Riding a bike is quite a normal thing to do. In some European cities bikes easily outnumber the cars in the streets. In America, this is different. In a country where there is a lot of space and everything uses to be bigger, distances are as well. Thus, you usually need a car to get along — and in traffic other participants are rare.
However, there are some newer signs on the road that indicate the presence of another species: bikes!

People on a bike become more and more frequent. Still, most of the bicycles are used as sport equipment rather than as vehicles; but an increasing number can be found on the roads even outside the parks.

Especially close to and on campus bikes are common. In front of many buildings U-locks can be found.

For about one week now, I am the proud owner of such a vehicle; so I can master the two miles between the campus and my place in about 15 minutes instead of 35. Let’s go!

Together with a group of transfer students I went to the St. Louis city museum yesterday night. The term “museum” definitely yields wrong expectations. A better description would be “giant gym” or “huge playground”.

Housed in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, the museum is an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike.

We mastered huge slides, climbed up multiple stairs and cages, had a little fight in pool full of balls, swung over great canyons and even explored wild life.
(Sadly, there are no pictures from outside — it was too dark already.)

If you ever come here don’t miss this place and get rid of your excess energy!

Today, I made a short trip to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial — a great arch which is the town’s landmark.

Thomas Jefferson’s vision of the spread of freedom and democracy from “sea to shining sea” inspired Eero Saarinen’s masterpiece of modern design. The 630 foot stainless steel Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis’ role as the gateway to the West.

It took thirty years and several different architects to build it. In spite of all the difficulties associated with the novel construction, it is said that nobody died due to her work on this project.

Walking from the busy streets downtown into the park and through the arch to the Mississippi’s riverfront is just amazing. Below are some pics that I took during my walk and in the museum. Sadly, it was a relatively cloudy day.

Today I went to see Forest Park. To call it a park is a little misleading, I would say. At least if you think of a park as a small green area in the middle of the town. Green it is indeed, and it is indeed in town, but not small. It incorporates a zoo, two museums, a theater, two huge lakes, two golf courses, the mounted police, and much much more. Just click on the satellite view below and zoom in.

For those who still don’t believe it, here are some photos I took during my ride through the southern west edge of the park where people usually go to do sports or recreate — it literally is a “green lung”.