With no special program planned for my last day in the US I took it easy.
During a late and nice breakfast I decided to visit the State Capitol. With Boise being
the capital of the State of Idaho the city has to have a capitol building and knowing the
US it has to be an imposing building. The Capital Hgw was quickly found and one could
already see the building at its end. Being a Sunday there was hardly any traffic on the road
and a parking spot just around the corner quickly found. The State Capitol is a smaller
version of the Capitol in Washington with the usual US regalia around it. To my amazement
the building was open and one could simply step in. No security guard, now security check,
you simply walk in and look around. I wish it would be that easy to visit our Houses of
Parliament where elaborate security checks are been done and an admission fee is charged.
Over here nothing of that sort. Whilst it was not possible ( understandable ) to walk into individual
offices like for example of the governor one could still see the Senate chamber and the House
of Representatives. Impressive was the rotunda with its huge dome.
Downstairs was an educational centre where the workings of both houses are been explained and
only there a lovely lady paid attention and answered questions. I asked her about the “open house”.
Her reply: “ We are an open democracy”. Somehow a contradiction to what else is going on.
Nevertheless she proposed that I should visit another interesting State building: The Old Idaho Penitentiary Site.
With nothing else planned I took up that suggestion and made the short drive to the site in the outskirts of
Boise. Walking through this old prison was very interesting as the changes in the treatment of prisoners over the
years and how they where accommodated was still very visible. The prison was closed in 1973 and is now one
of only four prisons in the States which one can visit.
On may way back I stopped in Boise downtown to see if the cities motto “City of Trees” is true and found that they
still have some lovely old buildings and yes lots of trees. In the meantime the cities people frequented the streets
and populated the outdoor restaurants and cafes so a stop for refreshments was more then adequate.
With shops open on Sundays I stopped on my way “home” at a local supermarket and bought a few things I want
to take with me.
Late dinner and then start packing, at least sorting everything.
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