Bloomington and Normal

Yes there is a place called Normal and they did let us stay there! After breakfast we went to look around the area and got lost trying to find the historic downtown area. First we ended up un a University campus with all of the students coming out of class, then we somehow got to the Emergency Rooms of the local hospital and finally we ended up in some very dodgy neighbourhood. After that we gave up and decided to go and look at the residential mansion of David Davis a High Court Judge who helped Abraham Lincoln become President.

This seemed a bit dodgy too as the sign told us to go to the basement door, which was opened by a grumpy man who told us to come in and follow him. We then went through passageways and staircases and wondered if we would ever get out again! He ushered us into the vestibule where it was baking hot and closed the door after telling me to put my camera away as there were no photographs allowed!

Two other ladies joined us and they were marched in and barked orders at too. We all hoped our guide for the tour wouldn't be so miserable and grumpy!

A lovely lady took us around the building and told us lots of facts about it and the family who had lived there. They were all interested in our knowledge of Victorian life and buildings, as the house was supposedly fashioned on English design.

We were there for hours and the time flew by. It was very hot in the house though as there was no air conditioning. Again like the Arch Museum in St Louis this was all free.