About this blog

Thulani (Too-lah-nee) is a small South African bear who has been bitten by the travel bug in a big way! This blog will follow the travels of Thulani Bear as he visits various countries around the globe during 2011.

Tuesday 20 December 2011

We are fluffing up the fur and preparing for our good-byes.

A few last treks

1. We meet up with Santa Claus while VOLUNTEERING for a local radio station and Thulani hard at work answering phones - via computer - taking donations, night lights at the NEW COMMONS Park in Downtown Columbus, and- while on our way to the Franklin Park Conservatory- we experience a DOUBLE RAINBOW!!!!!





2. We attended the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert Sunday evening: the stage and lighting effects were simply stunning

Friday 16 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio - Day 8

Another look at St. MARY:
interior and exterior






Thulani became interested in the Kelton House: located on Town Street
*Fernando Cortez and Sarah Stone Kelton (avid abolishionists) built the home in 1852- the last in the pasture land; in 1864, the Kelton's began aiding fleeing slaves. Therefore, this home became a link in the Underground Railroad...moving slaves from the South, through Ohio, and into Canada.
Celebrated yet today!





We visited the Old Deaf School Park: the building is used for private businesses, but the grounds have been transformed onto a wonderful topiary scene- based on French Impressionist, Serrat (pointism)





Next, we crossed Broad Street to glimpse the Columbus College of Art and Design's most recent sculpture: "ART".


Our trek home takes us next to the Franklin Park Conservatory...harkening back to the 1800's when ladies walked the paths in bustled dresses, and gents always wore suits and hats- there are STILL plants in there from those days



An evening look at The Commons- our newest park in downtown proper.


Thursday 15 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio - Day 7

My sister, Sandy, and I stopped at one of our favorite quilt shops: Quilt Trends...note the OHIO quilt to the left



We met up with our nephew's wife, Melissa, and their two ADORABLE daughters: Erika and Alex
*we ate lunch together



We visited the town hall/police station of an area village: Conine-Pataskala for an "olde time" cartoon fest. There we spied a vintage movie projector (the theatre is being renovated ... trying to revive its past luster). Thulani got "up close and personal" with it.



Thulani displays rapt attention to "The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives"....has a catchy tune.
We, also, enjoy a few "sing alongs"- Thulani knows all the words!


We end the busy day with a SHOPPING TRIP (OH! The CROWDS)...
stopped at the LEGO store...
Thulani made more friends.


Wednesday 14 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio - Day 5 and 6

Day Five:
Exhausted from the previous day's activities, we lounged around the house, then left home to help Ms. Rae for a bit...no pix (who wants to see a bear with "bed head" fur??? lol)



Day Six:
 Today's the day we go to GRESSO'S for our Women's Club Christmas luncheon: the owner- Eric- opened early just for us!....Thulani and husband came too...



Tasty food....VERY reasonable prices

A beef stew that tastes similar to veggie soup



GRESSO'S claim is being "The #1 STEELERS (American football) Bar"....
we need to return on "game night" to see for ourselves

We enjoy a late snack at Skyline Chili for a coney dog and a 5-way spaghetti


Tuesday 13 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio - Day 4

Meet Thulani's roommates:

Spoiled CHEESE, the Siamese



SCOOPS, the BIG black lab



EDGAR J....big blue, always on the go!
 





Off to the area recreation center to meet up with Ms Rae, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist,- to instruct the fine art of gingerbread house making, with graham crackers, to students of the Ohio State School for the Deaf.



They work diligently...
Watch out for that sticky icing on the bear fur!!!!!









Group pix: Ms Rae, and their teachers: Terry, Cassie, Reba



Everyone left happy ( FULL of sweets), and even still had their houses intact- none collapsed, none were eaten....yet. :-)

A fine finished example


Monday 12 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio - Day 3

Since we had our annual Viking Baths last night (lol): so not to waste our shine, we attended church in the morning. Thulani helped wrap presents for needy families last night and we delivered them to our church this morning. 

After catching a snack, we returned to listen to the "Bells of St. Mary"- our award winning hand-bell choir.

Our church was erected in 1863 in the area of Columbus settled by German immigrants...now called, interestingly enough, German Village. Many breweries were established here - prohibition in the 1920's took its toll. There are many "Micro-breweries" being re-established here now.

St. Mary of the Assumption



The concert also included the Columbus Mannerchor, Damen Sektor , und Kinderchor- the German Singing Society ...established in 1848


We were invited to visit the new location of the Columbus Mannerchor- we did and enjoyed cookies and punch


4. Across from the Mannerchor, in the rain, we see GRESSO'S where we will lunch on Wednesday



Afterward, we decided to take a tour if downtown Columbus; we see:

*the historic (was almost torn down!) OHIO THEATRE...now showing the annual tradition: The Nutcracker



*Our Statehouse and grounds- where our state legislators convene







*MY BELOVED "Huntington Park" where our Columbus Clippers- AAA Ball Club for the Cleveland Indians- play. They have won BOTH the Governors' Cup AND the NATIONAL AAA Title TWO YEARS in a row: Go Clippers!
Thulani views the statue of Harold Cooper in front of the stadium, who returned professional baseball to Columbus in the 1970's....
We have a long history of baseball in our town....and, so, it continues- I LOVE IT! !!!




We, also, have a professional soccer team/ football - the Columbus Crew....they WON the Soccer Cup in 2009!!!!!
We gave a sport for everyone in Columbus!
Our soccer stadium is the first of its kind, and is award-winning in itself

*Nationwide Arena: Columbus Blue Jackets- professional Ice Hockey team (they reached the lay-offs two years ago)


Sunday 11 December 2011

Thulani in Ohio, DAY TWO

Day Two:

*Thulani "built" a snowman next to the lighted Christmas tree in our front yard


*We met Christopher Columbus (whom our great city was named after) in front of City Hall


*Once there, we stopped by Santa's Workshop for Thulani to chat with him


*Across the street we note the building that was once the tallest skyscraper in Columbus: The LeVeque Tower- currently listed as second tallest- (originally erected as the American Insurance Union building) built in 1927 and is of Art Deco design, quite ornate. Out of 20 tallest buildings in Ohio, 9 are in Columbus! What a view!!!!!


*Crossing the Broad Street Bridge (where the LeVeque Tower and City Hall are) we find my old high school: Central High which is now our Center of Science an Industry: COSI...our child LOVED spending many hours here learning and discovering!


*Turn to look back across the river: a different view of the Columbus skyline!





*Across the street from COSI is the Veterans' Memorial facility- hosting graduations, auto shows, and more



*A sunny Saturday must mean Buckeye football...oh, too late for that, but we make a stop at the Ohio State University, established 1871, in front of - of course- Ohio Stadium where Ohio State Football lives (the city LIVES for this college football AND, many say, a "True Buckeye" bleeds "Scarlet and Grey"!!!)

*Meal time! Let's go to "Rubino's"...the BEST Pizza shop in THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're lucky, it's just down the street from us. Noted columnist, Bob Green hails from the area, made it BIG, and is in the Chicago area now, but travels back to Rubino's for his "pizza fix"...come....enjoy!!! (spaghetti and pasta, too)


*Mad Dog and staff were making dough, so Thulani had to check it out!


*Jim cashes us out and is THRILLED to be seen with Thulani



*We stop at my sister's house, Thulani investigates the lights on her front yard tree


#Home to take our :Yearly Viking baths and ready for Sunday