Travels with Jeanne and Serge: Columbus

The next morning was our second and last breakfast at the Lamplight Inn -- the "home of the singing innkeeper." This time, I captured some of Larry's efforts.

Larry talks enthusiastically to the diners in between numbers.

Here's one that's closer and more complete.
Then it was time to take Serge and Jeanne to our home in Columbus. Driving back from Berlin, Ohio, we stopped at the Great Circle Earthworks, previously Moundbuilders State Memorial, in Newark, a large ceremonial circular Indian earthworks, part of a much larger complex, now largely obliterated. The best remaining piece is the Octagon Earthworks, which we visited next. The multi-part structure has alignments which indicate that it was oriented to an 18.6-year-long lunar cycle.

In a deal originating in the early 1900s, the earthworks here are preserved by a country club, which uses the grounds as a golf course. There is a short observation tower and a couple of signs, which you see here, but otherwise access is generally restricted to four open days per year. People have been arrested for challenging the country club's authority to eject trespassers.

This is the sign at the terminus of the short asphalt path that takes visitors to the western end of the earthworks.

Then it was time to go on to chez Branch-Campbell and greet the owls.

The next two days were our chance to show Jeanne and Serge some of the spots we find appealing in Columbus. We started at the Grange Audubon Center, a new center and park just a mile from downtown on reclaimed land.

Nearby there is an observation deck overlooking an arm of the Scioto River. We watched herons, turtles, and visiting schoolchildren.

Next we drove to the Ohio State University campus, to hit just a few highlights. Of course, we were obligated to drive by the Horseshoe, the home of the OSU Buckeye football team. It's a shrine for much of the state.

After parking we crossed the Oval, which was packed with students enjoying one of the first warm, sunny days of the year (April 30th).

We all experienced some culture shock, or at least displacement, having been in Amish country and then finding ourselves surrounded by nearly nude sunbathers! Our first goal was the completely renovated library, which Joan and I had never seen.

One novel feature is that different scripts -- musical notation, real languages, imaginary languages (for example, Elvish) -- are imbedded in the floor and also appear on the elevator doors. A key to all the markings is included in the visitor's guide.

The top floor is a reading room with wonderful views in all directions. (This photo has some reflection from the window, but it gives you an idea.)

Next we visited one of Joan's favorites, Orton Hall, with the lobby pillars made of stone from different Ohio geological formations, and the Orton Geological Museum.

Our final campus stop was the newly rebuilt Ohio Union (the student union), where Jeanne and Serge had an opportunity to chat with Brutus Buckeye (the OSU mascot).

The new Ohio Union is a multi-tiered affair with lots of natural light, very cheerful on a sunny day.

We had a late lunch at one of our favorite Short North establishments, the North Star Café.

And then we went home and rested. Or did laundry. And, of course, admired the owls.

Our destination the next day was the Franklin Park Conservatory. The Conservatory has rearranged and rotated its Chihuly glass collection.

The orchids were still on display, in addition to the themed environments (Himalayas, Rain Forest, Desert, and so forth).

I think Jeanne took this photo in honor of Serge's military service back in the 70s. He was stationed in Madagascar.

I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to use Jeanne's picture of the cacao tree -- the source of that most important of natural resources, chocolate. The blooms and hence cacao pods are spaced along the trunk and branches, a design called cauliflory.

We enjoyed the Hot Shop, a seasonal outdoor glassblowing exhibition. You can buy the output of the Hot Shop at the Conservatory's gift shop.

Here's a closeup of the Glory Hole.

And a video clip of working some of the glass at a later stage -- with wet newspaper!

There's always a lot to see at the Conservatory. Don't skip the courtyards between buildings.

According to the placard, this bonsai is 365 years old. (Do they update the placard every year?)

We reached the Pacific Island Water Garden just after they had done a butterfly release. (Don't miss the blue one at the lower left. It's hard to get an image with the wings open, because they close when the butterfly lands on something.)

We had a few friends over that evening to meet Serge and Jeanne, and for the occasion, Joan baked some fabulous cookies.

The next two days would be our Ohio safari adventure.