Gateway Arch part 2 - St Louis

Weellllll do I have a tale to tell you! In my previous post I mentioned that I'd be going back to check out the view from the interior of the arch and I did that yesterday. It was another stinking hot day and apparently broke a temperature record that was set back in the 1800s, nice... And it's not even the official start of spring here yet.

Anyway I headed into the building and grabbed a ticket for the tram ride up to the top and was told that there was going to be a 1 hour wait. Okay no problem, there was a free museum of the first settlers and Lewis and Clark which was pretty interesting so had a poke around there and the gift shops to kill some time. Listened to a talk by one of the rangers (as the facility is run by the National Parks) about Sacagawea who was a Native American translator and the only female to accompany Lewis and Clark across America. Really interesting stuff and I recommend you read more on wiki or google if you're interested as she was a pretty ballsy lady.

Couldn't get a full ppic of this cool mural of the Arch builders without someone posing in front of it so apologies for the random kids

rawr

They had animated models in the museum, this is Chief Red Cloud

I can't remember who this dood was but he was jibbering on about something.... see I pay attention in museums.....

So when it was time to line up for the south side tram, the departure board said that it was running about 15 mins late. ooookay. So waiting waiting waiting waiting in line and we finally were let down the runway into another coral where we were given our "boarding pass" and let through the turnstile. Only to be let into another coral to wait and wait and wait some more.

So eventually we're let on to the "platform" and the "tram" rolls in. It's more like a tiny little space capsule that seats 5 people in a little pod. I forgot to take a pic of it so I googled it and it's below (apologies to whoever I flogged it from). One of the girls in my pod was pretty scared of the ride as it clanked and rocked us all the way up to the top, I was just uncomfortable as they don't make those lil things for 6 foot tall people. When the little doors finally opened you're greeted by a sea of people who are waiting to go back down and that was a little disconcerting at first. Made my way up the stairs to the viewing area which was PACKED full of people and it was a bit hard to elbow  people out of the way so I could see out of the little portholes to take some photos.  I understood then why the ticket seller asked whether I had a fear of heights or claustrophobia because the viewing area was nothing like I thought it would be.But that was nothing compared to what was about to come.....

My boarding pass for tram number 3

pilfered pic of the interior of the "tram" capsule pod thingamabobby

The view from the top of the arch. I stood in the middle of the top of this grassy area to take one of the photos from the last Gateway Arch post

That's the old courthouse building from previous post

the little park

Busch Stadium home of the St Louis Cardinals

These pics are taken from the other side of the viewing area over looking the Mississippi River

This is the viewing area.....

I headed back the way I had come to catch the southside "tram" back down to the ground and down the stairs to the "platform". Got lucky door number 3 again which is the one I came up on. 

the view down the stairs from my door 3 looking to door 4

Door 3!

So loaded up on the capsule with these cute boy twins and their brother and sat and waited and waited.... when I see a guy coming up the stairs yelling "Door number 6 didn't open". Ruh-ro. The attendant went down to see what was going on and I assume opened the door because I was in my pod and couldn't see anything. The ranger then headed down there I hear her asking the pods below me to please exit and head across the viewing area to the north tram and to remember your tram number. She then started bitching at the attendant saying that she wasn't authorised to open the pod and that she needed to get on the PA and mreeeoowww hissss mreeeowwww hissssss. Pretty unprofessional really considering.... So we all head up the stairs and across to the north tram. Sounds simple in theory doesn't it. That simple statement doesn't take into account the panic and confusion of the people who were lining up for the next southside train and had heard rumors of the broken down tram and what was going on or the people who were already lining up for the northside train. And the fact that there wasn't a whole lot of room to move to get to the other side without barging people out of the way. And the fact that there was no one taking charge of the situation or communicating what was going on over the PA. I pissed a couple of people off as I was barging them out of my way and heard one lady mutter that I should just wait my turn like everyone else. Screw you hippy! *barge* *barge* *barge*

So I make it to the other side and see the boys already lining up at door 3 and there are waaaaaay too many people in the stairway now thanks to the lack of communication and the other train is coming up and the access out of the pods is basically blocked. But somehow (not thanks to the incomprehensible PA) we managed to get them out and get us in the pod and kept our fingers, toes and legs x-ed that this side of the arch wasn't going to be all fuckered up and get us the hell outta there! Clankety clank and 4 mins later we're at the bottom and racing for the doors and sweet freedom while wishing the suckers waiting for the tram taking them topside good luck.

Needless to say the air tasted a little bit sweeter and the beer a little bit more... beery after that ordeal. I'm not entirely sure whether it was worth it for the aerial shots but at least I have a good tale to tell you now.

And PS. to the Gateway Arch logistical people - you need to seriously revise your 'disaster contingency' plans and get your shit together because the way that that situation was handled was appalling. I'm glad I got out when I did because there was no one in control of the situation, no communication, unprofessional rangers bitching at the staff who were actually sorting out the situation and by doing so inciting panic into the tram passengers and that sort of panic, confusion and fear can cause a major catastrophe in a short amount of time.

Sweet freedom :)