Here you have an option to find the photo set that interests you
most. Jens and I took our vacation from
August 27, 2012 where we started our
adventure in Chicago.
Chicago
– it’s all about the buildings. On day 1,
we took the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. I highly recommend it if you are ever in Chicago.
After the river cruise we walked along the river to this outdoor river-side café for a 'coldie'.
Our good friend Uncle Frank from Michigan took the train to be with us on our adventure in Chicago. We invited him to join us on our 22nd wedding anniversary which we celebrated in a wonderful restaurant just around the corner from our hotel.
The following morning I took photos of the area surrounding our hotel.
The following day we did the city tour by bus. We saw all the same buildings that we saw an the river tour plus more where the boat could not sail.
How convenient that the bus tour starts and ends right smack in front of the Cheese Cake Factory.
Later that night we did the tour by night and timed it just right to see the last fireworks show of the season. Sorry that the pix are so lousy. The pix required a still position and we were of course on a moving bus.
Then we departed Chicago and went west to LAX. Stayed at the very first hotel next to LAX. It was the Radisson Hotel. I will never do LAX again. The only reason we did it this time is because our employee discount options have been dismantled due to a new computer ticket system and all of the American flight companies, except for Virgin Air, are not on the system yet. The traffic was such a zoo at LAX. We could have actually walked to the hotel as it was that close.
LAX was just a quick over-nighter before heading south to Orange County. We stayed at a very nice Double Tree hotel. The day we arrived in OC we went to visit my sister Christine and her husband Robert. (sorry – no pix) Then the following day I went to visit with my folks in Fallbrook (sorry – no pix) And then the next day there was a 70th birthday celebration for my father. But in the morning before going to the party, we stopped at the near by shopping center for brunch and a visit with Tami and her daughter Clarke.
-- Then it was party time –more pix here.
Click on the video below to hear guest sing happy birthday but sounding like they are not quite sure who's birthday it is - party crashers? Dad thought he heard someone sing "Happy Birthday Brad". Dad says people confuse him all the time with Brad Pitt. Yes Dad, you could pass for Brad's younger twin brother.
The following day we went back to Los Angeles/Culver City and stayed over night at another Double Tree. Just down the street lives my old LA Litho work colleague Gail. We caught up on the latest and chatted non-stop over the biggest burrito I have ever seen – why didn’t I take a picture?! I brought my camera of course but Gail and I were so heavy into conversation, I completely forgot to snap everything in sight.
The following day we picked up our good friend George and
the 3 of us took a road trip along HWY 395.
Our destination for today was Mammoth Mountain.
The following day we leave Mammoth and head towards Lake Tahoe. Along
the way we drove around June
Lake.
After June Lake we drovee to Mono Lake.
From Mono
Lake we continue driving
along HWY 395.
Our goal for today was to find a room in South Lake Tahoe. But with a late start and lots of stops along
the way, we didn’t quite make it and instead stopped in the very cute and quaint
town of Markleeville.
Finally we get to Lake Tahoe
the following day. The day starts out
cloudy but clears up with lots of sunshine.
We drive almost completely around the lake.
Our final destination for tonight is Reno for an over-nighter before getting on the next flight.
We leave Reno
the following day. We land in Las Vegas but only long enough to catch the next flight to
Tucson Arizona. George also switches planes in LV but he is going
home back to LAX. On the flight just
before landing, they tell us that the flight to LAX is at gate B5 and nothing about Tucson. We say
good-bye to George at B5. Luckily for George he just has to walk to the next
gate. But not so quick and easy for us. Jens and
I had to walk almost a mile to Gate C23.
Halfway there, Jens and I sit down to take a break and suddenly we see
George making a mad dash to Gate C25.
"They gave us the wrong info in the plane" George snickered as he hobbled passed us, "I nearly missed my flight."
Finally we arrive in Tucson. We are here for the next few days to visit with good friends Alec and Russell in their beautiful home nestled in the rugged mountains of southern Arizona. We are picked up from the airport and the first stop is a road-side Mexican restaurant. The interior is very amazing and very colorful (sorry no pix). And the food is delicious. After dinner we eventually arrive at the home of the Alec and Russell. They give us a tour of their home – both inside and out. We are amazed by the size of the home and the beauty of the nature surrounding the house as far as the eye can see.
The following day Alec and Russell take us on an off-road
adventure in their 4 wheeler buggy that rides as smooth as silk over huge
crevasse in the road that were created just 2 days before we arrived from the
heavy monsoon rains.
Later that evening Alec whips up a meal that you want to
last forever.
After a dip in the pool, a lot more snacking, another
exciting trail-blazing, off-road ride in the lush green desert, it is finally
time to say good-bye and head back to LAX for one last night before departing
for.... Frankfurt?!!!
Today we are all packed and ready for a business flight to Copenhagen on Lufthansa via Frankfurt. But we get a very nice and unexpected last minute visit from George, who has come by for one last good-bye hug.
