A day in Cincinnati

[fbhjr]

This morning we got up, drove up to pallid_regina and Lance's house, got them in my Prius and drove up to Cincinnati in the rain.

We met up with medievaloracle at the conservatory there.


We had thought there was an exhibit there on butterflies, but apparently the website was misleading and it had already left. The butterflies there were not happy ones.


But, social butterflies were alive and well.


The conservatory is not all that big, but they get a lot of plants into it.


It qualifies as a museum, so there were benches.


As I sat on the bench, I heard some sounds above me that were bird like. I looked up and saw a bright read bird butt over my head.


It did not sound upset or angry at me, but did seem to know I was on the bench below it. It chirped some more, then took a dead leaf and dropped it on the bench next to me.

I'm not sure what it means to take a dead leaf from a bird. But, I'm already married.

We also wanted to see the desert plants, but the room between where we were and there was closed.


We walked around to the cactus room and found it to be very humid. More humid than outside in the rain.


My wife did also insist on a group shot of everyone but her. Some folks are better dancers than I am.


I was sad that in the cactus area they had not lithops. They're my favorite of that kind of plant.
But, they did have some in the gift shop.


But, they were very sad lithops being attacked by bugs and clearly over watered.

I was half tempted to take them just to keep them safe. But, you can't save every lithop in the world.

Outside they had a section of petrified tree with a strange sign.

What are prehistoric monsters in the shade?
Vampire T-Rex? Mummy mastodons?
There were no answers to these questions.

We headed over to the art museum next. For reasons not clear they have a giant Pinocchio in front of the museum. But, some folks like that.


Their main hall had what they called their "icons" which were supposed to be the best things in the museum.
They were cool. But, what I liked best was they used these string curtains to creat a small display space around each. Really cool way to do it.


They did have a painting by Van Gogh.

In Doctor Who, Vincent knows the Doctor and sends him warnings by paintings.
So, we were surprised to see the shadow of a Dalek on one of the trees in this painting.


And, of course, benches!


I thought this altar piece was interesting.

But, mostly because of the sword shown that is 2500 years out of date.


I also found this interesting, but not for the art itself, but the sign on the floor painted around it.



There was lots of good art and I have many more photos. But, I think that will wait until we get home and I can batch process them on my computer rather than the iPad.

So, we'll cut to the gift shop.

New England Clam chowder with Virginia ham made in Maryland?

Virginia and Maryland are not in New England. Very strange.

And, what is up with this Cthulhu necklace?


We were at the museum until it closed. In the words of my wife "That gift shop lady made it to her car before we did!"

So, we set off for a recommended restaurant. But, I have this left right trouble, so the car following us actually got there first.

(OF course, the fact the restaurant had changed names didn't help. We did get there and say "this can't be it" and went off elsewhere...)

The place used to be a pottery factory and we were seated in an old kiln.


Dinner was very good. But, then came the argument about who would pay. My wife and Lance decided to determine this by arm wrestling.

My wife won. So, we paid.

For desert I got something described as part cake and part pudding.
What I got was half a cupcake in the bottom of a jar.

It tasted very strange, but was still good.

Post dinner we went out to see the view of the city. It is a very nice view.


We said out goodbyes and headed back to our hotel. Even though it was sunset there was just enough light left for a rainbow.


And, it was a very nice sunset as well.


All in all, it was a VERY nice day. It was good seeing medievaloracle and more of Cincinnati than that freezer company I have to visit for work.

Comments

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

He dropped a fig leaf on you. Clearly you were being immodest.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Maybe it knew we'd be going to the art museum...

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I'm quite envious of all your adventures - you seem to be so close to lots of major cities I can only dream about visiting. Therefore I love your photo essays :)

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a nice full, fun day. Everyone looks happy.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

YAY!

[marketeer]

We were in Cleveland a few weeks ago, and the art museum there is very good (and has free admission). We were pleasantly surprised.

[sorceress.livejournal.com]

Cthulu necklace!! :D I love it!

Maybe the bird was trying to be your friend? They're strange. I once had a crow land on a fence near where I was walking and caw madly at me as though it was trying to tell me something... I sometimes still wonder what it wanted...

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

That bird was also a boy. You were hit on by a flashy boy bird.

It was SUCH a fun day, I'm STILL processing it all.

ETA: Thank you SO much for making us part of your trip. We enjoyed our time with you guys so very, very much.