Strengthening the Ties Tour: The Journey begins...

We started our journey early one Sunday morning. The temperature was below freezing and the weather crisp and clear. Our first stop was st Louis, Missouri. The first three hours were spent driving through snow.

Note the ice of the window washer...wasn't
quite sure how to clean the window...?!

The trees were bare and the snow was…well…snow white. It was extremely beautiful. The rest of the drive was uneventful other than stopping briefly to see Rachel (Hannah’s sister) who was driving back to Greenbelt for Thanksgiving!

Hannah and Rachel!

We arrived in St. Louis in the late evening and were welcomed by our great friend, Naomi. We met

Naomi in an ultimate tournament in JHB and we, quite simply, bonded! She was doing an internship in Pietermaritzburg and came to Cape Town twice and hung out with us! Naomi made a huge impression on us and we were so happy to see her again. We met her man, Ross, who is just about to finish his masters in architecture – poor guy! Naomi, not to be outdone, has just finished her law degree. Naomi and Ross were house-sitting one of Naomi’s professor’s houses. The professor has several programmes that are linked to the University of Cape Town...

...so there were numerous African items to make us feel at home! We slept so well that night after 14 hours driving.

St Louis is most famous for its 600 foot high arch and that is where we spent the following day. The arch is built in the same shape that a suspended chain hangs. There is a trolley car elevator system which takes visitors inside and up the arch. Hannah and I couldn’t resist a ride to the top.

Underneath the arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion which chronicles the travels and exploits of American settlers in their move westward across the country. The museum has an incredible time line that highlights the main events locally and nationally from ‘discovery’ of America by Christopher Columbus until the present. The museum is fairly depressing, though, and it is upsetting to learn about the treachery, deceit, and genocide that was dealt to the Native Americans. I suppose that happens right around the world.

Me and Hannah at the top of the Arch

That night we had a fantastic dinner at home with Naomi and Ross. I’ll let the pictures speak for the quality of the food. You’ll have to take my word on the quality of the conversation! The next morning we left our king sized guest bedroom and double headed for Santa Fe, New Mexico and our first couch surfing experience!