We’re back, after one night on the road. MIL, Aunt E, my Mom and I took off for Branson, Mo. yesterday (Friday) to see The Dixie Stampede. Aunt E (like me!) has a life-long love of horses. We thought she’d enjoy seeing the Stampede, which is performed mostly on horseback. We had a grand time, meandering up through North Arkansas and back.
Below is a not-so-good picture (sorry about my lack of photo skills) of Aunt E enjoying seeing some of the star performers up close—such beautiful horses!
Is it okay for me to say that I don’t particularly like Branson? We had fun taking Aunt E to the Stampede, alright, but I just find Branson, itself, a bit kitschy…well, more than a bit. But we enjoyed zipping in and seeing the show and zipping out.
We came back down through Eureka Springs to drive around and see all the Victorian homes. The hilly, cobbled walking is a bit much for my octogenarian travel mates, so we toured in the car but still had a grand time doing it. Here is some of what we saw!
Eureka Springs was the perfect place for Aunt E to find a couple little souvenirs for her friends back East.
We even drove up to view the area where the Passion Play is performed and there are scaled-down recreations of the Jerusalem Old City wall, etc. We drove by to see the Christ of the Ozarks Statue. Let me ask again: Is it okay for me to say that I loathe this particular piece of statuary? Can one even call it that? I think it may be one of the ugliest attempts at art I have ever seen
..and, for something that really ought to be hidden away, it’s so danged big!! My brother-in-law calls it “The Chalk Monster,” and I’m with him…
We mean
dered back yesterday, oohing and aaahing over the beautiful Arkansas landscape, spotting out scenic old barns and purusing produce stands for fresh peaches (success!) and local watermelons (we’re too early). We crossed back to our side of the Arkansas River at Toad Suck Dam, loving telling Aunt E the name of that place!
In all, we had a successful, fun trip. I think it was uniquely female in character—mostly looking, little action, which was just fine with all of us!
Glad to have my own bed last night (what does that say?)…C
Comments
Eureka Springs has such fond memories for me. As a college gal, a friend and I took a trip there and oh the fun we had on our weekend away from campus. I remember thinking that the statue was not terribly well done, but it didn't matter much to me. Whenever something points to Christ, I call it good...very. If it makes anyone think about Him at all and how can it help not to? It really is big and out of scale...short arms and all the rest. I guess that I think more about a human's desire to express himself than about the actual statue. For me, it'd be like saying that Grandma Moses had no perspective. It's a "different" kind of art. And how, right?!
As for Branson, I've never been, but I've heard so many good things (until now) that I'd have to reserve judgment. Is it too much for the "older" crowd (I am one of that set now.) Or is it too clean? (I'd love clean.) Is it just cheesy and poorly done?
I think that you're a sweetheart to gather up your favorite gals and strike off for the show. I bet that they think so, too!
And Branson: It is clean, no doubt. I think it probably is good family fun. Just reminds me of the glitz of Las Vegas and getting around in the summer is a huge problem because of the over-crowding...I bet kids love the place, and then there's Silver Dollar City...
Sorry to be so negative.
Eureka Springs! everyone used to go there to elope!
And I do not like that statue even tho I like what it stands for. The head's too big. But like Vee said, if it points someone to Christ, then it's okay by me.
Doncha just love some of our landmarks' and towns' names? Toad Suck Dam, priceless!
I took my kids to the Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, SC.. it was so much fun, we loved it. The horses all looked like they were taken care of and well fed too, I can't enjoy a show if it looks like the animals aren't well taken care of. I hate zoos for that reason unless they are of the large free-roaming variety.
Fun post! I'm finally getting around to blog reading again, glad I got back to yours.
I hope you don't mind if I put you on my blogroll so I remember.
Joe and I have been talking about going back to Branson sometime, and if we do we'll go see the Dixie Stampede. We haven't been to Branson for years, but the last time we were there we were astonished at how much it had changed. I hear that the traffic has only gotten worse since then.
The first time I was ever there was in the 1960s when my dad had a small construction project there. That was way before all the shows and everything, but Silver Dollar City was there (and maybe fairly new). I think about the only places to eat in town were the Dairy Queen and a cafe downtown. How time changes things.
I do agree with Vee about the statue. It's not the type of art I care for, but if it points peope to Jesus, then I think it's good. We look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. I'm thinking of the heart of the people who put it there. When someone sings a "special" at church and it's not very special to me, I have to remind myself that it's an offering to the Lord and He knows their heart.
Eureka Springs is a unique town. Nowhere else have I seen such extremes of faith on one side and weirdness on the other that makes me uncomfortable!