| We spent some time in Wichita with friends of our hosts from
Buffalo. They went out to breakfast every day - a very civilized affair
except that American breakfast has eggs with everything, and I don't eat
eggs. Breakfast usually lasted until about 1100hrs and then we went
sight-seeing.
Some people we have met have asked why on earth we would want to go to
Wichita. Well now we know that there is a lot to see there. On this
occasion we explored the town centre. In other towns we have
taken photographs of the external architecture. In this case we sneaked
inside the Bank of America building which had this multi-storied
atrium which was glass-walled on two sides. There were several outstanding
sculptures inside. |  |
 | In the public places outside
were lots of bronze sculptures which varied
in subject from this complete, populated bar to a tortoise and rabbits,
all life size.
I could have got myself in trouble here... |
We weren't quite sure what they were looking at. There was a
multi-storey building opposite and she could be pointing at the US flag
..... But the sculptures were very good.
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 |
 | The
person making the bronzes was not the only supported artist. This horse
was made from recycled car bumpers. This was outside the Bank of America
building, and there were a pig and a giraffe of similar construction
inside. Note that it is a full
sized representation of a Clydesdale. |
| Wichita sits on the junction between the Arkansas river and the
Little Arkansas river. At the junction is the Indian style "Keeper of
the Plains". This was about to be removed for refurbishment and when
re-erected will be on a 30 ft higher pedestal as trees and a new museum
have grown up since its installation so it is no longer as prominent as
when first erected. This is very much a Wichita
landmark. Note that the river is the 'Arkansaw in that state and the
Ar'Kansas in this state. It actually rises in Colorado and they used to
pinch all the water which led to some serious litigation! |
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 | There
was a river festival in progress and the art extended to the portaloos or
"portajohns" as they are known as here. There were dozens of them and all
brightly painted by local groups. |
| Railway trains are a fact of life in the US. You can hear a train
whistle at 10 miles and they whistle at every crossing. Given that Kansas
is flat.......
This is a preserved loco at a little preservation society place (just
like all the others) but it was colourful. The main railway ran just past
this, straight through the middle of the town, carrying mainly grain and
coal (100 cars at a time!) |  |
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