Tag Archives: Holocaust

Our Last Day in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Dave and I had an evening flight so we had a whole day to continue our exploration of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  I had scheduled as many attractions and sights as possible and there was still so much to do.  During one of our rides on the trolley, we happened to pass by the Capital District of San Juan and thought that this would be a great place to check out, so we put it on the list for our last day.

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The Capitol district was a great place to take a long walk to unwind for the day.  Besides the Capitol building there were additional historic buildings and monuments.  We enjoyed the walk visiting the various memorials for the local police officers, victims of the Holocaust and a dedication to those Puerto Ricans who gave their lives serving in the US military.  We entered the Capitol Building to admire the dome and finished off our excursion by walking among the Paseo de los Presidentes.   It was a lovely morning and we worked up an appetite for a visit to Raices on Recinto Sur.

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Raices was a suggestion of our hotel concierge for trying the local flavor and we were excited to try it out.  The restaurant is beautifully decorated and located in the busy part of town near the cruise ship terminal.  It is accessible by walking, taxi or trolley and is well worth the visit.  We placed our order for skirt steak and fried plantains.  We enjoyed our food as well as the delightful service staff that were very helpful with our menu questions.

NOTE:  The restaurant is very popular, so there may be a wait when the cruise ships are in port, but they have a wonderful outside waiting area which is very convenient.

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Walking back to the hotel, we noticed the Punto de Vista and learned that this was the rooftop restaurant of the Hotel Milano.  We had some time and were excited to see the city from a different perspective.  The friendly attendant inside directed us to the elevator that took us to the top floor and we entered the restaurant requesting a seat outside.  They gave us menus and asked if we wanted to try their award winning mofongo, but we were quite full from our lunch at Raices.  We decided to have drinks in the outside seating taking in the salt air and warm breeze.  We took advantage of their two for one special on mojitos. The views were not too exciting with the exception of the mountains in the distance.  As the clouds began to roll in we learned that if you cannot see the mountains, it is time to come in because a storm is on its way.  It was too bad that we were not staying late enough to see the sunset.

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Our waitress provided us with the information for taking the ferry across to Catano to explore a different side of Puerto Rico.  We were curious to see the island from a different perspective and to take in the skyline from the water.  The ferry leaves from Pier 2 across the bay for a quick ride that lasts less than 10 minutes.  We noticed that it runs every 15 to 20 minutes, so there would be plenty of opportunities to return once we decided to come back to the island.  From Catano, there is a bus (or taxi) that takes tourists to the Bacardi Rum Factory for free tours and taxis that will drive visitors to the Isla de Cabras to explore the small fort on this side of the bay.  The cost for the ferry is 50 cents each way and tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminal.   Check the ferry schedule for the hours as they are different from weekends to weekdays. It is also a less expensive opportunity to catch the sunset over the bay.

We disembarked from the ferry and started up the hill to Plaza las Armas to pick up our luggage.  It was that sad time where we had to say goodbye to Old San Juan and catch a flight back to the States.  I was so happy for the opportunity to stay an additional day after our cruise to finish visiting all of the sites that interested us in Old San Juan.  We loved the culture, food and people of Puerto Rico and look forward to the chance to return again in the near future!

Have you visited Puerto Rico or any of the other Caribbean islands?  What was your favorite attraction, restaurant or hotel that you visited?  I would love to hear all about your experience and suggestions for my next Caribbean vacation, so please leave you comment below!  Many thanks for following our last day in San Juan after a week’s cruise.  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Punto de Vista
307 Calle Fortaleza
San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Telephone: 787 725 4860

Where to Stay:

Hotel Plaza de Armas
San Jose Street 202
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Phone:  866 599 6674

Amenities:  Non-smoking, free continental breakfast, WiFi, refrigerator and microwave; there is a free trolley nearby at Stop #8

*Hotel was prepaid costing $150 per night.  We arranged for a queen sized bed, room without a window, non-smoking and guaranteed late arrival.

Where to Eat:

Raices Restaurant
#315 Recinte Sur Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Telephone:  787 289 2121

What to Eat: 

  • MOFONGO!  This is absolutely my favorite dish in San Juan.  Mashed fried plantains are smothered with meat and/or vegetables.
  • Alcappurias are similar to fritters filled with crab, meat or lobster and dipped in a batter made from green bananas.
  • Arepas de Coco is a bread made from coconut flour stuffed with meat, seafood or vegetables.
  • Chicharrones de Pollo are usually served as a side dish to mofongo, these tasty pieces of chicken are seasoned with garlic, oregano and achiote.
  • Chilo Frito is a fried red snapper served with fried plantains or french fries on the side.
  • Lechon is a suckling pig cooked whole and prepared juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
  • Pastelon:  San Juan’s answer to lasagna made with plantains instead of pasta
  • The Pina Colada was invented at Barrachina in Old San Juan.

