Another Day in Hot Springs, AR
Monday, November 6, 2006
It was another day in Hot Springs. The morning was foggy, and it was not a good day for the Ozarks. The weather report is predicted to be 70+ Wednesday and Thursday, so I decided to stick around town for another day. Met some interesting people and saw new things:
- There are 47 springs in Hot Springs – and I thought I ought to fill up on some of that healing water, so pulled up to a cold water spring. Small area with 4 facets coming out of the ground and space for only 3 cars to park. There was a man filling up multiple jugs at the same time. He glanced at my license plate and asked "you from Virginia?", yep I answered. "What Part?" northern I answered. "What town?" Arlington. "Isn't that the capitol?" Nope I answered, I think that's Richmond. "Oh, yes, I traveled there once" yea? How's that? "I met a woman over the internet and went out to meet her – but she wasn't what I wanted". Emm, interesting how that works out so many times. I looked at his trunk full of bottles and asked how long that would last him----"month or two" he replied. He mentioned that he preferred the cold over the hot springs – said it had a better taste.
- I then decided to walk the Grand Promenade, an inlaid wide brick walkway, overlook the city that winds behind Bathhouse row. It offered a different perspective on the city and allowed me to have a closer look at the vantage architecture.
- As I dropped down and walked back alone the street on Bathhouse row, I tested each fountain I passed. The first was a hot one. A woman drove up and started filling all her bottles, and of course asked where I was from – does my accent give me away? We started talking and I learned:
- she's a died in the wool Republican. And wanted to know if I was voting for Allen or the other one – I informed her I had already voted and had indeed voted for Webb.
- She preferred the hot springs. Originally she preferred the cold ones, but about a year ago the government made them add Ozone to make it safe. Emmmm….ozone, that was a real puzzeler for me but I decided not to pursue it
- She worked at the Election Board and was so happy that they had a good Christian man running for Governor.
- The next fountain was behind one of the historic Bathhouses. Hot, about 144 degrees, coming right out of the hill side.
- The last spring was at the city park, with a big water fall as the hot springs came right out of the hill side. I alternating my hands feet in the hot water. For over an hour, just enjoying the scenery, the people that passed by, and the warm water.
- On my way back to my car I decided to walk in and see one of these grand old hotels. I liked The Park (others had names like The Majestic and The Arlington), it had a sign in the window that said "Eat Drink Sleep", I liked the clarity and conciseness of that and decided to check it out. It was a narrow building, but still magnificent. As I walked in, I saw that the ceilings were easily 15 feet, the floors were a beige, brown, black and white tile mosaic – the old style maybe 2" X 2" tile, the walls were solid concrete, the banister railings going up the stairway was brass, a black and while photo of Marilyn Monroe hung over the staircase near where it joined the lobby,
- The bar tender seemed friendly and I decided to sit and have a beer. There were only a couple of people in the place, a small, maybe 8-stool bar adjoining an Italian restaurant off the lobby. After several interactions with both the bar tender and what must have been someone associated with the hotel, I learned that the Bar Tender used to be a respiratory therapist. That the city is expected to get legalized gambling in the near future, and from another local person passing by I learned: she had never voted, (she must have been in her mid to late 30's) when I asked why, she mentioned that she'd never been taught, and that it scared her, when I asked why she was scared of voting she said it was because it was government and that scared her. DON'T BE SCARED – VOTE TOMORROW – ALL OF YOU
Another Great, relaxing day in Hot Springs!
