My Visit to Famous St. Louis Zoo

Visit to St.Louis zoo

My grand daughter is studying Kinder Garden in a Nursery School called Centre at Conway in Chesterfield. On May 12th the school has arranged a visit to Local zoo for the children and they have invited parents to accompany. I have utilized this opportunity to visit Famous St.Louis Zoo which is more than 100 years old and very famous in US. On that day we went to the school at 9.00 AM and all children and accompanying elders gathered in the school and they have started for the Zoo in four busses. It was just half an hour drive. Snacks packets containing turkey sandwich, cookies, cool drink packet and a milk chocolate was given to children and also to the elders. All were asked to come back at 11.30 for returning.

The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair is credited for the birth of the St. Louis Zoo. The Fair brought the world's attention to St. Louis and Forest Park. The Smithsonian Institution constructed a walk-through bird cage for the World's Fair. Ten days after the World's Fair closed, the citizens of St. Louis chose to buy the 1904 World's Fair Flight Cage for $3,500, rather than have it dismantled and returned to Washington, D.C. The St. Louis Zoo was born.

The Saint Louis Zoological Park is a zoo in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. It is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education. Admission is free through a public subsidy from the ZMD.One special feature is the Zoo line Railroad, a small passenger train that encircles the zoo, stopping at the more popular attractions. Home to more than 22,805 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered. These 800 species represent the major continents and biomes of the world. Set in the 90 acres of rolling hills, lakes and glades of Forest Park, the Saint Louis Zoo is always a great place to be visited. Due to lack of time we have visited children park and few other places. There was slight rain and my grand daughter was enjoying the rain. We returned well before time and visited the Zoo stall in the entrance where many items like toys of animals, t-shirts, other gift items to remember the visit of the zoo are being sold.

St Louis

St Louis

My Stay at St.Louis,MO

On 28 Apr 2010, at 6.00 AM, we have started from Houston for St.Louis in the State of Missouri by South West Airlines Flight from another airport in Houston called William Hobby Airport. After Security check, we have boarded on Flight 294 from gate No.20 and there were plenty of seats available, so we have been asked to sit where ever we want. We settled in comfortable seats near window. The Flight took off at 07.45 and we started watching the City of Houston from flying aircraft which was a wonderful scene. During the flight we were offered only coffee and peanuts as the journey was only 1 hour and fifty minutes. When the Missouri river was seen from the air I understood that we are nearing St.Louis. We have landed in St.Louis Airport at 8.35. Our Son-in-law Mr. Sunil Kumar came to Airport to receive us.

My daughter is living at Green Castle, Village Green in Chesterfield area of St.Louis. The area is fully green with beautiful wooden houses. The weather was very pleasant with maximum temperature of 18 deg C and with bright Sun but only warm. Chill winds yet times trouble us. During spring the weather is fairly mild and changes suddenly. Following is the information about the city of St.Louis what I have gathered from net.

St. Louis is an independent city^] in the U.S. state of Missouri. The city itself has an estimated population of 354,361 and is the principal municipality of Greater St. Louis, population 2,879,934, the largest urban area in Missouri and 16th-largest in the United States.

Before the European explorers traveled down the great river, the rich land that would become St. Louis was home to the Mississippians, a mighty Indian civilization of mound builders. At its height, more than 20,000 people lived in the fertile river valley. When that culture mysteriously disappeared during Europe’s Middle Ages, only their huge earthen structures were left, earning St. Louis one of its earliest nicknames, “Mound City.” Today’s visitors can explore that lost civilization at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

The city was founded in 1764 just south of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers by colonial French traders Pierre Laclède and René Auguste Chouteau, who named the settlement after King Louis IX of France. The city, as well as the future state of Missouri, became part of the Spanish Empire after the French were defeated in the Seven Years' War. In 1800, the land was secretly transferred back to France, whose leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, sold it to the United States in 1803. Nicknamed the "Gateway to the West" for its role in the westward expansion of the United States, the city gave the moniker in 1968 to the new Gateway Arch built as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; the Arch has become the iconic image of St. Louis.

Once the 4th-largest U.S. city, St. Louis proper has seen its population slip to 52nd.At the peak of the city's influence, St. Louis hosted the 1904 World's Fair and 1904 Olympic Games, both the first of their kind held in the Western Hemisphere.In the 19th century, immigration from Italy, Germany, Bohemia, and Ireland flooded St. Louis, coloring the cuisine and architecture of the city. Many African-Americans moved north to the city during the Great Migration..

