Off to a good start today. I took some pictures of the capitol in Des Moines (simply beautiful - see dome and outside is gold leaf) and then on to a great art museum. It is comprisedof 3 buildings that were added over the years. One by I M Pei in 1968. Didn't know he was working back then. Think of him as younger. Picture is of his building and the glass along the right is the cafe. Anyway, all modern art. Rothko is still my favorite. Special exhibit of Japanese art that is from their permanent collection and how it influenced modern Japanese comics and graphics. No pictures allowed. Some things I really liked. We couldn't believe the security. The other special exhibit was Tara Donovan's whose art is made of ordinary things like straws, buttons, stryofoam cups. Unbelievable. I will share the booklet on the exhibit when I get back.
Had lunch in their cafe. Soup was potato blue cheese to die for and right behind was white bean with chicken and artichoke. Yummy. But then came dessert. Chocolate cheesecake topped with coconut cheese cake and chocolate pecan pie which was like pecan pie but chocolate instead of brown sugar. Oh my God!
The art museum is in a very nice section of Des Moines with lots of big apartment buildings etc. Again kind of like Bethesda MD. We drove through downtown where there was an art show. Absolutely no people on the streets.
Made an important little detour. See pictures. Surprise, surprise. There was a police officer waiting for speeders and I asked him how they pronounced the name of the town and it is pronounced as my sister pronounces her name. What fun. Wikipedia says 61 people live there. I know the railroad is now biking/hiking trail that I saw. The romance of it, I don't know. The sign was just this side of the road behind the police car. So the picture is the town The rest of the people must live on side roads.
Speaking of which, I just don't understand how people live in such isolated places. I guess you just assume that a bad accident or a heart attack and you're dead. Can't even imagine what it is like in winter. Needless to say, there is lots of corn, lots and lots of corn. Got planted late according to the paper because there was so much rain.
Kept on to the Meskwaki RV Park which is at the largest casino in Iowa. Nice rvspace. Hardly any people. Had dinner in their steakhouse. No comparison to the Lester's at the casino in LA. Very disappointing service and food. We ordered drinks that came from the bar which was a long-g-g-g way from the restaurant. Restaurant also empty of course. Played slots for a little while. Penny slots were packed. I don't get it. Win a few cents and it is such a complicated game. Bingo hall was booming. Bet there are 1500 slots here. Jack was going to play blackjack but no seats. Nice hotel. We are near Council Bluffs and Iowa City.
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