We are taking about 2 weeks off to visit my dad in Ohio.
Yesterday was a day of travel from Austin to just outside Memphis. Nothing special happened so nothing was reported.
Today, the adventure began.
We started the morning by driving west instead of east. Don't know how this came about and with the overcast, we could have been heading north or south. Anyway we went about 45 or so miles out of our way. This wasn't a case of not asking directions. It was a case of following street signs, but when getting ON the freeway, it was one entrance too early.
We made our first major stop at Graceland (ok, I have to tell you that I missed the exit to Graceland so we drove one exit out of our way..). Graceland was a lot of fun. We visited Elvis' home and then tok several side trips. Spent about 4 hours there.
Our next stop was in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry section. More specifically, the Gaylord Grand Opry Hotel. They had a lot of trees decorated, plus a few put up on the inside. And they also have an indoor moat. Well, not a moat, but a type of river with a boat and fish. Interestingly, the water came from 1700 places around the US (and they actually list all the places they got the water from). We would have taken a cruise but didn't really have time because we are still interested in getting to my dads before the end of the week.
We finally stopped at a motel in Elizabethtown that for some reason their non smoking rooms are not. Not much sleep time since we lost an hour and have to get up bright and early tomorrow. Ta-Ta.
Yep, we are in Chicago. Windy city. 33 temp with 23 wind chill. Good thing it's warm right now. No possibility of snow :( .
Ok, so after we drove all the way here from Dayton, we just had to see some sights. One of them was the German Christmas nearby. It seemed like a replica of the Christmastime we spent in Germany. Lots of booths of goods, food and wine. After that we trecked all over downtown to find a good chicago pizza. We are now stuffed. Later after we warmed up a bit, we went to the Navy Pier. This is when it got cold (by our standards anyway).
Ok, I know I should tell you a lot more, but I am tired from all the walking and traveling. Maybe we can take this up again later.
We finished our trip in Chicago by going to the Museum of Science and Industry. We all had a pretty good time there. Can't say we enjoyed more areas that others, but near the end, Thiago got on the Hampster Wheel and raced too hard. So exhausted he missed the last exhibit Azucena and I looked at.
We relaxed the rest of the day. The next morning on the way back to Dayton we went up the Sears Tower. Sorry, Willis Tower. Saw the city and also stepped out onto one of the ledges, or Skydecks. Awesome view that looks like there is no floor. I stepped out on a corner, but couldn't go any further. On one of the Skydecks, they were taking pictures so I shut my eyes, grabbed the back of Azucena's sweater and had her lead me to the center of the ledge so we could get a "professional" shot.
So for Christmas, we went to my dads for awhile and did laundry. Yeah, not a real Christmas type of morning, but it worked. Afterwards we went to my Aunt and Uncle's, a bit southeast, and had dinner and Thiago taught us a card game they play back home in Brazil called Truco. I think it's all about cheating because you are suppose to communicate with your partner what cards you have kinda like you do in Bridge
Today we went to the Air Force Museum here in Dayton. Had a pretty good time as usual, then went to see an IMAX movie called Fighter Pilots based on time spent in Nellis AFB in Nevada (Red Flag exercise). Later we hit Trader Joe's and then pizza. Now we are watching Thiago play Uncharted that he got for Christmas.
Our final Christmas vacation journey led us through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma before finishing up in Round Rock.
As you might have guessed, this path was along Route 66. We visited, slept and ate at many great places. Many of them you can see resemblances in Cars.
The Wagon Wheel was our smallest place we have ever spent the night. I think our dining room is bigger that the complete room (including bath area). We ate at the Rock Cafe (whose owner is portrayed as Sally). Great food, by the way.
Sadly, we never did experience much snow to speak of. Our last full day in Dayton did give us some flurries but that was about it. It got cold by our standards (low 30's with wind and rain), but not cold by Dayton and Chicago standards. As we left Ohio and entered Illinois, we saw snow along the highway and at one point we stopped and threw a few snowballs. The rest of the trip was just plain windy.
One of our final vacation stops was at the WinStar casino at the IH35 Texas-Oklahoma border. Didn't do much, but walk around and see the sights. We got home later than planned, but that's what vacations are for. To have fun and travel at your own pace. Although we got home later than we initially planned, we were able to celebrate New Years at home. A great way to end our vacation. Sunday, we did a lot of nothing and enjoyed every bit of it. Monday we took down the tree and boxed up the ornaments. Tuesday we start work and school all over again.
