Weekend in the Twin Cities (with pics)

[MidWestSider]

Went up north for the weekend to visit a friend and I have to say..   I was impressed.  This was my 3rd trip to Minn, but the 1st since i've taken a intrest in 'Urban Development'.

Heres a few pics..  I only had 3 hrs to cover a huge chunk of area that i wasnt really familar with..  So not many quality shots.

Downtown St. Paul









The Science Museum is currently running an exhibit called 'Body Worlds' which uses REAL DEAD BODIES to show the human anatomy.  http://www.bodyworlds.com/index.html  I wonder if this would fly at Union Staion




Xcel Energy Center - Home of the Minnesota Wild - NHL












Enough of St. Paul..  On to Bloomington - Mall of America

This has to be one of the largest parking garages in the World...




Hopped on the light rail line at the mall and headed to downtown Minneapolis





I was curious to how well the honor system held up..  looks like pretty good, everyone had a ticket.


A couple shots from the train..


Home of the Vikings and Twins


Airport Terminal Station..  the only underground portion of the LRT system


Downtown Minneapolis





for you 'Purple Rain' fans









The Target Center and Block E..  Bow down to the Sprint Center and P+L District.






Cool City!!  Too cold for me though

[im2kull]

ahhh I love the nice "core" of tall buildings...mmmmm

[Tosspot]

Even the St. Paul pictures kind of impress me. I'm surprised.

[KCK]

As a comment on Body Worlds, I saw that when I was at Chicago back in 2005. Very impressive and very popular. They had to have showings nearly 24 hours a day because the demand to see it was so high.

[Roanoker]

My husband grew up there! For about a year before we got married, we would both drive to Des Moines, leave one car in some parking lot, and then drive together to either Kansas City or Hopkins. I'll have to show him your cool pics. What is the building that looks like a Russian church? This one:



Oh, he thinks MN is too cold, too. In fact, he thinks Kansas City is too cold!

[MidWestSider]

What is the building that looks like a Russian church?

That is the Cathedral of Saint Paul: http://www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/

I never understood the purpose of buliding churchs so.. big. 

As a comment on Body Worlds, I saw that when I was at Chicago back in 2005. Very impressive and very popular. They had to have showings nearly 24 hours a day because the demand to see it was so high.

The 1st week it opened in St. Paul it was picketed and boycotted..   Now its so popular its been extended 3 months. 

It's on it's 3rd showing in Chicago now..   I'd love to see it in KC at least once.

[warwickland]

oh yah, the twin cities there, you betchya!

[anniewarbucks]

Did you notice all of the buildings downtown were interconnected by skywalks? You won't get cold going from building to building.
  Considering the church in the photo I believe that that church is the head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul in the Roman Catholic Church. When there is a major mass like Easter the church will be full.

[warwickland]

Did you notice all of the buildings downtown were interconnected by skywalks? You won't get cold going from building to building.
  Considering the church in the photo I believe that that church is the head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul in the Roman Catholic Church. When there is a major mass like Easter the church will be full.

have you been at the church on easter up there? you gotta bundle up there, and dress in layers...heck ofa deal there...

[Highlander]

I never understood the purpose of buliding churchs so.. big. 

Don't know the purpose (well, actually, I think its obvious) but if you ever go to Europe, you will be glad they did....the places are amazing.

[Roanoker]

... if you ever go to Europe, you will be glad they did....the places are amazing.

I went to Troost School, an elementary school in Kansas City. I recall being taught about architectural designs in European churches. The term, "flying buttresses" comes to mind. They were used to hold up the massive walls from the outside, freeing up the inside for column-free activities. I don't see them in the St. Paul Cathedral picture.

[MidWestSider]

Don't know the purpose (well, actually, I think its obvious) but if you ever go to Europe, you will be glad they did....the places are amazing.

I really didnt mean size wise. I was refering  more to..  why are they so 'elaborate'.  Was the principle.. to please god?

I was in europe two months ago..  and that is the extreme of what i'm refering to.

[Roanoker]

Midwestsider~

Why is your avatar so dark? I can hardly see the image. Maybe it's my computer or my eyes. 

[MidWestSider]

Midwestsider~

Why is your avatar so dark? I can hardly see the image. Maybe it's my computer or my eyes. 

I know..  i logged in on my desktop and its hardly visible, but its clear on my notebook.

It's just a KC Royals logo..  I'm going thru a bit of a avatar identity crisis.

[Highlander]

I went to Troost School, an elementary school in Kansas City. I recall being taught about architectural designs in European churches. The term, "flying buttresses" comes to mind. They were used to hold up the massive walls from the outside, freeing up the inside for column-free activities. I don't see them in the St. Paul Cathedral picture.

The cathedrals in Europe take on a myriad of design forms.  I believe Notre Dame in Paris is the most famous of the type you mentioned.  The pictured cathedral does not use that type of structural support as you correctly surmised.  The scale of the European churches in incredible.  My favorite is in Ulm Bavaria, its not so elaborate or ornate, but its height is dizzying.