Saturday 17 January 2015

Funtimes in KC!

As previously mentioned, we went to Kansas City (KC) last weekend. We had a really good time, ate too much, drank plenty of coffee, and enjoyed being in a big city*. But I know you want details, and photos too... Well, more than one photo...

We picked up our hire car on Friday afternoon, so that we could do some shopping that evening and get away when we wanted to on Saturday. Jimmy may have lost it when he realised that we had a car, a red car no less! It was a little small, but we managed to squeeze 3 adults, Jimmy, and our gear into the red Toyota Yaris. That is, after a sleep in, waffles, and general hanging around - our only deadline that day was making it to our hotel sometime after 3pm, so we left late, stopped to take photos of the Konza Prairie (see first photo), and had coffee in Topeka, after some lunch in the car.


On checking into our hotel, we were given the option of having the top floor and we took it. We had a pretty nice view, and started to feel like we were actually in a city. Not that we were under any illusions about the size of KC as we navigated our way to the hotel using a tourist road map of Kansas state, which misses a fair few streets etc, simply because of the scale of the map. Ah well...


For dinner we made our way to the Plaza. We had thought to take the hotels' shuttle bus, but it was booked up until far too late for Jimmy, so Asha drove us there. Finding a park was surprisingly easy, a nice lady went out of her way to tell us that we'd left a light on inside the car, and it it wasn't too cold to be walking around the streets looking for a place to eat that was vegetarian friendly, but cold enough that once we found somewhere suitable, we weren't in a hurry to leave. Actually, the first place we came to seemed suitable, and the smells coming from Brio Tuscan Grille were just a little irresistible.


Now, being parents, Michael and I forget that people like to go out on Saturday nights, Asha seemed to forget this too, because when we asked about a table for 3 (plus toddler), we were told there was a 1.5 hour wait (!!!!)... our hearts sank... but we were welcome to sit at the bar and order from the menu. We were all in shock that we had to ask for clarification about what we could order!

We took up a really good spot in the bar area, which was actually not very noisey, and our couch and lounge chairs created a safe place for Jimmy to move around in. The large, low, round table was perfect for keeping most things out of Jimmy's (ever expanding) reach, and we were able to enjoy a lovely dinner without the wait. Added bonuses were not getting funny looks for breastfeeding Jimmy, not getting funny looks for sitting on the floor while eating dinner, and little desserts that really were just the right size.


We were still pretty full once we were done, so we went for a little walk and took in the Christmas lights around the Plaza. We also found a dedicated vegetarian restaurant and promised to try it out the next night.


We all thought Jimmy was going to go to sleep... but no. Before convincing him to have a bath, he decided to play with the phones in our room...


And pull funny faces at Daddy...


And roll around on a bed with Aunty Asha, complaining about how much farts stink... He did have a bath, and he did go to bed at a suitable hour. Us, the adults, on the other hand, we may have stayed up a little on the late side, but not too late, although we still set an alarm so that we wouldn't be late for our breakfast booking...


At the Farmhouse! Michael and I were pretty excited to be going back there, and I think Granny was a little jealous. Asha was excited because she knew what she was ordering, even before we left Manhattan! (I had checked the menu and shown Asha before making the booking, because I wanted her to have something she could eat, as vegetarian options are sometimes rather lacking... She was pretty happy with what was on offer.)

Jimmy was pretty happy to be there too, but I think it was more that he had a fork he could pretend to vacuum the table with. Yes. You read that right. We sat down, set Jimmy up, ordered some coffee, and Jimmy says "C'uum!" while moving his fork back and forth... Obsessed? Hmmm...


We were all a little busy enjoying our breakfast to take photos. A bit like dinner really, and every other meal we had while in KC. But not too busy to take photos of Jimmy enjoying himself...


We did a spot of Geocache-ing after breakfast, although Asha and I were (initially) more interested in taking in the sites. I'm not sure why, but this part of KC reminds me of Melbourne... Michael and I quite like both places.


