Onto Hot Springs, AR

 On Saturday, March 16th, we left Olive Branch and headed West again, this time over the Mississippi River. Approaching the bridge that would take us over, we could see 2 other defunct bridges standing next to each other. Kinda creepy to see.

Once we were over the bridge we entered the 4th state of our trip, Arkansas. And boy, was that place FLAT. Like eastern NC flat. In a few hours, we were at our destination, Hot Springs. Once we found a charging station, we went in search of lunch. A quick Google search led us to a historic bar & grill, The Ohio Club. With the bragging rights as the oldest bar in AR, this place had hosted the likes of Babe Ruth, Mae West, Al Capone and a bunch of other mobsters. During Prohibition, it pretended to become a cigar store. It was actually a speakeasy; you can still see the holes in the floor where the false wall was erected to hide the shenanigans that went on beyond. This place had a very beautiful bar back that was so large (all carved in one piece) that a special transport had to be constructed to get it to Hot Springs. Then they had to take off the front of the building to get it in! While we didn't partake in the libations, the Ruebens were some of the best we have ever had.

Gorgeous barback with lots of ornate carving; that's 3 horse heads in the middle.

Beautiful facade

Best Reuben we've had!

The rest of the day we toured around town on foot and did a little hiking. The NPS has done an excellent job preserving and restoring the Fordyce Bathhouse, which was a luxurious way to "take the waters" of the springs. Believed to have medicinal benefits, soaking in the waters was sought out post-Civil War to help veterans get relief from their lasting injuries. Enjoying the waters of Hot Springs became more widely popular as the word of their effects spread, and the bathhouses were constructed.

Stained glass ceiling in the men's side of the Fordyce Bathhouse. Men had much better accommodations than the women. Go figure.

Statue of De Soto, who explored the area back in the 1500's. Also in the men's side.

The springs have been capped to direct the untouched waters to the bathhouses, but this is one small cascade where you can see the water come out of the ground. The algae were vivid green, not completely captured here.

Hot Springs was the playground of the monied class and the historic Arlington Hotel is still in operation. This is their dining room; the rest of the place was equally grand.