...a tourist in my own city...

I sat in the car, trying to talk myself out of having an adventure today. The sky was opaque white with patches of stagnant smoky gray clouds hovering above. What if it turned out to be a waste of my time? Should turn right (toward the highway) or left (toward home?) In the end, I decided to risk it.

Malcolm Martin Memorial Park is situated on the east side of the Mississippi River directly across from the Arch. Mr. Martin dreamed of creating a landmark in East St. Louis that complimented the Arch. So a non-profit group raised $4mil to build the Gateway Geyser, one of the tallest fountains in the world.

Upon arriving, I paused for a moment to take it all in. A giant flag flapping lazily in the breeze. The bright green colors of the lawn standing out starkly against a dull, overcast sky. The sweet and spicy smells of spring surrounding me. It would have been a great place to have a picnic, and read a book.

Slowly climbing an overlook, I took picture after picture of the Arch grounds. This park really boasts one of the most spectacular views of the Arch in St. Louis.

I found a cake, and then sat for a while with a statue of Mr. Martin, before a woman walked up behind me seeking to take her own set of pictures. She was on a business trip from Sacramento, and she wanted to explore the city during her 48 hour stay. We chatted of sports and sights, and after a good 15 minutes, I sent her on her way to Ted Drewes, promising an out-of-this-world dessert. I hope she went.

As the clouds began to sputter, I walked down the overlook toward the Gateway Geyser. Scheduled to go off at noon, it actually took it a few minutes to really start spewing. The Geyser, on non-windy days, is said to shoot up to 630 ft in the air, matching the height of the Arch. In height, it is second only to King Fahd's fountain in Saudi Arabia, which reaches 853 ft. On the north, west, south and east of the geyser, there are four smaller fountains that represent the four rivers that converge in St. Louis and East St. Louis, the Mississippi, Meramec, Missouri and Illinois.

The Mississippi can be a gross divider. If you decide to spend some time in this park, don't be deterred by the pot-holed streets you'll have to venture down to get there. Don't turn around when you see the waist high grasses on the sides of these roads, or be distracted by the graffiti covered walls. In the end, you'll be glad you went. I'll be heading back sometime this summer, with Andy, a picnic lunch, and a book.

We all tend ignore the touristy sites in our city, but you might be missing something wonderful. I challenge you to look at your city through a tourist's eyes this summer, and discover something new about the place where you live!