It wasn't exactly warm...


But this bridge is pretty cool...


And there were trains on another bridge, and ice floating down the Missouri River...


That's right, ice. It is winter after all.


The bridge is the site of a few Geocaches, that we didn't find, even with Jimmy helping, so we gave into the cold, and went to Quay Coffee, after a quick look at the Markets - they were open, indoors, and heated.


Jimmy went to sleep after we had our coffees, so Asha and Michael went off to get those Geocaches, while I enjoyed a second cup of coffee. Sitting down. In peace and quiet.

It was pretty amazing, and relaxing too. Michael and Asha didn't have a phone, so I had to stay where I was, so that they could find Jimmy and me when they were done. And when they did come back, after finding 4 Geocaches, Jimmy was still asleep. He woke up not long after they had returned and we headed off to the next thing. Which turned out to be a visit to the Aquarium!


Initially we had thought to go to the zoo, but all 3 adults thought the aquarium might be more fun for Jimmy. And I think we were right.




I'm certain we were right. The Aquarium was indoors, so we didn't have to worry about the cold, and we could all get a lot closer to the animals too. I'm not sure that Jimmy understands what fish are, but he was pretty fascinated, and loved the touch pool, although I think that had more to do with splashing water everywhere than anything else...


We, the adults, had fun too, even though it was challenging to take good photos of the animals - the fish move faster than Jimmy and the turtle was plain shy... When we did emerge from the Aquarium, we noticed puddles of water (and ice) on the pavement, and were very glad to have been inside and not out at the zoo, where we might have had trouble missing the rain.

We had a quick bite to eat and then headed back to the hotel (after another attempt at finding a nearby Geocache). As we were feeling a little more comfortable with the area, and because we wanted to go to a specific restaurant for dinner, we did some preparations. Namely, we found out what was open, and what was on the menu. We didn't book anything, just went. And we ended up at Coal Vines for pizza and wine.

It was lovely and we had the best table. Right next to the pizza chef and pizza oven: they have glass from just above the bench to the ceiling, allowing the pizza making to be a real show. The staff were lovely, and the chef even gave Jimmy a piece of pizza dough to play with. It was a bit messy, but Jimmy had a great time. As did we, and we ended up eating far too much... which resulted in another walk around a different part of the Plaza.

The next morning we slept in, had the hotel buffet breakfast, checked out, and make our way to Oddly Correct Coffee Bar (after another side trip to the rather troublesome cache... which was not found).  


Coffee... and a plain donut. Actually, it's not just a coffee, it's a flat white. In a glass. It was rather like an Australian latte.


Michaels' latte resembled a flat white, something we've come to accept, just like: the winter sun being in the south, not the north; Christmas being in winter, not summer; and cars travel on the righthand side of the road, not the lefthand side. We still order latte's, but they come in ceramic cups, and not glasses.

Our coffees were very good. Actually, the Oddly Correct crew are so confident that their coffee is good, that they don't offer sugar or creamer for their pour overs. That said, their milky coffees are made on whole milk (yay!), which I think is also true for Quay Coffee, and Arrow Coffee Co. We'll be heading there again, if we make it back to KC.

After our lovely coffees, and a little birthday present for Michael, we headed home, via the scenic route when we realised that we didn't have enough change for the toll. Plus Asha, who was driving, wanted to see more of the countryside. Once back in Manhattan, we managed to unload the car, do the week's' grocery shopping, and return the car in little over an hour.

We had a really lovely time. It was great to get away, break up the routine, see a few new places, and hang out together without the distractions of home (housework, computers, the vacuum). I hope that Michael, Jimmy and I get another chance to go back to KC before we leave the USA, but it won't quite be the same without Asha.


*We have it from one local that KC is a small big city, making it a very livable city - we think it's bigger than Brisbane... possibly bigger than Melbourne...

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