We had a funny experience last night. Before we went out to dinner I had rung housekeeping and asked them to bring me some non-feather pillows as I am allergic to feathers. When we got back the pillows still weren't there and it had been 3hrs since my first request. I rang again and this time a guy at reception answered and I asked him for non-feather pillows. It took ages but finally a lady knocked on the door. She had a big trolley of pillows with her and was very apologetic. She told me she had been all over the hotel and could only find 8 pillows. I told her I only needed 2 but when I felt them they were feather. She said she had been told I wanted nine feather pillows instead of non-feather pillows!!! She came back 5mins later with 2 foam pillows. At least I know what to call them now!
It was a beautiful day in Cincinnati today. We decided to eat breakfast in a diner in the arcade downstairs from the hotel. It was cute but useless-they didn't have anything I wanted. No bananas, no cereal, no raisin toast.
We went up to the observation deck
of the Carew Tower which is the tallest building in Cincinnati. It was designed by the same architect who designed the Empire State Building and has the same art deco look. It was a great view from the top except it was a bit smoggy.
When we came down we went to Fountain Square and waited for the trolley. You pay $1 everytime you get on no matter how far you go. We caught the trolley that went across the Ohio River to Newport, Kentucky. I didn't realise how close Cincinnati is to the Kentucky Border.
We booked in to go on the 'Duck' which is a bus that is amphibious and also goes on the river. It was an interesting ride. We learnt lots about the history of the area and saw lots more than we had on foot.
Also in Kentucky we saw the World Peace Bell. It is an enormous bell-the largest working free swinging bell in the world. Unfortunately it is under repair so we couldn't hear it ring.
The Proctor & Gamble plant is in Cincinnati and is enormous. This is a city that has historical and new next to each other and historical markers can pop up anywhere.
The 2 main sports teams are the Bengals (gridiron) and the Reds (baseball). They each have an enormous stadium on the banks of the river. The Reds have been a professional baseball team since 1869.
Back in town we had to have a Graeters ice cream. This has been an institution in Cincinatti since 1870. They still make their ice cream the same way now as back then. It is delicious and is on Oprah's list of favourite things.
Tomorrow we head north to Columbus. Hopefully this beautiful sunny weather will go with us.