And just like that, a week has passed

Our trip to Cleveland was…well, it’s over now, so that’s really all that matters to me.
I am not a great traveler. I do not like being in crowds. I especially don’t like crowds when I am with other people. I am okay when I only have to maneuver through but when I have to also try to keep tabs on ‘the group’, it’s just too much. Throw into the mix a mother-in-law who thinks if she takes her eyes off me (or her son) for more than 5 seconds we will be gone forever. And there is no use reminding her that we are approaching 50 and if we do get lost, she has a phone in her purse. It is hard for an anxious person to observe another anxious person because I kept thinking to myself, ‘Oh my! Is that what I’m like!?’ But I’m not, truly…I can at least keep things in perspective and realize that if we do get separated, we all will eventually end up back at the car. And let’s be real…no one is going to kidnap a 45 year old chunk with purple hair and her balding 48 year old husband!
Anyway…I am trying to be better about not focusing on the nonsense that sucks the joy out of getting away from work, at least, for a few days. (BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH NONSENSE!!...no…moving on…)
So we flew out Thursday night. Our flight scheduled to leave just before 10pm ended up being delayed about a half hour. When all was said and done, after we finally got into Cleveland airport, where his parents were waiting to pick us up (at midnight! God love ‘em, despite their refusal to believe we are adults), and drove back to Akron for the night, we finally got to bed at 1 am Friday. Which is why we didn’t stay in Cleveland the first night because I’ll be damned if we’re gonna pay for a full day for a 10 hour stay!
Friday morning we all got up pretty leisurely but were still out the door by 9 or 10 I think. We didn’t bother spending any time in Akron…there was a reason we wanted to stay in Cleveland instead. Our first stop was the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a post for another time), to kill time before our 3 pm check-in. Once we checked in, the old folks were ready for a nap. We decided to wander the block and see what we were working with, as far as morning walks.

Here are some random sights around the area.
Our hotel was across from Progressive Field. Formerly, Jacob's Field, a.k.a. 'The Jake'. Where the Cleveland Indians play baseball. Where they have retired their 'offensive' Chief Wahoo as the mascot. (Don't ask me what the new mascot is, I am not that into baseball.)

There was also a church across the street, and the parking garage had some interesting details.

A short walk brought us to Playhouse Square, which is basically their theater district, I guess. They have a giant chandelier at the main intersection!

We passed the old Armory.

And we love wandering through cemeteries, so we were happy to find one right across the street from the hotel. We took our morning coffee walks there every morning, this trip.

We also stumbled across a Chicago's Chicken and Waffles where we decided to stop for a drink. It was happy hour, so drinks were half off. $9 (plus tip) for a glass of wine and a martini! We ended up back there on Sunday to watch a bit of the Browns game, too.

Our day with the 'rents was actually over, once we checked into the hotel, since we had plans to meet up with one of Hubby's old school chums. She still lives just outside of Cleveland, so she met us at a hotel bar for drinks. She had been there before, Bar 32. It's on the top floor of the Hilton and it has amazing views of the city. And I, of course, forgot to get even one picture!
Except of the picked over charcuterie board and the yummy chickpea dip.

I did get loads of pictures at the Hall of Fame. Also during our trip to the Cleveland History Museum, our day of wandering through the west end market and the flats. We also hit the aquarium on our last day.

Here are just a couple more random picks from our walks during 'nap time'...
Jack's casino

A view of the river, some construction, some boats...

And some pretty leaves on the steps of the stadium.

Our vacations are all about wandering and relaxing. His parents idea of vacationing is quantity over quality, so they were always about 'where to next?!' It was not relaxing at all, to me, except the few minutes we had alone to just be quiet.

Are you a 'cram in as much as you can' sort of vacationer? Or, do you prefer to soak in a few memorable moments wherever you can?