We started our day in Prospect, KY with a visit to TRF at Chestnut Hill. Tessa and I had our own, private tour. This is a “retirement farm” for thoroughbred race horses which was recently started by Churchill Downs. They have 11 horses, ages 16-22. 4 male and 7 female. They spend all day eating grass in the field. These are the lucky ones.
First were the geldings. Our guide told us they were much easier to handle than the females😄
This is Manny, the leader of the group. All the horses have nicknames, rather than use their racing names.
TJ is the only one without a fly mask because he lost it in the field. It's very obvious up close why it's necessary.
The females are led by the bossy Easy.
Tessa and the girls
After an hour and a half we arrived in Santa Claus, Indiana for a brief visit.
The town was established in 1854 and known as Santa Fe. In 1856, when the town was working to establish a post office, the Post Office Department refused their first application as there was already a Santa Fe, Indiana established with the Post Office Department. Several town meetings were held, during which the name Santa Claus was selected.
Visitors can sit down here and write letters to Santa.
The town has the world's only post office to bear the name of the eponymous Christmas figure. Because of this popular name, the post office receives thousands of letters to Santa from all over the world each year. A group of volunteers known as Santa's Elves ensures each child receives a reply from Santa Claus; this tradition has been in existence since at least 1914. The letters are saved and many are exhibited here.
The letters are fascinating to read- from sad to touching to funny.
“Santa if you have a left over real live wiener dog could I please have it?” 😄😄
St. Paul’s Santa Claus Church built in 1880 is on the National Register of Historic Places
Love the old heater!
Santa's Candy Castle sells nothing but candy and …
Frozen hot chocolate! Yum!
Then we were off to St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. Very impressive and a nice view of the city …
and baseball stadium. A game was just ending when we arrived at the hotel and apparently the Cardinals won but you couldn't tell by the hot, tired people walking down the street😃.
The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.
The muddy Mississippi
At the top of the arch. Each group has their own numbered windows.
Tessa manages to look glamorous riding the tram to the top of the arch wearing a mask. Luckily there are no photos of me feeling very unglamorous. Masks only need to be worn on the tram and at the top, not in the museum portion at the bottom.
Our “limited arch view” room at the Drury Palace