Germanfreek's travel blogs:
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Back in Cincy for the weekend
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I've become and old pro' at taking the megabus from Chicago Union Station to Cincinnati, Ohio. The best thing is that it's only a dollar (if you buy your tickets way in advance), which makes it the best deal in town. For a dollar, though you don't get, or can't expect to get much. The thing about megabus is that they do not have any stations or ticket brokers. You book your tickets online through their website and then on the day of departure stand at the designated pick up point by following the directions on the website. I get ecstatic when I find a good deal, so I don't really care how I get somewhere as long as it's safe and cheap. At $1.00, it comes out to a third of a cent a mile. Doesn't get much cheaper than that. For more information on why and how they can charge $1.00, see the wikipedia site for megabus. They'll tell you all about it.
Going home to see family and friends often has been one of my biggest joys about living in Chicago. It's so nice to be so close, compared to living in Montana, where every trip required large amounts of planning, and budgeting of time and resources. Now, it's just a bus ride, quick plane ride, or a car rental away. I don't really have to put much effort into going home.
Friday: Spent the early morning hours drinking on the deck, which is the normal friday morning routine at my house. Sat around with some coworkers, and couchsurfers of Clare's. The bus left Chicago right on time at 8 am and arrived early into Cincy. I was lucky enough to have one of the only seats on the bus to myself, and it was nice and cool. The bus drops off at 4th and Race in Cincy, and I have to walk about 4 blocks to the city bus stop to take the bus that drops me right off by my parent's house in Silverton. Getting picked up can be such an ordeal, that I have opted recently to just avoid that and depend on public transportation. It's less stressful for everyone involved. I met my mom at her work UDF and my sister picked us up there. Friday night we went out to dinner at Rusty's, in Deer Park, where my sister works. The food really isn't bad there, although the restaurant is really quiet at times. Then that was really about it. Mom and I hit up a bar before dinner, right around the corner, but just stayed for a couple of drinks and then left. By the time we got home, we were super tired.
Saturday: Saturday was fun. Mom made chicken and ribs for the family. It was good to see everyone and talk and have a good time with family. That night, I met up with my friend Dave and his sister Tracey, and met her kids and talked with them for a while. It was nice to catch up with them for a while. Ended up going to get Skyline with Dave, which is a must if you are ever in Cincinnati.
Sunday: Slept in a little bit, and then ran some errands. Compared to Chicago, Cincinnati is easy to navigate. It's nice to get around and get things done (like get a haircut) without having to fight lines and traffic around every corner. I went and picked my sister Sara up, because I had borrowed her car and then drove her to work. We ended up eating at Rusty's again, because Sara had to work and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. Then I came home and took a nap. I know it's bad, but that's what I wanted to do. When Sara was done with work, I went and picked her up and then we went to Friday's for dessert, especially to watch the Riverfest Fireworks on TV. We couldn't make it down to the riverfront in time, so we resorted to watching them in Friday's. It was ok on TV, but much better in person. The annual event in Cincy normally draws a crowd of over half a million people. The fireworks display symbolizes the cultural end to summer season in Cincinnati. It's one big party on both sides of the river. Mom and Dad's fron't porch is somewhat of a gathering place for the neighbors. They seem to have a following from about the 4 or five houses surrounding them that people come by and just hang out on the porch. Sunday night we stayed up late into the morning talking with neighbors. It was really nice I have to say, and makes me miss Cincinnati a little bit.
Monday: Slept in and then met Nickie for lunch. Nickie is one of my best friends. We worked together at American Airlines, and have known eachother since 99. We interviewed and started on the same day, and luckily have never lost contact. We went to the Cheesecake factory and just hang out, laughing like we always do! I realized that time was cut too short, and I had so much rushing around to do. Nickie dropped me off at home, and then I started making plans to see my aunt Mary and uncle Jerry for dinner at Jalepenos, a Mexican (shocker) restaurant not too far from the house. Mom, Sara, Mary & Jerry and I all talked and visited, and then Sara and I made one last drip to Grandma's house so I could say goodbye to her and Beany. By then it was pretty late and I was ready for bed again.
Tueday: Mom made a good Breakfast and then I Megabussed back to Chicago. The AC did not work right, so it was a long 6 hours in the bus. What do you expect for a buck?
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