Friday, September 16, 2011

It is Arkansas, can you hear my ears pop?

In the South, sometimes there are planned babies and unplanned babies.  I was an unplanned baby born 2 years after my parents married.  My sweet little sister, Princess, was a planned baby born 10 years later.  Therefore I had the opportunity to name her and then put up with her living in my room and horning in on all my fun with my friends.  Time progression, now she is one of my best friends and I love hanging out with her.

She just turned 30 this year and she has the coolest friends ever -- they planned a surprise trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas for her.  I was invited.  I served as chauffer, payer of gas expenses, and general tour guide.

When one goes to Arkansas, one always has to remember they are in Arkansas -- You can find restaurants like Fuzzy Tacos (not very appetizing sounding) and Spanky's gas station.




Mexican Ruffles -- ugh gross

You see 14 year olds with tattoos, cigarettes, halter tops and cheeky shorts.  All that is missing is a longneck.  We even had a young man at the restaurant tell us he had five types of bread -- white, wheat, rye and two he couldn't pronounce or spell -he brought them out for us to see- focaccia and ciabatta. Also there were a few cheeses -- swiss, American, cheddar and provolone --- At least  he could spell that out.  Did I mention they sold Moonshine in that store too?  This was the nicest sandwich place in the area near Altus, Arkansas -- the wine capital of Arkansas.  Excellent food, sorry that the poor guy had never left the area.

On the way to North Arkansas, we had to go through higher elevations (from our below sea level home) -- the birthday girl said "Can you hear my ears pop?"  I was driving and almost ran off the road -- you go girl, only two college degrees under your belt :)

We passed through Ozark and over the Arkansas River.  Amazing view crossing the river -- you could see the bluffs on the north side and the low lands on the south side.  Most of the population was on the north side.

I didn't know they had winerys in Arkansas, but Princess' friends found them and the places were a treat.   The first winery we hit was the Post Familie Winery.  It has been in Northwest Arkansas since the 1880's.  The same family that started it owns it now.   There is even an old family home there.  The Moscato bottle was a beautiful blue.  As we had our pregnant sister in law with us, they gave us the non alcoholic beverages also (in addition to the other samplings  -- but a limited number of course).  The muscadine juice was excellent.  Barbie took us on a tour of the small winery.  Definitely more quaint than a Napa Valley winery.  One of the owner's kids was using a dolly to move things.  That's always a good sign of a working family.












We were starving but went to the Wiederkehr winery instead.  It's further up the valley past a beautiful church and overlook.  This family was from Switzerland and they also arrived in Arkansas about the same time as the Post family.  They had a beer hall inside where the bottling room used to be.  There was a cavernous area dug out from the mountain.  There were huge casks down there.  Very similar to the caves in the Champagne region of France.  On the riddling rack, there was a miniature frog on one of the bottles.  Their bottling area wasn't as large as the Post winery -- set up a little differently.  Casey was our guide and she was wearing lovely Swiss attire.




he found a place to rest





just in case you have forgotten where you were.

We went up to the Bistro and ate (where we met the poor guy who didn't know his breads and cheese).  No, we didn't try or buy any moonshine.  But there was quite a bit of interesting traffic.  Afterward, we hit the church and the Arkansas River overlook.




Beautiful views of the Arkansas River Valley.  No dawdling as we had to get to Hot Springs.  (And on our way back, we passed through Dardanelle where we passed by the Sandy Lizards football field -- would someone explain to me what a sandy lizard is?)

If you go to Hot Springs, "the" place to stay is Embassy Suites.  (While we were there, the Arkansas Florists were having a convention.)  After gathering the two rooms of ladies, we had a small pre birthday party and walked a few blocks to the Belle Arti Ristorante. It was almost 9 and the whole town looked totally dead -- very like our hometown.  There was one couple in the restaurant, so we are guessing this is their slow season. 


Having eaten here in the past, we knew the Italian food would be excellent.  The nice staff did not disappoint us.  I had an excellent field green salad with goat cheese and strawberries.  My sister and I then split the spaghetti bolonese (my favorite and it was excellent here).  Except that was the smallest cheesecake slice I have ever seen -- mango -- a new tasty flavor too.





One of the best parts of a stay at any Embassy Suites is their free hot breakfast.  We did get up at an early hour due to our busy schedule.  Needed that good breakfast to get us fueled up.





It's hard work going to the Quapaw Spa for 3 hours.  They had wonderful packages -- facial, massage, stone treatment, foot massage etc.  Being a frequent flyer of spas, I know a good one when I am there.  This place was nice, a little musty -- but it is in a building on the National Register and located on the Historic Bathhouse Row.  It was the first time I got a "package" and wasn't shuttled around between people. You go in, strip down, get under the blanket and there you lay -- like a frog for them to pamper for 2 hours.  I will be returning. 

