This weekend we went to St. Louis on a rooooaaaaad trip! It was brilliant. 11 of us went and Crabbers (Andy) and Kacy organised the whole thing and it was so much fun. The drive was 5 hours each way (yep...as much as driving to Scotland and back) and in our car was me, Lauryl, Suze and the Wang. Poor Wang had to put up with us talking absolute rubbish - like girls do - including chapters from tickle his pickle - but he took it all in good spirit. 
On the Friday, when we arrived we met up with the others and went for dinner and wine. We then ended up in an Irish bar that was playing country and western music - like all good Irish bars do - it was hilarious! There was a real mix of people including hill billies (hope that's PC) and even a bride and groom and their wedding party. The red wine was the worst red wine I've ever had (like gut rot!) and it was weird that people were still aloud to smoke inside bars - apparently that rule hasn't reached STL yet.
On the Saturday morning after a giant American breakfast (where Suzy stole the muffins) we went to the Budweiser factory for the tour. It was really good fun, apart from the horses - not really sure of the significance of the horses, but I'm sure I was there to see and drink beer - not animals! 
After the tour we went straight to watch the baseball - The Cardinals - and crumbs was the stadium impressive. (The photo below on the right is what I took from the top of the Arch looking down at the stadium). Very different to Wrigley (cubs) and Cellular (white sox) - absolutely massive, filled with red and white and the atmosphere was electric.
It was a roasting day and we managed to blag our way into the bleachers, so we were in the Sun (our stand was in the shade, so that was not good!) drinking beer and just having a good old crack. We met loads of different fans, including Cubs and LA Dodgers, a couple of lesbians, and everyone was up for the banter.
We did try to start a Mexican wave but the crowd were having none of it! The Cardinals lost - but Crabbers being a Cards fan hid his disappointment well (although perhaps that accounts for him googling everything when he was steamed that evening).
After the game, we went back to the hotel, had some beers and then rocked out to the landings, which was a cool bar area. We ended up going to the best bar in the World ever - called big Daddy's - I'm not sure how they substantiate this claim - but when they gave us tickets for 2-4-1 drinks, we were there with bells on. We had dinner and drinks - and even a rumblemint (yes Cousins, you can get rumblemints in the US) and then danced the night away. The dancing was immense and there was some shapes thrown around by our group that I'm sure STL have not seen before. Even the crunk came out! (And wang had a dance-off to Footloose!)
On the Sunday, we shimmied up the Arch to the viewing area which was lovely and great views of the city. A very impressive bridge and nearly old Eads is up there with our Brunel.
Highlights were:
- The Arch and the river - just so so pretty and unexpected
- The prawn (shrimp) skewers - right good and only 7 bucks
- The best bar in the world ever (apparently) and the shenanigans that went on inside
- Crabbers trying to go to Vegas at 1am
- Wang saying he loved all the girls in STL - way hotter than Chi - apparently!
- RUMBLEMINTS....
....I'm thinking that would make a good wedding present for Cousin Stu....! (as long as Webbo doesn't set the bar alight again!)
And I got my 'Bucks mug from St. Louis - complete with Arch on the front - great success.
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