Tuesday 28 June 2016

California 2016 - Part 1

Spending A Day In Munich

Sunday - May 22nd 2016

My wife Claudia and I enjoy traveling to the United States and so our this year's big vacation has brought us back to the States. This time we decided to visit California and Nevada. Our journey started in Las Vegas and from there our roundtrip took us via Lake Tahoe and San Francisco to Los Angeles and Palm Springs and from there back to Vegas. But before our journey could actually begin, we had to catch our flights at Munich airport. Since our flights departed in the morning and driving to Munich could be a bit of a hassle, we decided to go to Munich a day before our departure.

So Sunday afternoon, after we voted our new president, we hit the road and drove to our hotel near Munich's airport. We chose the Novotel Munich Airport, because we already stayed there for one night last year and were pleased. The room was clean and even offered a mini bar. After we checked in, we took the train into the city for an early dinner at Hans Im Glück Burger Grill. Claudia and I both ordered the veggie burger with fries and after a delicious dinner, we enjoyed some drinks at the Hard Rock Cafe. By the way, this wasn't the last Hard Rock Cafe we visited during our vacation. Later we returned to our hotel, had one last drink at bar, and got ready for the next morning.

Novotel - Our Hotel near the Airport

Our Room

Our Bathroom

Hans Im Glück Burger Grill

Veggie Burger

Hard Rock Cafe Munich

Hard Rock Cafe Munich

Monday 27 June 2016

California 2016 - Part 2

Our Journey Starts

Monday - May 23rd 2016

Today our journey to the United States finally started. After we got up, we checked out and took the airport bus to the terminal. Luckily the airline check in was not such a hassle like last year, when I had to undergo a special security screening. This time everything went smoothly and soon we could enjoy a quiet breakfast with avocado bagels and coffee at Coffee Fellows. 

Breakfast

Ready for Departure

Finally it was time for boarding and our Delta Airlines flight towards Atlanta, Georgia, left on time. Our uneventful flight lasted for nearly ten hours, but thanks to onboard entertainment, several meals, we got spiced tofu and snacks, and some beers, time went by rather quickly. Once we landed in Atlanta we had to go through costums and immigration. Unfortunately that was a bit of a chaos, because of conflicting informations we got from the airport stuff. However, in the end we made it through immigration on time and still could enjoy a cold beer at the Heineken bar. Our connecting flight to Las Vegas departed on time two hours after we arrived in the US. Once we landed at McCarran International Airport in Vegas, we collected our luggage and took a taxi to our hotel. After a very long day we checked in and fell into our beds.

Beautiful Sky

Spiced Tofu with Rice

Snacks

Sunday 26 June 2016

California 2016 - Part 3

We Arrived In Las Vegas

Tuesday - May 24th 2016

Thanks to the jetlag, we got up pretty early, but that allowed us to check out our hotel. For the first two nights in Las Vegas we chose the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Although the hotel was located a little bit off the famous Las Vegas Boulevard, we enjoyed our stay there. Of course a casino was part of the hotel, and additionally it offered some shops, a nice pool area, several bars and restaurants. While our room was spacious, clean and very quiet, we expected a little bit more. We had already nicer hotel rooms for a fraction of the price. Nonetheless we felt very comfortable at the Hard Rock Hotel. 

Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas

Hard Rock Hotel Pool

Hard Rock Hotel Pool

Hard Rock Casino

Hard Rock Casino

Our Room

Our Bathroom

After we got a coffee in the casino, we bought some stuff, like water and snacks, at the drug store next door, and then we were on our way to the famous Strip. Our first stop was the Miracle Mile Shopping Mall at the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino, where we got a smoothie at Jamba Juice for breakfast. From there we continued our casino and hotel hopping tour to the Paris Hotel & Casino and from there to the Bellagio and to the Aria Resort. We had already been to Vegas in 2008 and it seemed like the Strip didn't change that much, except for the huge new City Center casino and hotel complex. Noon was approaching fast and so we took the monorail from the Excalibur resort to the Mandaly Bay, where we had lunch at Hussong's Cantina, a Mexican restaurant that offers vegan dishes. After a delicious lunch with tacos and nachos, we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for some much needed drinks, because it got really warm.

Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas Boulevard

Paris Hotel & Casino

The Bellagio Hotel & Casino

The Bellagio Hotel & Casino

The Bellagio Hotel & Casino

Aria Express

New York - New York Hotel & Casino

New York - New York Hotel & Casino

Excalibur Hotel & Casino

Hussong's Mexican Restaurant

Nachos

Vegan Chicken for Claudia

And Tacos for me

Luxor Hotel & Casino

New York - New York Hotel & Casino

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

New York - New York Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Boulevard

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Boulevard

New York - New York Hotel & Casino

A few alcoholic refreshments and a coffee from Starbucks later, we continued our hotel and casino hopping tour, but first we stopped at Sprinkles for a vegan cupcake. Afterwards we strolled through the Venetian casino before we ended up at the Fashion Show Mall. Since the jetlag was kicking in, we decided to take the shuttle bus back to the hotel. Las Vegas is home to two Hard Rock Cafes and the original one is located right next to the Hard Rock Hotel. So before returning to the room, we decided to have another drink.

City Center

City Center

Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino

Paris Hotel & Casino

The Bellagio

The LinQ High Roller

Cupcake from Sprinkles

The Venetian Hotel & Casino

Palazzo Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas - The Original

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas - The Original

Right across the Hard Rock Hotel was the Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas. We have been to the original one in Munich a few years ago and it wasn't that great. So why would we go to a German beer hall in the US? The reason was rather simple, unlike the one in Munich, it offered vegan meals and we had a coupon for a free beer. Surprisingly the vegan schnitzel and sausages tasted quite good. Back at the hotel we packed our belongings again, because on the next day we wanted to check out early to pick up our rental car at the airport.

Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas

Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas

HB Beer

Veggie Schnitzel

Veggie Sausages