After we got through with our treatments, they have four wonderful pools for you to soak in -- all different temperatures.  Yes, mother, we got in a public pool.  This area was for all sexes so men and women were enjoying the waters -- in swimsuits of course.  The locker rooms were divided up by gender - and let's just say some ladies have no modesty.  I guess when I get that old I might not either, but I doubt it.  That's what a changing room is for ladies.

Additionally the spa, had a nice little restaurant with good food at very reasonable prices -- there was no reason to leave here until you were good and relaxed.

Our next stop was the Fordyce Bathhouse, which is a museum on bathhouse row.  I loved it.  Check out the different areas --- ps the men's area was much larger than the women's -- my how things have changed.  I really enjoyed checking out the gym and who knew a woman would need a stateroom or a cooling room to "recover" from her treatments. 





















The last part of our day was spent strolling through the shops along main street.  There we found tickets to the ghost tour for later that evening -- does that mean we are getting mature, when we would rather go on a ghost tour than go partying in a bar? 

Many interesting little shops and sites in Hot Springs.









After a short naptime for the younger travelers (remember that 30 year old was getting old -- or maybe she just needed a "cooling room" after a hard day at the spa and shopping), we dined at the Porterhouse  Steak and Seafood restaurant.   This restaurant was in some way associated with the one we had gone to the night before -- similar items on the menus, but no goat cheese.  A few more people here on a Saturday night.  The place was almost packed.

I ordered chicken--- but I didn't know I was getting the whole bloody bird.  I do think portions in the US are WAY too generous.  Don't they know we are in a recession -- cut costs and lessen the portions, I promise the patrons won't be disappointed. The food was excellent and we enjoyed the company, the views outside our window and watching a storm brew up (right before we were going on our walking ghost tour).



At 9:00, in all our finery (we had dolled up for the evening) we meet our very tall tour guide -- I am 5 foot 2 and walking beside him, I felt like a midget - he was at least 6 foot 5.  He was a transplant from Little Rock and he had retired early from the telephone company (and I think had a divorce too) to Hot Springs.  While here, he met a fellow entrepreneur in a bar and they opened up the ghost tours.  They do two a night and it's not a far distance and can be done in the rain (as we found out). 

I have been to Hot Springs numerous times growing up and since I have been an adult, but never have I heard so much of the history of the area (which is normally my schtick).  He was fascinating and very well versed in the history of the city.  He claimed to be a ghost hunter too.  I know there are good feelings and bad feelings about places but sometimes these people go a little overboard.

He told us of the Savoy Hotel fire where all the people got out of the burning hotel but the smoke killed all the people in the adjoining hotel -- which is still an empty creepy looking building.  It was very dark out and lightning pretty fierce.  But we continued on and he showed us where the old casino used to be and the bowling alley building (can't go in the basement to see it).   At the bowling alley building, the proprietors were outside and looked spiffy.  They described their most recent ghostly encounter with fans and candy racks chasing them around the room.  I wondered if they had visited the Ohio Club next door earlier in the evening for some beverages. 

an accessory store

Our tour guide, Jeff





We saw the old butcher shop where they would take people to dismember them, the drive through funeral parlor, a former brothel, and the medical building where people went in and rarely came out.  We saw the Howe Hotel where an entire jury was killed prior to a big case -- it's still empty too.  Don't these ghosts know if they can't do business, at some point the building will have to come down, then where will the ghosts go?  Last but not least Jeff regaled us with stories of the Arlington Hotel.  (Never stayed there and don't know now if I want to, especially not alone.)  A very fun and informative day, we ladies were tired that night.






On our way out of town, we hit the newest treasure in Hot Springs -- the Gangster Museum of America  www.tgmoa.com.  I really never knew the underworld history to this town.  Hot Springs could have been Vegas -- what were those hillbillies  thinking?  Running all the folks out of town.  They would have been millionaires now. The museum was set up very nicely and had videos in every room progressing you through the story. Our trustworthy protective guide showed us through each room -- about 5 or 6 total.  They even had the doors set up like the old speakeasies.  Additionally one of the videos had a scene from the underground bowling alley -- very cool. One of the last rooms was a gaming room with an old roulette wheel and craps table.  We got to try out holding the tommy gun too -- it was heavy (and it was unloaded, I can't imagine how heavy it would have been loaded).  This place just made you want to be in an old time costume and throw some money down on the gaming tables.






our guide protected us


We had to take one of our mates to the airport -- hope the plane gets her back to Dallas in one piece?

 She got home and we did too without incident -- another successful trip.  We had to remember, it is Arkansas.  Ladies, we will have to do this again.   And no, Princess, I didn't hear your ears pop but I will listen harder the next time -- Happy Birthday baby sister!!! Maybe give the old woman driver a few minutes in the antique store next time.....

1 comment:

  1. I had an amazing birthday. Thank you to all my family and friends for making 30 really fun.

    ReplyDelete