping building - absolutely beautiful. There's no amusement park here, just elegance and Neiman Marcus (needless markup).
"Who can turn the world around with a smile?" Good 'ole Mary Richards!
I asked a young waitress where I could find the statue - she answered with a puzzled look, " oh . . . you mean that girl with the hat?" Ya! She gave me the wrong direction, but eventually I found the bronze that made Minneapolis famous . . . as far as I am concerned.
Bob again sat and read in a nice restaurant (no McDonald's for this guy) while I went hiking. Found two guys on different corners playing their accordions and half way between them was an excellent flute player. Minnesota Nice.
Next, I dragged Bob onto another bus (our transfers are good for 2 1/2 hours) to the Minnesota Institute of Art. With free admission and in a beautiful green part of the city, I could have stayed hours - the collections were outstanding from all over the world. I have learned that institutes of art are great places to find since they are teaching places so there isn't that stuffy museum feeling at all.
Bob was anxious to get back to our abode and rest up before getting on the late train out of St. Paul. We will have a roomette which means all our meals will be provided and we will have two seats, plus beds all to ourselves. Being behind closed doors doesn't necessarily mean we will have a quiet ride, but there is a porter to keep everyone happy. That includes Bob.
We missed all the storms - in fact, the weather has been perfecto the entire trip - only two days we would have ordered a different forecast: rain in Chicago that nixed a free outdoor concert by the Chicago Symphony and the hotter than hell sunshine at the Brewer's game - but we endured.
In 24 hours and we will be in the true skyscrapers of America, Glacier National Park.
I come away from Minneapolis thinking: good place to go to a beautiful university - students looked very studious, even in the summer.
Easy to get around inside the city and surrounding areas
Beautiful green, lots of waterways,
Polite, quiet people - didn't observe any hoopla or anyone vying for attention in the 5 days we scoped the place - only problem makes for so-so people watching. Wait a minute, I almost forgot one strange people sighting. They must have been tourists! Behind us on Nicollet Mall we heard some shouting and hooping and hollering - a few minutes later the Peddling Pub cruised by. Eight people - they looked sort of sane - were sitting on a wagon base with peddles under their feet - four on each side. Their hands were around glasses of beer, they elbows on a bar with levers for the draft beer. I hope they all stayed on their stools for the ride to wherever - they looked like they didn't care!
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