What to Read: 

  • The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
  • The House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferre
  • Simone by Eduardo Lalo
  • Mundo Cruel by Luis Negron
  • La Llamarada by Enrique Laguerre
  • Song of the Simple Truth by Julia de Burgos

Photo Guide for San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • La Perla in Old San Juan for its colorful umbrellas
  • The cobblestone streets and colorful buildings of Old San Juan
  • The Forts in Old San Juan

Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann

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“Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann”, was listed as an exhibit at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.  I had heard of Adolf Eichmann while attending an exhibit at the National Underground Freedom Railroad Center and recently checked out the book by Hannah Arendt, “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil”.

I have to admit the exhibit piqued my curiosity. Arendt wrote about the criminal trial of Adolf Eichmann which brought about controversy throughout Europe and the United States.  Her book was based on these writings and the transcripts from the trial held in Israel.  For the victims, it was an opportunity to tell their story, which was so full of atrocities against the Jewish race, that it was obvious, Adolf Eichmann was a monster.  It seemed unbelievable that such a man as Eichmann could elude capture and prosecution for such a long time, I wanted to know the story of his arrest.  I wanted to see justice for the Jews.

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In preparation for the tour, the guide asked us to pack ourselves into the small area located at the entrance.   Our conductor asked us to imagine standing in this space, packed with family, friends and strangers.  He then asked if we would be able to stand here for days without food and water and only a bucket to relieve ourselves as a makeshift toilet.  We realized that we were standing in a space with the exact dimensions of the railroad cars that were used for transportation to the concentration camps.

A placard posted at this exhibit read, “The Nazis and their collaborators murdered approximately six million Jews across the length of Europe and into North Africa.  In some countries, as many as 90 percent of pre-war Jewish populations were eliminated.  Communities and cultures that had existed for millennia were obliterated as men, women and children were hunted down like prey, herded into ghettos and enslaved in labor camps and slaughtered in extermination camps.  WWII was the most lethal military conflict in human history.  Six million of the dead were civilians whose only crime was their Jewish identity.”

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Our guide provided us with background information about Adolf Eichmann and his life before joining the SS (Schutzstaffel), a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler.  Born in 1906, Eichmann grew up around Jews, had a Jewish best friend and once worked for a Jewish family. He later took a position with an American oil company where he learned about transportation.

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Eichmann joined the Nazi party in 1932 and having claimed to be an expert in Jewish relations, was provided a position where he would command the deportation of Jews.  On display at the museum were documents of Eichmann’s Nazi Party Assignment.  The Iron Cross Award was presented to him for the exile of more than 400,000 Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz.

A 1942 German meeting held in Wannsee would be a major turning point in the war.  The Nazis came together to determine a “solution to the Jewish question”, which would result in mass genocide.  Over the next three years Eichmann was responsible for accelerating this order, killing Jews at an overwhelming pace.

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At the time the Germans were defeated in 1945,  Eichmann was captured by the Americans and was incarcerated under the alias, Otto Eckmann.  He escaped and remained in hiding in Europe until he was able to reach the country of Argentina.  Under the assumed name of Ricardo Klement,  Eichmann reached South America where many Nazi War Criminals had fled to elude capture.

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Israel’s Secret Service, the Mossad, were intent on finding the Nazi War Criminals in hiding.  A tip from German immigrant, Lothar Hermann provided one of these leads.  Hermann, a Dachau holocaust survivor, became suspicious of a young man that his daughter was dating.  The lad, Nick Eichmann bragged about his father’s Nazi affiliation.  Hermann contacted Dr. Fritz Bauer the prosecutor-general of the West German state of Hesse with the information.  Operatives could not imagine that Eichmann was residing in the poor living conditions on Gribaldi Street in Buenos Aires and no further action was taken.  It would take four more years until Eichmann’s arrest.

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A dedicated team of members of the Moussad, El Al and the Israeli police were known as the Grab Team.  They assisted in the final capture of Adolf Eichmann which took place in 1960.

