One of the best things about being in Cincinnati is how close you are to Kentucky. This in no way diminishes my experiences here in Cincinnati, I just have great love for the Bluegrass State and I was hoping there would be a good reason to cross the Ohio river this trip. Thankfully, a hilltop park in Covington, KY, called Devou – with its fantastic views of the Cincinnati skyline – provided just such an excuse.

As I have limited photographic ability (I can press the button and hope for the best), I left the picture taking to my traveling companion. Instead, I perched myself on top of a picnic table to take in the fresh spring air and the beautiful view bellow. The park was fairly full: couples enjoying the coming of the warmer weather, and  people walking their dogs. I was feeling good to be in Kentucky. Looking around me, I noticed how clean the park was. No garbage, no graffiti. It was a pristine area and a great place to watch the sun set over the city before enjoying another delicious meal of chili. What a perfect night.

In Happier Times

The sun began to set, and the magic hour for photography was just about to begin. I rejoined my companion higher up on the hilltop. He was lining up his shot and chatting with a local who was just beginning to get his camera ready. Everything was great. My Kentucky did not disappoint. That is, until the voice from the speaker of the police car in the parking lot boomed out:

“The Park is now closed. Please proceed to your cars.”

The local beside us quickly dismantled his tripod. My companion and I shared a glance. I knew we weren’t packing it in just yet. He was only moments away from “the shot”. The local, however, was already making his way down the hill after bidding us a hasty but friendly good-night. As I turned to reply, the officer shouted out again.

“You are now being cited.”

What? Of all places to run afoul of the law, it had to be here in my beloved Kentucky. Companion be damned, I began a chaotic sprint towards the car. When he caught on, my companion grabbed his camera and followed. These are what became of the pictures of the magic hour:

As we ran down the hill toward our car, cameras in tow, I think I discovered the secret to keeping a park so beautiful: heavy and strict enforcement of the law. I can respect that.

Kentucky is the most beautiful state in all of the union. Seriously. No joke. If I ever die, I want it to be in Kentucky. And my body stuffed and rested on the swing of the Beaumont Hotel. I’ll write a back-story on My Beautiful Kentucky another time. Now, we’re just passing through…with a few stops on the way.

Did I say that Kentucky was beautiful? It’s spring here (real spring, not Canada spring), and all of the flowers are in full bloom; the trees, lush with green leaves and lavender buds. Rob and I stopped in a nice little town -most things are closed on Sunday in Kentucky in hono(u)r of Our Half Our Lord- and walked around, stretching our legs and taking in the sunshine of which we have been deprived since we went away last year.

Later on, we made our way to the Mammoth Caves, but this being Sunday (see note above) and our major goal being Nashville, the tour we wanted to take was not offered. Instead, we went to a Mystery House! A wonderful tourist atraption, a dollar will get you a guided tour by a disinterested teenage boy through a maze of…stuff? The first hallway, as our boy stated, had “scary” paintings on the wall. Agreed. I always found “Starry Night” by Van Gogh terrifying in its use of colo(u)r. The next room has slanted floors and I almost passed out and ended the tour early. Not before our teenage leader through madness noted the vacuum cleaner glued to a wall painted with planets and stars. “Vacuum in space,” he said.  There are very few things that are better than the things you find by the side of the road in America.

To authenicate our experience, we stopped and ate. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist/food critic to guess where. We’re in Kentucky. Fried chicken. Put them together and you get a sneak preview of this:

http://www.fox6now.com/news/ktxl-news-doubledownhitsstores,0,652335.story?track=rss

First of all, 560 calories?  Please.  Secondly:  yum yum yum yum yum.  Everyone should eat this daily. 

God, I love you, Kentucky. Someday we will be together forever…