Unexpected and Wonderful

During one of our days in Hannibal, Missouri we decided to go see the Lighthouse just a short distance from our motel.  When we arrived at the top of the hill and spotted the Lighthouse, we also noticed that there were two women up on the platform too.  They were taking pictures and enjoying the views of the Mississippi River too.  

We offered a friendly hello and they quickly replied with a hello and we struck up a great conversation about where we were all from and how long we had been visiting Hannibal.  The conversation was so wonderful and pleasant, we were still talking a half hour later.  

One of the women was Noriko and she is from Japan.  She is doing a type of student/teacher exchange program.  Noriko is a teacher at an after school program in Japan and was very interested in learning and seeing more about Mark Twain.  

She talked with the kids about how American and Japan schooling is similar and different.  She had a Mark Twain book that had both English and Japanese words in it.  

Noriko also made each of the kids something in origami with Japanese paper.  Chloe got a crane.  Samantha got a bird.  Cody got a ninja star.

Samantha's bird.

Chloe's crane.

Cody's Ninja Star.

Before we left, she also performed a Japanese street show with sticks.   

Fishing pole.

Fish.

St. Louis Arch.

Two flags.  US and Japan.

Fishing net.

Cody wanted to try.

He made the fishing pole.

And a fish.

A fish for Samantha.

And, a fish for Chloe.

It was amazing and such a learning experience.  We exchanged addresses and definitely plan on keeping in touch. 

A Visit to America's Hometown

On our way home from Chad's family in Iowa, we decided to stop in Hannibal, Missouri.  Hannibal is the the hometown of Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain.  Hannibal sits right on the Mississippi River and has so much to see and experience.

The small town feeling is so welcoming.   The view of the river is amazing.  And, the amount of history here makes kids of all ages feel like there is a time long ago that would have been so amazing to experience.  I've never been one to enjoy history, but when you are able to see and experience the sights and monuments, it makes it so real.  So captivating.

The first evening we got there we went for a walk down to the River.

Mark Twain was a Steamboat Pilot

The Mississippi River

We had supper here the first night.

Belly's are full.

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain's father's law office.

The town was bursting at the seams with charm.

The Lighthouse.

We went on a trolley ride around town.

Mark Twain statue

Mark Twain Mississippi Riverboat

The view from Lover's Leap was breathtaking.  Hannibal is in the background.

A view from Lover's Leap.  Hannibal and the Mississippi River.

We also got to see "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown's birthplace and museum.

Her trunk and clothes would have been similar to this when she was on the Titanic.

She was on her way to Hannibal when the Titanic sank.

We really enjoyed our visit to Hannibal and plan to return sometime soon to visit the cave's and maybe take a riverboat ride.  There was so many things to do and see, with just not enough time. 

The relaxing and slow pace of the town was a perfect getaway from the bustle that will be starting with school and fall activities just around the corner.