Downtown Louisville, Kentucky

     After visiting Lexington, we headed for Louisville.  The banners hung on the light posts were amusing.

Check out the gold replica of Michelangelo's David in the background.  This fiberglass copy of the David statue located in Florence, Italy stands 30 feet tall and is twice as big as the original.  It is billed as the "biggest male package on public view."  Serkan Ozkaya is the artist.  The statue stands in front of the 21c Museum/Hotel.  These hotels, located in Louisville, Cincinnati, Bentonville, and Durham, offer hospitality, contemporary art, and fine dining.  Here's a link:
http://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/locations/
A waddle of red penguin sculptures keep David company.  They are also larger than life.    

A twist on one of my favorite expressions.

We had several teams of high school basketball players staying at our hotel during their playoff games.  They had a ball until the wee hours of the morning.  I think they practiced lay ups in the hall.  We complained and got a substantial discount on our bill, so I we got over the lost sleep.  

     

     We made a stop at the visitor center where this sign lists all the ways Louisville might be pronounced.  I mostly heard "Looavul" from the locals.

The visitor center was one of dozens of places to buy Derby hats.  The horse in the front corner is one of  hundreds of painted horses located throughout the city.  The colorful steeds are part of Gallopalooza, Louisville's sidewalk derby.  Gallopalooza has been held three times (2004, 2009, and 2015).  The event showcases local artists, beautifies the streets, draws tourists, encourages exploration, and generates civic pride.  Local businesses sponsor the artists.  The horses are displayed, judged, and auctioned off before going to their permanent homes.           

Me with the Colonel at the visitor center.