Day two finds us one aborted attempt later to ascend the arch. We got there ’round 9:30 am, and stood in line for over an hour to get tickets. But they weren’t selling tickets since the two trams that take you up into the arch were broken. After some time one finally got up and running, so we were able to purchase tickets. But as
only one tram was working, the delay was about forty minutes before our time to board. There’s a pretty neat Lewis and Clark pseudo-exhibit in the lobby of the arch. One wall consists of a large panorama detailing their journey along the Missouri, with excerpts from Messrs. Lewis and Clark’s journals interspersed. I’ve always been fascinated with that expedition, so I found the entire exhibit to be pretty cool. 11:20 at least neared, so we headed back to the boarding area, ready to ride the tram up into the heavens.

Until we overheard one of the arch employees tell another tourist that “both trams are currently down, and will probably be for the rest of the day.” Uttering sighs of defeat, my party and I quickly rushed over to the desk and had our money refunded, right before an announcement was made on the overhead speakers informing the crowd at large about the malfunctions. Immediately people swarmed like locusts upon the ticket counters to get refunds. But by then we were on our way out.

That little bit of annoyance behind us, we continued on to the next leg of our journey: taking the train to Union Station. (I kept referring to it as monorail — despite the fact that it clearly was not one — and even sang the song, but sadly no one else got it.) Long story short, it was neat but a little on the boring side. There’s really nothing to do there except eat and visit some t-shirt stores and other assorted tourist-y crap that held no interest for me. Lindsey got some stuff for a friend’s birthday and I got tasty Chinese food, so I guess it wasn’t a complete waste.

Back to the room we went for some afternoon relaxing. I again went out to the pool and read for a while, and tried not to look at the girls basketball team made up of seventeen year olds dressed in bikinis. I succeeded . . . mostly.

The highlight of the evening — and this shows just how big of a geek I am — was visiting the Book House, a kick-ass used book store. I’ve never before been in one like it: it’s a Victorian, three-story house, and the walls are lined to the ceiling with books. There sci-fi collection is rather extensive, and I found several books I’ve
been looking for. If you’re really into some of the older (70s, 80s, and earlier) stuff, it would really be awesome, since that’s what the Book House has a lot of. I’m trying to go back and read some of the more “classic” science fiction that’s out there (like Neuromancer), so it was worthwhile for me.

It’s time for me to read for a little bit before going to bed. Tomorrow we’re going to undertake another attempt at the arch, so we’ll see how that goes. We purchased tickets online tonight, so at least we don’t have to wait in line again. I believe a visit to some nearby caverns is also on the agenda. My mom is deathly afraid of heights and water, so I’m curious to see how she handles being a considerable distance beneath the Earth’s surface. Should be interesting . . . .

JAB