The Team learned that Eichmann had a job with Mercedes Benz in Argentina.  It seemed most likely because he spoke German.  Each night, his schedule proceeded like clock work.  His agenda was so precise that it was determined that they would arrest him when he arrived at home around 7:30PM.

On May 11, 1960, the day had come for the Team to apprehend Eichmann.  In preparation for the take down, they wore gloves in the event Eichmann would take poison or spit on them.  They were also concerned that he may try to commit suicide with a gun, should he become aware of his arrest.   It was imperative that they capture him alive so that they could bring him to trial in Israel.

When it was his scheduled time to disembark the train, Eichmann was nowhere to be found.  The Grab Team was ready to abandon their operations but waited for the next train scheduled to arrive at 8:10PM.  Once the Team noticed Eichmann leaving the train, he was detained. According to the Grab Team, they were able to confirm his identity with photographs.   In the end, it was his earlobes that gave him away.

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Upon capture, the Team asked Eichmann to give them his name. He immediately gave up his SS number and they completed their identification by confirming his scars.

Over the next nine days, the Grab Team would hold Eichmann in a number of safe houses, waiting to deport him to Israel.  Ironically, El Al Airlines had just begun flight service from Buenos Aires to Israel.   Eichmann was dressed up as a flight attendant, wore a set of goggles and was drugged during transport.

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The Team had also been conducting surveillance on another Nazi War Criminal, Dr. Mengele.  Some of the Team remained in Buenos Aires in hopes of capturing him but soon learned that the doctor was on vacation.  Dr. Mengele was never caught.

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It would take less than a year for Adolf Eichmann’s trial to begin on April 11, 1961.  Eichmann’s defense was that he was not a policy maker and therefore, was not responsible for the death of the Jews directly.   He stated that he was only following orders.

Prior testimony at the Nuremburg Trials in 1945, detailed the activities for which Eichmann was responsible during the Holocaust.  It was Eichmann who suggested the use of Zyklon-B poisonous gas to exterminate the Jews in the gas chambers.  He was also in charge of the inhumane transportation of Jews from their home to “work camps”.  It was determined that ten to fifty percent of Jews would die in the railroad cars due to the appalling conditions.  Within three days of the transfer of Jews to concentration camps, many would not survive due to lack of water and deficient waste disposal.  Internal Nazi documents showed that Eichmann carried out the command to increase the killing of Jews when the Nazis realized that they were being defeated.

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The most emotional stage of the tour was watching the movie screen showing aspects of the trial on three monitors.  To the far left, cameras focused on the reaction of the audience while in the center, Eichmann, guarded by two Israeli officers, responds to questions from the panel.  The most moving visual was the testimony of nearly one hundred victims displayed on the far right partition, testifying against him.  It is a graphic trial lasting 3 days and heart wrenching as Eichmann sits emotionless.  In the end, justice prevailed and Eichmann was found guilty.  He was hanged on May 31, 1962.

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I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that Adolph Eichmann had been punished for his cruel and brutal treatment of Jews during the Holocaust.  It will never be enough justice for the victims who lost their lives or the survivors that continue their lives reliving this nightmare.  We must never forget them.  We have a responsibility to keep their story alive.

Did you have the opportunity to visit the Adolf Eichmann exhibit?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a comment in the section below!  Many Thanks for reading about my visit to the Maltz Museum and the Adolph Eichmann exhibit. Wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
2929 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH  44122
Telephone:  216 593 0575

  • Admission Fee: $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors (60+) and Students (12+) and $5 for Youth, ages 5 – 11; Maltz Museum members and children under 5 are FREE.  Contact the museum’s website for holiday closures.
  • Hours:  Open Thursday – Sunday from 11AM to 5PM; Closed Monday and Open on Wednesday from 11AM to 9PM.
  • Length of Visit:  1 to 2 hours, or additional time for special exhibits
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Ensure that you have visited the website to confirm that the museum is open, as it may be closed for a list of holidays.

Where to Stay:

Aloft Beachwood
1010 Eaton Boulevard
Beachwood, OH  44122
Telephone:  215 595 0900

Where to Eat:

Moxie, the Restaurant  – permanently closed in 2019
3355 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH  44122
Telephone:  216 831 5599

Since oysters were in season, I placed an order for a half dozen, flavored with hot sauce, parsley and lemon.  For my main entree  I ordered the Bronzini with a tabbouleh salad, chilled cucumber & dill broth, watermelon radish, mint oil.  The combination of unique foods was absolutely amazing and I had so much food left over for a least a couple of meals.