The city contributed to the musical styles of blues, ragtime, and jazz. The St. Louis Cardinals, one of the most successful Major League Baseball teams, make their home at Busch Stadium. Other professional teams include the St. Louis Rams (football), St. Louis Blues (hockey) and AC St. Louis (soccer). A diversity of successful sports franchises has led to St. Louis being called "North America's Best Sports City.” The city's many 19th-century breweries shaped beer in the United States, most notably Anheuser-Busch, Falstaff Brewing Corporation, and Lemp Brewery. The vestiges of French and Spanish colonization make St. Louis one of the largest centers of Roman Catholicism in the United States.

My stay here will be up to 24^th of May. Last week end we have visited famous Gateway Arch.  I have taken a ticket to go up the bridge. There were six coupes taking 5 persons each up to the top of the arch and I have taken good photographs of the city from there.

We have enjoyed river cruise on board TOM SAWYER which is a replica of 18^th century river boat that were plying regularly in the river Mississippi. We have travelled three miles in the river under famous EADS Bridge which was constructed in 1874. Still that bridge is so strong, regular rail traffic through it , seen even today.

My days are spent so leisurely without any worry or problem. Enjoying the mornings by walking out side the house and evenings visiting some shopping centers and big malls. Visit to Hindu temple complex was a wonderful experience where we can have darshan of all most of all Gods. Indians  here are much interested in our tradition and dharma and performing all pujas regularly and all festivals are performed here.

While Leaving

So Finally Mom gave dad the Go to visit US. I wish they enjoy a lot and keep in good health.

US Visit -Continued...

It is the long pending wish  of my children Pavan who is in Houston, Texas and my daughter Neeima in New York. Soon after getting Visit Visa for me and my wife Nagamani,my son has booked tickets in Feb 2010 for Apr 28. After preparations like various purchases, medical checkups and packing, checking the weights etc, on 27th Apr we were very busy through out the day with the visits of friends and relatives,phone calls and emails In the evening my brother-in-law Mr. Harakrihna visited us and at 2.00 AM we have proceeded to Airport along with my son Meghasyam,daughter-in-law Vijayalakshmi and grand son Sai Aditya along with sisters of my wife, Smt Kusuma kumari from Hyderabad and Kum Anjanadevi who is a teacher at Sircilla in Karimnagar district.A t4.00AM our checkin baggage  was accepted without any problem as the weights were within the limit of 23 Kgs.There was a problem at Security check for cabin baggage as the x-ray found Silvar Saibaba mandap and idol which we are carryig as gift to my son.However, after seeing it , they have cleared the security check.After seen off by my family and relatives, we have walked with out cabin baggage to gate no.34B to get into the flight. At about 6.20 we have embarked on board BA 276 and we were alloted 18K and 18J seats and I sat near the window.During take off I did not feel much but my wife had lot of ear ache though she kept some earbuds in her ears, I gave her some chewing gum to chew so that ear pain would reduce for some extent. There was bright Sun and few strato cumulus clouds, weather was scantly cloudy. When we were above white clouds lit by bright Sun light, it was a pleasent scene. I tried to take the photogrph but unfortunately the wing of the aircraft were obstructing my view. We were served a continental breakfast followed by some snacks after three hours. After two hours,few soft and hot drinks were sereved followed by an Indian lunch containing vegitarian curry and rice.

We reached 12.45 local time at Heathrow Airport London. We were carried to  terminal 5 by a bus. There was a security check again and all our cabin baggage was cheked completely. Then we have to rush to another side of the terminal at Gate 34 to catch another flight BA 197 to Huston. After using few escaltors and one inter terminal train, we reached the correct gate to catch the flight. After travelling for 10 hrs we reached Houston at 6.30 PM local time.During the entire journey of 24 hours we have not seen night. It was long waiting for immegration check as three international fights have landed at George Bush International Airport,Houstan at that time. We completed our check by 8.15 PM. Our son Pavan was waiting for us and he picked up us and reached his home at 1029,Pin Oak Apartmenet. After wash we went out side and had some food at an Indian Restaurent.

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Texas. As of the 2009 U.S. Census estimate, the city had a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles (1,600 km2).Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area—the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.9 million.
Houston was founded on August 30, 1836, by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, 1837, and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.
Rated as a beta world city, Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, transportation, and health care sectors and is a leading center for building oilfield equipment; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters in the city limits.The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. The city has a population from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and a large and growing international community. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits—attracting more than 7 million visitors a year to the Houston Museum District. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District and is one of few U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.

Next two days we have spent our time by  going to various shopping centers and other business centres.  We need to make some urgent purchases like house hold items, groceries etc., I have taken one pair of shoes and also two T shirts and a Jeans pant for my use in US.