French Lick, Indiana

Today is my 55th birthday.  Meg and I decided to make a day trip to French Lick, Indiana since I'd never been there before.

 Our first stop was the French Lick Resort and Casino.  But, since we don't gamble, we didn't stay long.

 The foyer is nice with ceramic mosaic floors, Italian marble columns and frescos on the ceiling.

 But the real gem is down the road another mile at the West Baden Springs Hotel.

 The driveways are 100 year old brick roads.  On the left is the station for the train trolley between the 2 hotels (to take guests back and forth to the casino, no doubt).

 When you walk into their atrium, you're blown away!  The 200' dome was the largest in the world when it was built in 1902.

 It also has mosaic floors, but they're real stone - about 2 million pieces.

 There's a secret room 100 feet above, where the roof supports come together.  There are frescos painted inside and you can only access it from ladders on the outside.

 It's hard to get a sense of perspective as the place is huge.  Someone was playing a harp which sounded wonderful with the acoustics of the round, open space.

 They have established gardens that are over 100 years old.  The place has a good 'feel', both inside and outside.

 There are acres of manicured lawns which would make a great place for a sculpture show (hint, hint).

 Spitting turtles - I'm glad that real turtles can't do that.

... and closing this post with a nature picture... a pair of Osprey have taken up residence on a nesting platform at the nearby Patoka Lake.