John Mariani from Esquire Magazine raves about Moxie, “The hot new Moxie has picked up on the style of restaurants in downtown New York with a little New Orleans thrown in.  Portions are gargantuan.”

What to Read:

  • Eichmann Before Jerusalem by Bettina Stangneth
  • The House on Garibaldi Street by Isser Harel
  • Hunting Eichmann:  How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb

Photo Guide for Cleveland:

  • Abbey Road Skyline
  • Brewnuts is not only a lovely donut shop, but its nostalgic art deco interior is perfect for unique photos
  • A Christmas Story House in nearby Tremont
  • Civic Center District to photograph Cleveland’s City Hall, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and FirstEnergy Football Field
  • The Cleveland Arcade is one of the most photographed location in Cleveland so arrive early (8 or 9) before the crowds arrive.
  • Cleveland MetroParks Zoo
  • Cleveland Murals in Ohio City (close by)
  • Cleveland’s Museum of Art for its phenomenal architecture and exhibits
  • Cleveland Public Library
  • Cleveland Signs
  • Coastal Taco has some of the best views of the river in the city of Cleveland.
  • The Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Brecksville is for nature lovers.
  • The Flying Fig is a yummy cafe where outdoor photos are a must.
  • East Fourth Street is where you will find cozy cafes lining brick walkways
  • The Fountain of Eternal Life honors local residents who served in the military (photograph during the day AND night)
  • Great Lakes Brewing Company
  • Heinen’s Grocery Store to photograph the rotunda overlooking the food court and check out the terrace for additional photos
  • Holden Arboretum in nearby Kirtland
  • Lakeview Cemetery
  • Hope Memorial Bridge is the best place for photographing a cityscape photo of Cleveland
  • Located at Playhouse Square, Yours Truly is a chic cafe with exposed brick and stylish furniture and the infamous GE Chandelier
  • Pour Cleveland is a lovely coffee shop with an artsy interior.
  • Q Arena is home of the Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its spectacular architecture and historical exhibits
  • Settler’s Landing Park is perfect for photographing several iconic locations in Cleveland.
  • Superior Viaduct Bridge
  • West Side Market is absolutely amazing for shooting food photos at each of the stalls, but a trip up to the second level by way of the corner staircase will provide a photo-worthy shot of the market from above.

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A Look at Auschwitz, Seventy Years Later

In 2015, I decided to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center when I learned that they were hosting the exhibit, Unlocking the Gates of Auschwitz, Seventy Years Later.   While it was a small showcase of over 100 artifacts and memorabilia, what interested me most were the testimonies of two amazing Holocaust survivors who later immigrated to Cincinnati.

In 1943, Werner Coppel and Bella Ouziel were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Coppel escaped during a death march and hid in the woods for a week until the camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in 1945.  Bella Ouziel of Greece survived a death march to Bergen-Belsen, set free by the British in August of 1945.

The purpose of the exhibit was to “give a voice to the survivors and eyewitnesses of Auschwitz and invite us today to stand up against injustice around the world.” Many of the items on display for the first time come from private collections, archives and libraries.  Curated by the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education, the Cincinnati Museum Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center collaborated to make this exhibit available.

Long before concentration and death camps were planned by the Germans, Adolf Hitler was developing the Nazi ideology with this political manifesto and attempt to overthrow the Weimer government.  By the mid-1930s, when Hitler came into power, propaganda against the Jews targeted impressionable children and anti-Semitic pamphlets were distributed throughout the country.  Defining Jews as a “race”, the Nazis were able to brainwash the Germans into thinking that they were a genetically pure race compared to the Jews who were considered “subhuman.”

In addition, publications were developed to paint a negative view of anyone who disagreed with Hitler’s dogma and were considered enemies of the “Aryan” race.  Manuals were provided to school teachers, training them in a destructive way of thinking towards Jews, gypsies, Poles, homosexuals, Afro-Germans and people with disabilities.

By 1938, passports held by Jews were identified with a red “J”.

By 1940, Jews were segregated into areas identified as ghettos and were required to wear the Jewish Star of David which would later identify Jews during the German deportation of Jews throughout German-occupied European countries.

The ghettos were the initial location where Jews were required to “carry out forced labor for the German Reich.”  The Germans collected the currency owned by the Jews and exchanged the money for “Quittung”, which were receipts which could be traded for services or merchandise.

While these Jewish neighborhoods were meant as a short term solution for Jewish segregated housing, many died from disease, shootings and starvation.  If they survived the ghetto, they were deported to one of several concentration or death camps throughout German-occupied countries.

