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             Nauvoo

    We drove into Nauvoo on the evening of July 18th from Long Grove, Iowa and immediately went to our hotel, The White House Inn.  The room had 4 queen beds!  Each of the kids had one to themselves.  We ate dinner in our room and went to bed. 
    The next morning, we fixed breakfast in the kitchen (this was something we hadn't done since leaving home!), packed up (we only spent one night there) and then headed out for a day of sight-seeing.
    We visited the Nauvoo Temple site, took a horse and carriage ride through the woods and meadows and toured the Visitors' Center.  That evening, we enjoyed a musical production called "Adventures in Old Nauvoo" performed by 14 young performing missionaries.  It was great fun!
    We spent our second night at the Nauvoo Family Motel Annex.   Although it was a bit rundown, it was like having our own little apartment.   Two bedrooms, bathroom, living area and kitchen.  We visited the local market and stocked up on things we could use to cook our meals (again, something we hadn't done).   The kids swam in the pool.
    Tuesday morning after breakfast we headed for Carthage. 
    On Sunday as we drove into Nauvoo, we had noticed a problem with the car.  After returning from Carthage, we took the car to a local mechanic that I had visited with the previous day to have the U joints replaced.  While we waited to have the car fixed (it took all afternoon), we 'toured' the shops along Main Street of 'new' Nauvoo.  We also did our wash at the local laundromat.  Mom and Dad went to dinner at Parma-Johnny's. 
    After picking up the car (the guy only charged me $80!) we went to another musical production called "Remembering Nauvoo" which was performed in the restored Cultural Hall by the young and senior Missionaries.  While we were waiting in line, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the Mississippi river.  It was a very enjoyable evening.  We again spent the night at the Nauvoo Family Motel Annex.  This was a change from our original plan of camping several miles out of Nauvoo on our way to Iowa.  We decided that we had definitely scheduled too little time in Nauvoo so we stayed another night.
    On the 21st, we did the tour of the Old Nauvoo restored homes and businesses.  We saw the Scovill Bakery, where we were given a sample of an 'authentic' gingerbread cookie.  We also visited the Lyon Drug Store, the Calvin Pendleton  cabin and school, the Nauvoo Post Office, Brigham Young's home and the Blacksmith Shop.  This was a highlight.  We watched the blacksmith make Jordan a miniature horseshoe; MaryLayne was also given one for untangling a set of metal horse hobbles; Laurisa was given a 'Prairie Diamond' ring made from a square nail.  We then took pictures of Joseph Smith's Mansion House, the Smith Family Cemetery and Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store, where we did a little shopping.  These sites are owned by the RLDS Church and require that a complete tour be taken in order to tour each of these places.  Because of time, we chose not to do this.  Before leaving Nauvoo, we collected some souvenir water from the Mississippi River.
    After a whirlwind stop in Nauvoo (we could have spent a few more days), we headed out through Iowa for Omaha, Nebraska.