So the reason we go to Cincinnati is because my friends live there: Susan, and Andy & Heather and their absolutely adorable kids (you saw the fantastic Natalie in the aquarium pictures).

And the other reason is of course Jungle Jim’s. Let’s just say I spent about $100 an hour there, and leave it at that.

Susan met us at our hotel. Well, actually she was sitting in the hotel bar, drinking Guinness and waiting for us.

We almost immediately went out to eat: pizza at Dewey’s Pizza followed by, of course, Graeter’s ice cream. I got the chocolate chocolate chip this first visit.

Andy and his kids: Natalie and Brandon.

After our late lunch, we went to Graeter’s, and I got chocolate coconut almond chocolate chip ice cream. Yum!

Sunday we went to Jungle Jim’s.

Beer.

More Beer.

Even more beer. And decisions to be made by Susan & Michael.

There were also lots and lots of strange and wondrous foods.

Durian

Dragon Fruit

Galanga.

And also things claiming to be food.

(This was the edible insect portion of the store.)

I spent quite a bit of time in the chocolate aisle, and came home not only with two dark chocolate & sea salt bars, but also gourmet dark chocolate chips. YUM!

Sunday’s ice cream was strawberry chocolate chip.

Then on Monday we went to the Krohn conservatory before having lunch and heading out of town.

Of course we had more ice cream before leaving. I got chocolate coconut almond chocolate chip again, and we have five pints in the freezer.

As I said, it was a fabulous weekend!