I went with a good friend, Craig. We met in lobby. He showed me Cabinet Room replica, and then we ran to catch next viewing of 20 minute introductory film about Clinton, his presidency, and library/museum.

The film was well worth time. It’s well done and informative – at least to me.

Afterward, we strolled through museum displays. Well, I strolled; my companion had done an internship in Washington and was immediately glued to first exhibit. I moved on and made a quick brush. In 45 minutes Craig had only gotten to third exhibit out of 16.

We were both hungry and went down to restaurant on lowest level overlooking river. It looked pretty busy, so we walked to River Market, only five minutes away. At Farmer’s Market I had a big ole salad and Craig had a Turkish Stew. We sat at a picnic table in front of amphitheater overlooking Arkansas River.

After lunch we stopped at Clinton Museum Store. It had a bunch of interesting and silly Clinton souvenirs and other stuff. This is place to go for a Clinton bobble-head.

Remember to keep your ticket handy if you leave Clinton Library like we did. The ticket has date on it and you can come and go all you like that day.

The crowds both at Clinton Library and River Market were diverse and lively, but not dense or annoying. There were several high school and college groups (20-30 people). A few small groups of Seniors (6-10 people) milled around here and there.

The staff at Clinton Library was really helpful and sweet, though not fully up to speed on details. In fact I saw one staff member in museum section reading up on some of same brochures I had just gotten in lobby. Oh well, they’ll get hang of it.

Imagine this scenario for a moment: You are hopelessly stranded deep inside African interior, without a spare tyre and waiting for help. You prepare to flag down first car that passes by. “When will that be?” you think to yourself. Time wears on. You picture yourself dragging your dehydrated self over many kilometres of parched semi-arid terrain towards nearest town, while hordes of hungry vultures looming overhead contemplate you for lunch.

Thankfully, a small, dust-battered truck pulls up and this nightmarish vision quickly dissolves. Tough looking men gaze out of back of truck, peering at you with hardened looks acquired through labouring this tough, untamed land. The uncertainty and tension is broken by their sympathetic smiles and they drive you, happily and with good cheer, to nearest service station and back to your car where you are kindly helped to fit your newly repaired tyre.

Now that you're safely back on road you begin to realize meaning of genuine hospitality, known within culture in South Africa as 'geselligheid'. Thankful that you have just had actual experience (a certain something you felt) you now have a connection, whole-heartedly, with people and culture in South Africa.