Staycation Around the Globe

This weekend we emerged ourselves in nature and culture without even leaving city limits. A pal of mine suggested taking a camping trip this weekend since the cold is creeping in and our camping days are numbered. Sounded like a fine idea to me since she suggested Ceraland, a delightful little place just on the outskirts of Columbus with campsites, mini golf, playgrounds, a little lake and a gun range. What more could a girl want?
Since The Hubs and I were bestowed a giant camper trailer from his benevolent father, we don't really go camping anymore so much as campering. When we were first married we'd take camping trips hundreds of miles into the Smoky Mountains with nothing but our tent, some freeze-dried food and one sleeping bag strapped to the back of our motorcycle. We were regular bad-As. (Although it only took one night of below freezing temperatures to teach us that one sleeping bag is not so much romantic as it is impractical for two grown adults.)
But now with Sweet Potato and BeeBop we just don't have the cajones to rough it like we used to. We need indoor plumbing and a fridge in order to enjoy nature.
The Hubs is in a softball league that plays on Thursday nights at Ceraland anyway, so we decided to start our camping adventure on Thursday. I got mega bonus points for keeping the girls because he had a 9 o'clock game, which meant I was solely responsible for bedtime...with both children...in a camper. Double bonus points were awarded. All I can assume is that a talent scout was there searching for the next middle-aged beer bellied softball star to sweep up to the big leagues, and so I bid The Hubs good luck and bravely faced bed time alone. He stumbled in the camper well after 10:30, and lamented his choice of sliding into third base. I helped doctor his skinned knees and went to bed.
The next day The Hubs got all gussied up and went into work while the girls and I enjoyed a lovely breakfast gazing out over the hazy lake. I have to admit that waking up to the quiet songs of the morning in the woods was a nice change from my cranky alarm clock. Once we were fed and dressed we headed into town for some mundane errands. The Hubs couldn't understand why I wouldn't just stay out at the campground with the girls all day, but library books don't return themselves and I really had ulterior motives.
For those who are unfamiliar, Ethnic Expo is one of the most magical street fairs to ever befall a town. It is two city blocks of food tents represented by nationalities from around the globe. I wasn't about to forage in the woods rifle through the camper pantry for food when there was an international smorgasbord downtown. So I nonchalantly suggested that while I was in town taking care of things, we should hit up the expo.
Oh. My. Lanta.
On a typical weekday, these forgotten roads at the far end of downtown are barren and quiet. On the first day of Ethnic Expo they are electric. Smoke pillars waft above tent after tent of foreign deliciousness. It's meat sticks and fried delicacies galore. There are also some interesting choices, such as the sweaty chicken Vietnam was peddling.

I passed, since I can get spring rolls and sweaty chicken at China Buffet all year. Our personal favorite is always Pakistan. We take the obligatory stroll past all the countries, but our hearts will always belong to Pakistan. When we ordered the Mega Platter, the guy looked up and said "Hey I think I remember you guys from last year." When we requested our samosa smothered in tamarind sauce he confirmed our identities. "You know your Paki food!" he told us and gave us free halva for being such loyal customers.
We sampled other fares. The pirogi from Poland was tasty as were the fried plantains from Ghana.

Sadly our food disappeared down our piggy gullets so fast there was barely time to snap a quick pic of the plantains before they too vanished. But ahhh I'm still drooling over that Pakistani food porn.
We headed back to the camper after lunch, and spent the afternoon fishing on the lake and playing at the playground that had a RAINBOW SLIDE!!! Sweet Potato almost pulled a muscle when she spotted said slide on the way into the campground. Once we got to the playground she barely mustered the courage to slide down the rainbow tunnel once before she decided it wasn't worth the risk of certain death and resigned herself to the Yogi Bear teeter totter.
The next day after a hearty campfire breakfast, we headed back into town for the Ethnic Expo parade. BeeBop had just fallen asleep when we arrived and was less than thrilled to be woken up for such trivial things as parades. But Sweet Potato was pretty jazzed, especially once she found out they throw candy. The entire parade she stood up and waved as sweet treats rained down. She filled her entire camper chair sleeve with loot and shoveled Sweet Tarts and Double Bubble in her mouth faster than we could confiscate it. She saw Brazilian dancers, and Shriners and clowns and even got to snuggle the State Farm Bear.

As we were leaving we asked if she had a good time, and through a mouthful of Laffy Taffy she replied, "Yeah, but that bear didn't even give me any candy." I think we'll be switching insurance providers. If you were really a good neighbor you'd give the kid a pack of mini M&Ms.
After round two of Ethnic Expo we headed back to the campsite to enjoy the great outdoors just a bit more before we packed it up and came back to our city life.
It was a perfect little nature-filled getaway and a welcomed distraction from our everyday routine. We were out on the lake in the middle of the woods, but we were close enough to home that I could grab the jalapeno mustard and hot dog buns I left on the counter. It was almost like sleeping in the guest room of your own home. You're not in your bed, so it's like a vacation. But you can still use your own toilet if you want to. And with two little tykes in tow, getting away without being away is sometimes the best way to vacation.