Road Well Traveled...Part Two

We got rid of the Man Child and grabbed a bite to eat in a little town called Hubbard.  My parents live there, and were kind enough to feed us yummy tenderloins that are about twelve inches in diameter (served with a tiny three inch bun).

We jumped back on the road and set off to the west across US Highway 20.

At this point, you are probably thinking we are making pretty good time on our overall journey.  We were doing fine....until we got to Fort Dodge and turned north to find our next site.

West Bend, Iowa is home to the Grotto of the Redemption.  Stella had never heard of a grotto before.  I think she was a little excited to see what was in our path.  Louise and I tried to describe how rocks and gems are put together to form the walls, bridges and designs, but we were surprised to see how many stones, shells and crystals were used to for the Grotto of the Redemption.

This is typical of the crystals throughout the grotto

When you see all of these stones and different textures surrounding you....

of course you want to......

 TOUCH IT!

and then we see the sign.....

oops.

It really was like kids in a candy shop.  

All those times taking field trips, 

           yelling at the kids to not touch....... 

                      stay where you are supposed to...... 

                                                  and, for heaven's sake,

IF THOU WILT ENTER,

BEHAVE YOURSELVES!

In our defense, it was about 104 degrees and it was SWELTERING.

The flies were sticking to everything....

Stella even had to help Joe out.

He looked so uncomfortable with 

that huge black fly stuck to his head.

The reality of this roadside adventure?

The Grotto of the Redemption was quite amazing.

The amount of work to assemble this....

The Angel Gabriel

Second Station of the Cross

Detail of mosaic at the Second Station of the Cross

 The mosaic work was beautiful.  The Art Teacher in me came out!

A dome inside one of the chapels

Stained glass imported from Belgium

The cake topper

Definitively worth the trip!