Gateway to the West

The model for all hotel desk clerks.

We experienced a pleasant and short drive to St. Louis.  Traveling less than five hours a day leaves one with spare energy upon reaching a destination.  Checking in at the Renaissance Grand, I met the gregarious Tyrus Sanders.  A fellow history buff, and Santa Fe native, Tyrus is proud of his hotel and the city of St. Louis and shared some interesting facts with me.  The famed arch was created in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who, as president of the US, orchestrated the Louisiana Purchase.  Jefferson was widely criticized for this political move, known as Jefferson's folly, but he added significant real estate and clout to our emerging nation.  With a disregard for the constitution, the purchase was not Jefferson's finest hour but rather his imperial moment.  St. Louis, a significant element in the purchase because of it's trading location on the Mississippi, became known as the gateway to the west.  Pioneers, traders and even Lewis & Clark stocked up in St. Louis before enduring a long and spartan journey to their destination.  Having read and enjoyed the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a kid, it's inspiring to follow in pioneer footsteps on our own journey to the west.

That said, our journey is a bit cushier.  Tyrus informed me that a bridge tournament is being held in St. Louis all weekend and the hotel is at capacity, so the concierge lounge would be filled with other Marriott elites such as ourselves enjoying the afternoon reception and breakfast.  After walking about the city for an hour and working out in the hotel gym, we braced ourselves for the bridgies at happy hour.  Much to our surprise, we found the gathering not so much "happy" as bursting.  With food and expectant bridge players, that is.  There was a soup to nuts buffet!  Never, in 30 years of business travel, has RBK experienced a concierge afternoon reception like this one but devoid of alcohol.  The picture to the left shows the remains of a plate left by one of the bridgies.  Milk??  At 5:30 PM? Seriously???

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Zia's in "The Hill." This is the Italian neighborhood a few miles from downtown.  It appeared frozen in time and exactly as one might picture an ethnic community near the heart of a metropolitan area in the thirties and forties.  We were fascinated as we strolled the three blocks from our parked car to the restaurant.  Every home featured either a front porch or an area in the front yard to set up chairs and watch the world go by.

Time to climb into bed and contemplate stepping into the Great American frontier tomorrow.