Over the last few months we have been fortunate to travel to some exciting destinations like Bangkok, Hanoi, and Taipei. Upon our return to the states we visited the booming city of Nashville and the iconic city that is New Orleans. Last week we spent a few days in one of the great cities of the world – Cleveland. Okay, I am a bit biased on this assessment, but as a Cleveland native, I love this place (flaws and all). Visiting Cleveland in June is much better than being here in February. Our family came in from Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, and Virginia to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday. As an added bonus I was able to hang with some lifelong friends.
We arrived in Cleveland on Wednesday night, just in time for dinner. We had a lovely dinner at my mother’s house with my Mom, sisters, and brother-in-law. Dinner was one of our family favorites, lamp chops.
During the day on Thursday, Jane and I took a hike in one of the many parks Geauga County has to offer. We saw this cool looking woodpecker doing its thing.
Thursday evening I got together with ten friends that I have know for at least 55 years. I don’t remember not knowing them. We all grew up together and it is always nice to reconnect as we can just pick up the conversation from the last time we were together. No pictures from this reunion, because… we are guys.
Friday morning four of us went golfing at Punderson State Park. None of us are fantastic golfers and three of us are sort of awful, but it was a blast to be out with these guys. The weather was beautiful, the course was in great shape, the pace of play was good, the beer was cold, and there were plenty of laughs as we busted on each other.
Friday began the influx of other family members arriving at Renee and Pierre’s house. My son and nieces arrived Friday afternoon and after dinner we had a birthday cake for my mother and then had our first airport run as we picked up our youngest daughter and her boyfriend.
Saturday we woke up and did another airport run as another daughter and boyfriend were arriving. We had breakfast at one of my favorite places, Market Cafe inside the West Side Market. The market cafe breakfast sandwich is delicious.
Everyone gathered at my mother’s house in Beachwood and we convoyed in four cars to the game. Originally we were just going to get 15 seats together for the Guardians (aka Indians) game vs the Washington Nationals. Jane and I discussed this Thursday and we decided to make the day extra special, and we upgraded to a suite. It was a surprise to my mother and kids when I announced we were not going to East 4th Street to lunch, but instead were having lunch at our seats, which happened to be to be in a suite.
The suite worked out perfectly for us, my 16 month old great-nephew was able to walk around, there was plenty of food for everyone, and they consistently filled the fridge with beer. My mother ‘s birthday was featured on the scoreboard between innings and my beloved Guardians/Indians beat my adopted Nationals.
Following the game, Jane and I west out with the kids to Brew Dog, a great setting for a beer garden, along the river. My kids rented an Airbnb in Tremont that night as they spent the rest of the night hitting bars on West 25th Street. We drove back to Burton and my sisters Airbnb.
If you ever are in need for a beautiful Airbnb in Button, Ohio, located on working maple syrup farm in Amish country in Geagua County, I highly recommend Renee and Pierre’s Airbnb..
Sunday we gathered in Beachwood for brunch at my mother’s house. In the afternoon 11 of us (the boat maximum) took a pontoon boat out of Channel Marina at Whiskey Island and we dodged the raindrops as we cruised down the Cuyahoga River and experienced new smells coming from the various industrial plants operating along the banks of the river. We also went out into Lake Erie and drove inside the break wall and then went for a view of the Solstice Steps in Lakewood.
After doing a couple of trips to the airport on Monday, Jane, Ronna, and I walked through Little Italy and around Wade Ovsl and University Circle. We went out to dinner Monday night celebrating the first wedding anniversary for Renee and Pierre.
Tuesday we made a planned detour as we went to Pittsburgh. We spent a good deal of the afternoon walking around downtown with the cumulation of having lunch at Primanti Brothers. After resting up for an hour after lunch we walked over to PNC Park to watch the Dodgers vs Pirates game.
Wednesday morning we were back on the road heading to DC to visit my mother-in-law. A good travel week for us as we spent the bulk of the time with family.
Traveling Walters 