11-20-10 Detroit

We had a good night, meaning all kids slept good (not necessarily Dad and Mom though); that and a good morning started a great day.

Jesse, waiting to load up.

Stephanie, Sarah, and Jewel, all ready to go.

We parked downtown, then walked a couple blocks to this building where we went up a bunch of escalators to get to the Detroit People Mover (DPM) (Mugger Mover) station.

Here it comes…

For 50 cents per person, we had an AWESOME tour of downtown Detroit…on a train to boot…can’t beat that! It was so fun!! Ben, Tyler, and Kate were looking out the front window for a long time.

So much to see.

Beautiful view of the GM World Headquarters, also called the Ren Cen, or Renaissance Center, which is where we got off the DPM.

Across the Detroit River is Canada. Have I mentioned that it was a BEAUTIFUL day?????!!!

Lots of smiles.

Covered walkway of some sort – kind of neat.

Jason was a great tour guide.

Ummm…something neat. I don’t remember what Jason said it was, but I thought the modern architecture contrasted with the old building in the background was interesting.

The DPM is all automated – no engineer on board, doors opened and closed automatically. Pretty amazing.

Interesting window decorations…also note fire escape to the right.

 

All kids had a blast – both looking, and trying to stay standing up without holding on.

 

I’m not sure exactly how it all fit together, but we got off the DPM in part of the GM Ren Cen, which we then toured.

 

This atrium faced the Detroit River (my back was to the river as I took this.)

By the riverfront.

 

Great time!

See the window washers on the right side of the central tower? Amazing!

Roaming inside…

…looking for this, which Jesse had seen on our way into the building from the DPM.

Buddies – Jewel & Joshua.

A cool walkway back to the first DPM station, back down all the escalators, and then back to the vans.

God bless America

Happy little trooper.

DPM and the covered walkway.

 

Just more Detroit, as we drove to a restaurant.

Hyatt hotel, near to the Ford building (above), where many businessmen stay.

Jason called this the Potbelly Deli – very appropriate nickname. Delicious!

On to the Henry Ford Museum.

 

This place was ENORMOUS – covered 12 acres, all under one roof. We saw airplanes…

busses…

cars…

Presidential cars…

lots of trains…

A Lego club was putting up a train display – this building was built free-style (no instructions) by a club member – using around $2000.00 worth of Legos! If I remember right, it’s actually a building in Detroit.

RVs…

barnstormers…

Model T…

farm machinery…

Many smiles!

This old-time movie theatre had hilarious silent movies and was very authentic…one of the 6 short films even ‘broke’ down in the middle, complete with the operators arguing about fixing it and the audience complaining during the sing-along which was the entertainment during the movie repairs. Very fun!

Huge machinery – factories of long ago.

 

Enjoying the sunshine after a hard day of touring.

Trevor and Tyler.

This facility also has an IMax theatre, Greenfield Village (living history museum which we were too tired to tour), and a factory to tour which we didn’t for the aforementioned reason. Next time, perhaps…

Back to Jason & Carrie’s…

…then a great game of soccer in the backyard. Joshua and Amber enjoyed the beautiful day too.

Kisses for Amber.

Pig in a pen.

 

And oooohh that fire was wonderful! 

 

Delicious supper, wonderful fellowship and fun, baths/showers for all, kids to beds, and more fellowship for us parents before we hit the sack too.