Hope

Dutch's Photo Challenge

Charleston WV

Hope BC

Toronto ON

Day 20 - Almost There LA to Toronto

April 2015 - Pittsburgh PA

We woke to rain hammering down outside our window in Lexington KY. Can't complain, other than an hour or so of rain the other morning we have hardly seen a drop since December.

We decide to have a quick breakfast in the hotel.

Spring is bursting out as we drive through Ohio.

Going around Cincinnati, the rain has stopped.

John used Wyndham points to book us into the hotel downtown.

We are upgraded and on the 23rd floor overlooking PNC Park where the Pittsburgh Pirates play and happen to be at home tonight against Detroit.

We debated going to Market Square for dinner but instead opt for the hotel restaurant. It was empty even though there were over 800 guests in the hotel. Servers were hovering, which is annoying.
Again, the extra place settings were not removed from the table. This server did know how to serve wine though. We both wanted steak but I asked how big it was and she said, big, around 14 ounces. Way too much meat for us so she suggested we share which was perfect. We also had a beet nd goat cheese salad.

The Green Charlotte NC Part 3

April 2014 - Charlotte NC

Last week I posted some photos of the giant book sculptures.
The week before I posted that I had enjoyed The Green so much that I would be back with more
photos.

Brick Kids - Life is an Open Book
The Brick Association of the Carolinas commissioned this sculpture honoring the AIA (American Institute of Architects) of both North and South Carolina. In keeping with the literary theme of The Green sculpture garden, "Life Is An Open Book" by Brad Spencer shows brick children climbing an open brick book.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I'm joining the Scavenger Hunt Sunday sponsored by Ashley.

The rules are simple:

1. Anyone can participate.
2. You’re encouraged to take five new photos this week for the challenge. Creativity is also encouraged!
3. If you get stumped, you may use one photo from your archive (although I’m not too strict about it – I do my best to take fresh shots).
4. Link up here on Sunday (or Tuesday at the latest) – you can use the button above.
5. Leave comments for at least five entries around yours (with so many new participants each week, it’s the only way I know to be inclusive
6. Have fun

These photos were taken as we drove home this week from Myrtle Beach SC.

Neglected

A barn in Virginia

Signs of Spring 

Charlotte NC

Last Thing You Bought 

several things when we were in Myrtle Beach last week

Shadow 

Myrtle Beach NC at Broadway on the Beach. The upside down building is WonderWorks. According to their website (grammar and spelling theirs)- An amusement park for the mind! Experience of 100 hands-on exhibits. Be blown away by 74mph hurricane winds, manuever the controls of a NASA spacecraft to land the shuttle, lay on a bed of nails, pilot a fighter jet, design and ride your own virtual roller coaster, climb 3 stories of ropes on the indoor ropes challenge course, compete in a game of lazer-tag and much more.

Four Things 

Charleston WV

On the Road Again - Charleston WV - Grove City PA

We had breakfast at the Sheraton on a rainy cool morning. We then set out to get some photos of the capital building.

Lamp outside the governor's mansion.

Lawn of  the governor's mansion.

Traffic was much lighter than yesterday. I guess all the Ontario spring breakers made it home in time for school.

We stopped for a quick burger (yuck) and then drove to the outlets in Grove City. Everyone we know has been here but for some reason we had never. It is an hour south of Erie.

It was really damp, dull and drizzling as we shopped. These outlets are huge with 130 stores.

I only got a blue top, pink sweater and John bought 3 sweaters and we bought an Emeril electric grill. Not very exciting but we had reached our personal exemption limit for Canada Customs and we had already done some shopping.

We checked into the Hampton Suites and were going to walk to Hoss for dinner but after reading the reviews describing it as a Ponderosa cafeteria style we passed on that, it was also only ranked as 13 out of 37 restaurants in the area.


We chose Nonni's in Grove City. We drove there and figured we had missed it and were going to turn around and go somewhere else when we spotted it on the Main St. What a find!
Absolutely delicious. I had the chicken Parmesan and John went for the spaghetti and meatballs. Portions were sensible for a change.
We didn't take any photos, it just seemed too intrusive.


We decided we were coming back into town in the morning to get photos.

On the Road Again - Charlotte NC - Charleston WV

April 2014 - Charlotte NC

Had breakfast (bagels and cream cheese) at the Hilton for breakfast. Then we drove back to The Green to get some photos we missed (includes links to part 1-4). Also got a photo of the NASCAR Museum (for a couple of friends, you know who you are).
This is a great city I would come back to visit. I will post some separate posts about the city.

Time to head out to Statesville whose only purpose (to me) is for John to buy cigars at Jr's known as the world's largest cigar store.

I did buy a couple of yellow bath sheets and scarves.

Four Seasons by Sheraton

We checked in and John got comfortable watching golf and I went for a walk.

Bridge over the Kanawha River.

We went to the restaurant in the Sheraton for dinner, burger and club sandwich then got settled and watched the ACM Awards!

Bathroom signs