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This will be our final entry as we are safely back at home! We are so thankful to God for giving us safe travels.
Yesterday, we got up and packed the car, we were so thankful to see the sun AGAIN! We got going toward the University of Pittsburgh. After we parked the van in a garage, we hoofed it to the University of Pittsburgh. We could see one of our destinations in the distance, the Cathedral of Learning.
First, we visited the Stephen Foster Memorial. We wanted to follow-up on seeing the Stephen Foster story (in Bardstown, KY) on a road trip years ago. Stephen Foster is significant to us because both Scott and I were born in Kentucky as well as all of our family members (all but Charlie and Eleanor). Stephen Foster wrote "My Old Kentucky Home." For the non-Bluegrass state folk, he wrote Oh Susanna! Stephen was from Pittsburgh. At the University there is a lovely building built in his memory that houses a theatre. Also, there is beautiful statue across from the building.
Next, we headed to the 42 story Cathedral of Learning. It is the second tallest building associated with an institution of learning (highest is in Moscow). Inside this Gothic style building are 27 Nationality Rooms. The Nationality Room program is the foundation of the tower. The rooms express the architecture, art, culture and people of different countries. Many of the governments of the countries represented have been involved. Some rooms have been decorated by that country's Pittsburgh immigrant community. It would be hard to pick a favorite. We learned so much doing the audio tour of these rooms. We were not aware that Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Many of the rooms featured Christianity, and the role it has played in a given country. As I mentioned with the picture, the English room contains more material salvaged from the House of Commons (destoyed by bombs in 1941) than any other place in the world! Its cornerstone is brick from Number 10 Downing Street. We enjoyed the Irish Room's cornerstone features in Gaelic, "For the Glory of God and the Honor of Ireland." Behind it is a container with earth from northern and southern Ireland. In the Polish room was a globe that took at Cracow metalsmith five years to make; it was brilliant! My mother loved the Russian room with a quilt of 16th and 17th century brocade, damask and velvet as well as windows thatt contain handmade colored glass bands in jewel tones. Eleanor's favorite was the Israel Room and the Syria-Lebanon Room. The Syria-Lebanon Room was an actual room dating from 1782; it was breathtaking. We wished our friend Elena could have seen the Ukrainian Room. We loved it, too!
From the Cathedral of Learning, we walked across the lawn to Heinz Cathedral. It was a gift of H.J. Heinz in memory of his mother. It is Gothic in style and features 23 windows withh 4,000 square foot of glass (250,000 pieces). It was breathtaking!
We had to really put some pep in our step! We had to get to the next destination, Tour Ed Mine, by 2:30, the last tour. Last year, the kids and I worked a VBS in Eastern Kentucky. All of the kids involved had parents who worked in coal mines. That raised many issues about mining by the kids. Each year, we do some type of factory tour on our trip. This year, we toured a mine that has been closed since the 70s. When the owner closed it, he wanted to hold on to it so that it could remain open for educational purposes. He stipulated so in his will when he died. When we drove up, I was having some doubts. I'm not sure if I pictured this mine to be in a cute suburb, but it sure was not! It was a great experience. Our guide took us in a miner transport mini-train. I think my mom and Charlie were the only ones on the tour who were not truly challenged to get in the rail that transported us 1/2 mile underground. Our guide mined for nearly 30 years when at 42, he was told he was "overqualified" for every job he applied. He was not bitter and very proud of his mine service. He conducts tours to earn money to support himself and his wife (he is early 70s). We learned so much and gained such heartfelt respect for those who brave the belly of the Earth for coal we use each day!
When we left the mine, we drove through PA and onto Columbus. Just before checking into our hotel, we stopped at the famed Jeni's Ice Cream. The kids were a little taken back by Jeni's flavors (goat cheese, lavendar...). Eleanor and I enjoyed 1/2 scoop Buckeye State and 1/2 scoope salted caramel! Charlie enjoyed the Milkiest Chocolate Ever. My mother said she was going to take a pass, but then she ordered up a scoop of Plum Sake! It was a delicious experience; we highly recommend it!
Today, we returned to the sweet land of sunshine and smiles, Alabama! What a joy and blessing after blessing this trip was!
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