Ohio state "state house" German restaurant, new friends

I have never had so much trouble posting a blog as I have this one. We went to Bob Evans restaurant yesterday (and today) so I could get the pictures onto the blog (needed a stronger Internet connection).  I walked out yesterday knowing that I would write on the blogs and post them if not yesterday, then this morning. Got up this am, went for a walk and opened the blog and the blog for the capitol was gone!!( why would the Internet fairy mess with my blog?) So back to the restaurant and reloaded all the state house and German restaurant pictures.



6/7/12 We arrived for the 10am tour a few minutes early and met the most amazing family, Mark and Patt and their 2 children Blake and Page. We  did the  state house tour with them and the tour guide-it was an exclusive 2 family tour. We have had much better tours, but meeting the Senseman's was a rare gift.

When the Statehouse was built, it was on the highest knoll in Columbus. You could
see it from miles away. Today it is surrounded by these beautiful buildings.

The City of Columbus honored their name sake with this beautiful statue
 of Christopher Columbus on the Statehouse grounds.

This courtyard in the center of the Statehouse had no roof and pigeons roosted their. In 1993 a roof was added and to honor the remembrance of one pigeon a cast was placed above the door. It looked as real as life.

This state house did not have a dome-but this stained glass was in the ceiling. The tour guide was not able to explain the significance of the design or the columns-but it was striking non the less.

A look from the 2nd floor up to the 3rd floor. The marble is just beautiful

This statue of President Lincoln honors the Generals from Ohio that fought each other as some chose the Confederatc side and some chose the Union side.

This beautiful portrait of Admiral Perry on Lake Erie fighting a battle in 1812 was breath taking.

This is the senate chambers and we were not allowed to go any

 closer to have our pictures. taken as the leader of the house.

This and 1 other state allow the public to be on the same floor as the Senators -in the other states the public is in the galleries above the senate floor. We were not able to get our pictures in the supreme court either-the supreme court is located in another building

As close as we could for our "senate pictures"

The above picture is a showcase that shows some of Thomas Edison's inventions. The below light fixture is one that showcases the filaments that Edison invented for the light bulb.

Entrance to the government museum-it was a fascinating

hands-on interaction education of Ohio government.

Patt and  Mark invited us to join them for  lunch at the Sausage Haus, in the German

community in Columbus. This restaurant has been featured on the Food Challenge

 several times, and the food was excellent.

New friends that have the feeling of "family".

A sample of the great food; German potato salad, several different bratwursts, red cabbage and apple salad, sauerkraut, white bean soup and 2 different types of bratwurst stews...soo good!

Page and Blake-some of the nicest well mannered young people we have met in a very long time..Both are good looking and  bright as well.

Another classic picture of Ron and Kathy!!