Adolf Hitler idolized Charles Darwin and believed in the “the survival of the fittest.”  He intended to create the “perfect race” to include the traits that affected appearance, body type, intelligence, and military skill.  Having created his list of ideal characteristics, he began to determine one’s “racial purity” researching documentation of family histories and birth certificates.

“Transport trains began to deliver Jews in early 1942 as part of the Nazi extermination plan.  Cramped rail cars without adequate food, shelter or facilities. Upon arrival, they went through a selection process where they were either deemed fit for work and admitted into the camp or were deemed unfit for work and sent immediately to one of four gas chambers where they were killed using Zyklon B, a pesticide. Those selected for extermination were primarily children, women with small children, sick or elderly. Their bodies were removed from the gas chambers by the sonderkommando, groups of Jews forced to dispose of the corpses on threat of their own deaths.”   Auschwitz Exhibit

When children arrived to Auschwitz, they were, more often than not, immediately sent to the gas chambers. Children aged 12 and over were forced to work in the camps and were subject to medical experimentation.  While thousands of children survived (because they were hidden), it was estimated that over 1.5 children were killed during the Holocaust.

With such disdain for children, it seems ironic that the prison camps were making children’s shoes at work camps such as Buchenwald as well as Auschwitz.  Bella Ouziel, a Holocaust survivor discusses how she was required to sort shoes at Auschwitz.

Non-Jewish groups were also transported to the concentration and death camps during the Holocaust to include the Gypsies.  They were identified by brown triangle patches with an assigned number.  The Romas, or Sintis, were considered undesirable and were murdered in the tens of thousands, dying in gas vans poisoned with carbon monoxide.

“Bella Ouziel remembers the transport of Roma where were sent to the family camp. She remembers that the next day, they had all been sent to the crematorium ca, 1943”  – The Auschwitz Exhibit

Within the extermination camps, the Nazi’s began to use canisters containing Zyklon B pellets to carry out their “Final Solution”.  Commonly used as a pesticide, Zyklon B was used in Auschwitz to murder Soviet POWs and it was later used at the other camps.

In addition to extermination, German physicians carried out inhuman experiments on prisoners.  On display at the exhibit was a file which contained Dr. Josef Mengele’s “findings” as he conducted his “research”.  Various tools were utilized such as calipers to measure head size, eye charts to determine vision and dental charts, all used to quantify Nazi ideology.

By the time Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviets in 1945, over 1.3 million prisoners were deported here. The Germans, realizing the end was near, forced 58,000 prisoners to evacuate Auschwitz, marching over 30 miles to the Bergen-Belsen camp.  It is estimated that 1.1 million people were killed here and thousands more died as a result of the death march in 1945.  When the Soviets arrived, only 7,000 prisoners remained.

The Polish Parliament mandated that Auschwitz-Birkenau to be created as a state museum in 1947.  More than one million visitors come from around the world to learn about the history of Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

“Unlocking the Gates of Auschwitz 70 Years Later” celebrates the survivors of Auschwitz, details the inhumane, cruel treatment that the Germans inflicted on millions of innocent people and reminds us that we need to stand up for the freedom of all mankind.

Were you able to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for the Auschwitz exhibit or have you been to Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum?  I would be interested in hearing your thoughts if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my experience at the National Underground Freedom Center and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The National Underground Freedom Center
50 East Freedom Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 333 7500

  • Admission Fee:  $15 for Adults, $10.50 for children ages 3 – 12, Seniors 60+ for $13 and children 3 and under is free of charge.
  • Hours:  Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Saturday and from Noon to 5 PM on Sunday and Monday;  Tickets sold until 4PM.
  • Amenities:  Historic tours, Exhibits, Geneology, Group Tours, Rental Space,   African American bookstore, Gift Shop, North Star Café, Special Exhibits
  • Scenic View:  The view of the Ohio River and Kentucky
  • Length of Visit:  4 hours
  • Travel Tip:   Backpacks, large bags and umbrellas are not permitted in the museum.

Where to Stay:

Millennium Hotel Cincinnati
150 W. 5th Street
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone: 513 352 2100

Where to Eat:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 421 2337

I was so happy to see the Caprese Flatbread on the menu and I ordered a couple of local beers.  The restaurant was busy because the Cincinnati Reds were playing and the location is close to the stadium.

