cornerofmadness: (Default)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
I might regret it when I get overwhelmed when I get home but I am very glad I came to Cincinnati even if it took longer than expected to get here. They're building a new ramp off US-32 in Batavia which slowed stuff down and then an 18 wheeler rear ended another 18 wheeler and then the line to get my skyline chili coney dog (you have to go to skyline chili in Cincinnati it's a rule).

I had NO idea how freaking BIG the Cinci art museum is. It. Is. Awesome!! I saw about a third of it before I had to tap out. It is literally an all-day thing. The first floor was ancient art (some of my favorite styles though it is a conflicted love when you know a lot of this stuff was stolen from the country of origin) and Asian and African art. I spent most of my time down here.

I got to see one of the treasures I so wanted to see. In amongst the Buddhas, Guan-Yins, Jinzos is a rather dull little mirror but it is a rare ' magic mirror' It is hard to achieve and they had the light on it shining the Buddha image onto the wall. It was breathtaking to see and realize someone so many hundreds of years ago achieved this.

THere a lot of Muslim and ancient Babylonian (and other ancient middle eastern cultures) art including a gold plate from Darius the great.

They had rooms of rookwood pottery. How much do I love rookwood? I had no idea that there were faiences that were literally room sized. There were entire fireplace pieces and fountains made of it. Gorgeous. Gaudy. Needs to make a story.


The second floor I only got to about half of it. I bypassed most of the modern art. I spent a little time with the Gainsboroughs and then there was a huge piece by Benjamin West which was supposed to be part of a permanent exhibit in London (later 1700s) but it didn't go through. It was this picture of Ophelia and Laertes. The madness in her face mesmerized me.

They had an exhibit Galloping through the Dynasties. It was a few rooms of horses in Chinese art through the centuries. I was this old before I learned that the Chinese have the tianma a freaking winged horse!

I need to come back but I had to get moving because I wanted to get to the Zoo right before the sun went down. I wanted to see some animals as well as the lights. So I try to get there and I can see a zoo this way sign a block away from where my gps says to turn. I figure it's a back way to the parking lot. Nope right into the children's hospital. thanks gps.

I get there and there aren't many people. Perfect timing. I got to see some lions, painted dogs, giraffes, ostriches and cheetahs before they turned in for the n ight. Naturally I had to see Fiona the hippo (she's become an international star at this point). I found all five of her fiona fairies in the walkways too. Fiona, her baby and her mate, Tucker were all there acting up playfully. I hope I got some good shots (as it was very crowded) Fiona is adorable and I've never seen a hippo enclosure that had an underwater viewing option. Holy crap they are bigger than I thought.

The aviary smelled and the birds were raucous. For that matter so was the reptile house. One of my favorite enclosures was the night house where they have it in dim light for the nocturnal animals. Here is a black footed cat, pound for pound, the worst of the murder cats. I look in and it's the size and color of a house cat. That tracks.

the gorillas were going to sleep when i got there, pulling net blankets over themselves like anyone would do going to bed.

The nice thing is they aren't disturbing the animals for the festival of lights. The zoo is open to 9 pm. The light show was amazing. Seriously. My favorite might have been under the sea with the huge illuminated jellyfish hung overhead in the trees. I hope my pictures came out. It's so hard to tell. Here's a pat on my back for walking nonstop from 2-6.

The only actual hitch is the hotel. The room is great. The tv is better than what I have. The hitch, some fool (not naming names) dropped her pillow into a full cup of tea staining the pillow case, the pillow and the towel i used to clean it up. Sigh. Also there's a big sign on the desk listing the charges if you steal shit from this place. Watch me get 100$ bill for trashing the linens (also there is no alarm clock in here. I plan to tell them that before I'm billed for that too.)

I ended up at Popeye's chicken for dinner because this hotel (and Jungle Jim's) is one giant mall complex that is 99% fast food.

Tomorrow, I'm finishing up holiday shopping at Jungle Jim's food gifts for everyone. I probably still won't make it all the way thru it (it's over 200 sqft of grocery store)

Date: 2022-12-14 06:04 am (UTC)
under_the_silk_tree: small white and orange song bird (bird)
From: [personal profile] under_the_silk_tree
That magic mirror must have been awesome to see in person. I had never heard of one before.

It sounds like you had a great trip.

I got your Christmas card today I loved it! Did you receive mine? sent it a bit ago but I always worry they will get lost in the mail.

Date: 2022-12-15 04:34 am (UTC)
under_the_silk_tree: small white and orange song bird (bird)
From: [personal profile] under_the_silk_tree
I sent it to OH it had a red cardinal on the front.
Edited Date: 2022-12-15 04:35 am (UTC)

Date: 2022-12-15 05:41 am (UTC)
under_the_silk_tree: stack of old books (Default)
From: [personal profile] under_the_silk_tree
Oh very good. Thanks!

Ah...

Date: 2022-12-14 10:57 am (UTC)
dauntless_heart: (dreaming)
From: [personal profile] dauntless_heart
You know, I love living here. Las Cruces is the second largest city in New Mexico. Still, compared to Cincinnati it's tiny, and its museums reflect that. We go away for anything more than a major movie for entertainment.

I also miss our Zoo. We've been to the El Paso Zoo, the Alameda Zoo, the Roswell Zoo and the ones in Tucson and Phoenix--not nothing compares with Cincinnati. I'd forgotten about the Festival Of Lights. It's probably the only thing that would get me to come back in the Winter. :)

Don't even get me started on Cincinnati food! I also love Mexican (lucky me, to live here). But there are no steak hoagies, no goetta and no Skyline chili. We had an Indian restaurant for a few years. but now the closest is in El Paso. :: sigh ::

Re: Ah...

Date: 2022-12-15 01:18 pm (UTC)
dauntless_heart: (uhura)
From: [personal profile] dauntless_heart
Oh yes! I've been to the Columbus zoo as well, which is awesome! And in the midwest/south we've been to the Knoxville zoo and Ripley's Aquarium. Have you seen the Newport Aquarium? I remember when Newport was a place you NEVER wanted your children to visit--now it's a social hub. :)

Sad but yummy, goetta is mostly sausage flavored fat. Love it!



Re: Ah...

Date: 2022-12-16 11:57 am (UTC)
dauntless_heart: (grinning pierce)
From: [personal profile] dauntless_heart
hahahahahahah

Date: 2022-12-15 01:28 pm (UTC)
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
From: [personal profile] spikedluv
It sounds like a great day!

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