Cincinnati

Just typing that title I found myself singing the word and adding "WKRP" after it.  Yep, I am that old.

Alright, silliness aside, let's look at Cincinnati.  We spent that afternoon there, stopping for lunch, shopping, and sightseeing in one spot, then coming back for dinner and a walk in the evening.  We also came back into the city after checking out of the hotel the next morning, heading for a museum and lunch before making our way to the airport.  Not much time in Cincinnati - we saw even less of it than we did of Nashville - but I feel as though our appetites for more were whetted by comparison to Nashville earlier in the trip.

Speaking of appetites, we started off with lunch up in the Mount Adams neighbourhood. Cincinnati is the United States' version of a city built on seven hills.  It's a charming little part of the city, one that felt like a real little neighbourhood with its own community.  We headed for lunch right away, having sandwiches at Mt. Adams Bar and Grill,

before wandering around a small handful of blocks, taking in the top of the hill and what it had to offer. 

A few interesting pieces of real estate up there as well, but no, we are not intending to retire to Cincinnati.

From there it was on to Rookwood Pottery,

a place that one of Conrad's colleagues had recommended.  They had lovely pieces there, and I could well imagine having a tile fireplace or something like that as crafted by them.  Yes, we bought a few small things.  How could we not?  From there, it was downtown and a little jaunt through the Hilton to admire at least some of the fine interior of the Carew Tower.

John and Drew met us at the hotel early that evening for drinks before we all crossed back into downtown Cincinnati for dinner.  I still can't believe I got to meet John.  What an amazing man he is.  And Drew was an utter delight - I loved hearing his many stories. 

Dinner was at Yard House, and it was fine enough, but what was even better was taking advantage of a pleasant evening and all of us strolling across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge to Kentucky and then back again, walking a little after that in the riverfront park in Cincinnati.  What a gorgeous bridge!  That walk gave me and John time to have some private conversation and share some personal things, too, and I valued that greatly.  But ah, the views of the cities, the river, and the bridge itself.  So wonderful.

John and Drew dropped us back off at the hotel after that, and Conrad and I had a nightcap.  A fine day done, and a little time the next day to get to see more.

The next morning we were back at Point Perk, but we also stopped at North South Baking, a lovely bakery nearby, for some excellent pastries to bring back to the room. 

A rhubarb cruffin?  Yes, please!  We packed, checked out, and headed across the river to the Cincinnati Art Museum.  We had enough time there to browse a bit (free admission, so the price was right) and have lunch in the museum cafe. 

It was off to the airport after that,

two flights to go, and a little stowaway joining us. 

The end of a truly excellent vacation with oh so many highlights to remember fondly.

Saturday morning in NYC, and then coming home

Last.  Post.  From.  The.  NYC.  Trip.

I swear!

Hi!  Eleven days after we got home, I'm finishing off the blogging.  And yes, in some ways, it's just getting home from NYC.  And hey, who doesn't love airport and aerial shots?  But we squeezed in a little more into that last day, so why not blog it?

A shorter early morning walk for me, again alone.  Ah, all my walks alone (10.72 miles this morning here in Pasadena - that was a good one!).  Over our time on the east coast, the weather had gotten milder, less humid, so it was a real pleasure enjoying those walks, seeing NYC.  I set out for Starbucks first, then sipped my decaf latte as I roamed nearby, including Madison Square Park again. 

Back at the hotel, we got packed, and then headed out to meet up with Jeff and his husband, Andy, for breakfast.

I've known Jeff for years online, but I've never had the chance to meet him in person.  I was having a conversation recently with another friend I know from online about how some people get so weirded out by the notion of meeting online friends in real life (and even just making online friends).  I've met dozens over the years.  Some have stuck, some have not.  But it's a perfectly fine way to meet people.  And really, even if this was the first time meeting Jeff, I know far more about his life in NYC than about members of my own family!

All of which sounds defensive.  Sorry!  It was simply great to sit down and have a diner breakfast and catch up.  I'm especially grateful they came to meet us given they don't live on Manhattan and they just got back from Greece the day before.  A lovely time, and I was especially touched that Jeff gave me a small piece of his pottery as a memento.

And then it was off to LaGuardia.  Lounge time, then aboard a flight to Denver. 

I was able to pick out CitiField

and the old World's Fair grounds as we took off out of New York. 

The meal on the plane was entirely reasonable. 

And Denver - the city and the airport!

- was a welcome sight given the delays we had already experienced.  We made it home after 10 that evening, and I was happy to be in my own bed once again!