During a later date, I visited with a friend where we ordered a flight of beer and the Meat and Cheese board which was served with grilled beer bread, spicy mustard, applekraut and pickles.  We selected two meats (prosciutto and candied pork belly) as well as two cheeses (Red Dragon mustard Welsh cheddar, which is a favorite of mine and the Cabot Hot Habanero Cheddar).  Exceptional!  Additional meat and cheese samples are available for $4 each.

What to Eat: 

  • Skyline Chili:  My go-to meal at Skyline is the 4-way chili with onion served with oyster crackers and hot sauce.  I always pick up two York peppermint patties after cashing out.  Cincinnati chili is a beef based sauce served over spaghetti noodles and cheese.  Additional toppings include onions and beans.
  • LaRosa’s Pizza:  A local chain pizzeria, this Sicilian style pie is made with a sweet crust and sauce.  My favorite menu item is the Caprese pesto Flatbread Pizza.
  • Graeter’s Ice Cream:  It’s the French Pot process that makes Graeter’s Ice Cream so decadent and rich.  Towards the end of the process, they pour chocolate into the mix creating large chunks of yummy goodness.
  • Montgomery Inn BBQ:  Visiting the original Montgomery Inn BBQ at the boathouse is a culinary and scenic experience.  Their ribs are served with a sweet and tangy sauce that has since made them the “Ribs King” and a favorite among locals.  Load up on their amazing BBQ flavored Saratoga chips,
  • Glier’s Goetta:  While it looks like a slab of corn beef hash, this breakfast staple is made of sausage and oats, cooked until crispy.  Most breakfast restaurants carry it as a side, especially the local cafes and diners.
  • BonBonerie:  One of the most decadent pastry shops in Cincinnati, their rich confections are absolutely amazing.

Where to Drink:

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH  45202
Telephone:  513 421 2337

Books to Read: 

  • Eligible:  A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Running, by J.T. Cooper
  • Dead Witch Walking, by Kim Harrison
  • Beloved, by Toni Morrison
  • Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper
  • Romiette and Julio, by Sharon M. Draper

Photo Guide for Cincinnati (as provided by Chris Thompson on FourSquare):

  • The John A Roebling Suspension Bridge
    • Pick a spot near the Covington pier and shoot north toward the Cincinnati skyline.  Shoot at sunset and underexpose by a few stops to get the lights just right.
    • The new lights on the bridge create excellent stars when you photograph them using a narrow aperture (~f/16 and above) on your camera. That means you’ll need a longer exposure (and thus a tripod).
  • General James Taylor Park
    • Shoot from the top of the flag pole mound to get more building reflections in your shot. Shoot at sunset or sunrise for great lighting.
  • Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
    • Arrive first thing in the morning when the sun is coming up
  • The Fountain at Fountain Square
    • For great photos of the fountain: set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure (2-5 seconds) to capture the running water. Get Carew or the colored lights above Rock Bottom in the background.
  • Fountain Square (look for reflections in puddles)
  • Celestial Restaurant in Mount Adams – The restaurant is now closed, but you may still be able to use the parking lot.
  • Carew Tower Observation Deck
    • Provides some neat photos of the highways snaking around the city. Set your camera on a tripod and use a long exposure to get moving car trails. It’s only open at sunset a few days each year.
  • Engine Company 46, 2733 Erie Avenue (at Michigan), Cincinnati
    • One of the most beautiful historic firehouses in all of Cincinnati. The firefighters here are used to having their photo taken while they work. Ask nicely and you can get some cool shots.
  • Cincinnati Observatory Center
  • Krohn Conservatory
  • Great American Ball Park
    • Shoot the front of the stadium around sunset to get a nice color blue in the sky. Get one of the player statues in your shot for extra effect.
  • Devou Park
    • The overlook next to the Drees pavilion affords a great view of the Cincinnati skyline. Shoot at sunrise or sunset for the best lighting. Underexpose slightly to get the city lights just right.
  • Newport Central Catholic for fireworks
    • Shoot the Riverfest fireworks from this location. Bring a long lens and a tripod. You’ll want a long-ish exposure (5-10 seconds) to capture the bursts, but make sure the skyline isn’t overexposed.
  • Riverfront Park
    • The colorful fountains make a great subject, but you need to use a relatively fast shutter speed (>1/20 or so) to catch the lights before they change color, leaving your pic with plain white lights.
  • American Sign Museum
    • Be sure to bring a tripod to capture all the signs. Manual white balance is the way to go, because there are so many crazy colors of lights that your camera won’t know how to react.

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