Traveling: November 2010

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Chicago 2008 - Part 1

Arriving In Chicago

January 26th - 29th 2008

Our flight back to Europe left from Chicago and so we planned to spend a few days in the windy city as well. We arrived in Chicago in the late afternoon. A taxi brought us to our hotel, which we had already booked a few weeks earlier. We chose the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in the city and we were very happy with that hotel. Our room was fine and we enjoyed our stay in there a lot. After we checked in and got our room, we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. We both ordered a starter and shared pasta as main course. Before we went to bed, we had a drink at the hotel bar.

Holiday Inn Mart Plaza

View from our Room

Sunday - January 27th 2008

Today we wanted to see the city and although it was very cold, we just strolled through the city. We didn't plan anything, because we were a bit exhausted after spending nearly two weeks at Walt Disney World.

Chicago

Chicago was a beautiful city and there was a lot to see, but it was so cold and since it was Sunday, nearly all shops, restaurants and coffee houses in the city were closed. Therefore we only spent a few hours in the city before we returned to the hotel.

Chicago

We searched for a Starbucks, but unfortunately all locations we found were closed, but finally we found a Dunkin' Donut. There we enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and a donut.

Chicago

Willis Tower

Chicago

Chicago Millenium Park

Chicago

It was so cold that even the river was frozen. Maybe the cold weather was another reason, besides the closed shops, why the city was so empty.

Chicago

In the afternoon we returned to the hotel, because we were really freezing, but before we bought some snacks and beverages. For dinner we ordered a pizza at Domino's and spent the evening in our room with watching Ocean's Thirteen and other movies on TV.

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Chicago 2008 - Part 2

A Cold Day In Chicago

Monday - January 28th 2008

Today the weather wasn't as nice as yesterday, it was still very cold, and unfortunately it started to rain. At least all shops were open again and so we could do some shopping. But first we had a coffee at Starbucks for breakfast and then we just walked around the city like yesterday.

Chicago

For lunch we decided to try Rainforest Cafe. It was for the first time that we have eaten at the chain restaurant and so we didn't know what to expect, but it was fine.

Rainforest Cafe

The restaurant was nicely themed and after we got our tables, we ordered our meals. We both opted for the Veggie Burger and shared a dessert. The food was good, nothing special, but totally fine. Later we returned to our hotel and relaxed a bit in front of the TV.

Rainforest Cafe Veggie Burger

Rainforest Cafe

Our Room

Holiday Inn Mart Plaza

Returning Home

Tuesday - January 29th 2008

Today was our last day in Chicago and in the United States as well. After we woke up, we packed our stuff and prepared for flying home. We checked out and went to the city for the last time. First we had a coffee at Starbucks and then we bought some souvenirs before we had lunch at Chipotle. Later we returned to the hotel, called a taxi and soon we were on our way to the airport. Our Swiss flight departed late and on the next morning we arrived in Zurich. From there we flew to Munich where our parents picked us up.

That's the end of our journey through the United States of America. We had a wonderful time there and can't wait to return!

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Walt Disney World - Part 1

Walt Disney World Resort Florida

January 15th - 26th 2008

Since we are huge Disney fans it was clear that we have to go to Walt Disney World after school has been over. We stayed there for nearly two weeks in January 2008. Walt Disney World consists of four themeparks, two waterparks, a shopping and dining district, golf courses and many hotels.

Disney's Pop Century Resort

We wanted to stay as long as possible at Walt Disney World and that's why we chose a value resort. Our choice was Disney's Pop Century Resort. A taxi picked us up at the Days Inn and took us to Walt Disney World. The check in was quick and soon we had our room in the 60ies building.

Map of the Resort (copyright Disney)

Disney's Pop Century Resort

Disney themed the Pop Century Resort around different decades in American Pop Culture. The hotel offered swimming pools, a food court, a shop, an arcade and two bars, one indoor and one outdoor at the main pool.

Reception

Disney's Pop Century Resort

The Everything Pop Shopping and Dining serves as the hotel's restaurant and merchandise shop. The dining area is a food court which offers a Grab'n Go Market, a Pizza and Pasta Shop, a Grill Shop, an Ethnic Shop, a Sandwich and Salad Shop and a Pizza Delivery. We ate here a lot, because a wonderful Greek Salad, a fantastic Veggie Burger and Pasta were available. Sometimes we had also breakfast there.

Everything Pop Shopping and Dining

Everything Pop Food Court

The hotel offered swimming pools as well and we used the Hippy Dippy Pool in front of our building only once, because when we returned from the parks, it was already too cold.

Hippy Dippy Pool

Hippy Dippy Pool Bar

Nineties Pool

Our room was located in the 60ies building, which was very convinient, because it was only a short walk to the main building with the restaurant, shop and bus stop. We booked a standard room with one king size bed or with two double size beds and got the last one. The room, including the bathroom, was very clean and we couldn't hear any neighbours through the walls. We enjoyed our stay in the Pop Century a lot.

Our Room

Bathroom

Towel Animal

Downtown Disney and Boardwalk

Tuesday - January 15th 2008

After we checked in and got our room, we decided to go to Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney is a shopping and dining district which offers many shops, restaurants, a cinema and a Cirque Du Soleil, which we didn't see.

World of Disney Store

Downtown Disney

Planet Hollywood - Downtown Disney

Virgin Megastore - Downtown Disney

Wolfgang Puck Cafe - Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

After strolling through all the Disney shops we took the bus to Disney's Boardwalk, another shopping and dining district with many restaurants, bars and nightclubs. There we had a pizza for a late lunch and enjoyed the warm weather.