This morning, there was a parade, the Dallas Holiday Parade, that passed right outside my hotel entrance. Already when I checked in a couple of days ago, there were some stands built on the sidewalk and traffic cones, indicating something was going to happen. I had seen both 8:30 and 9:00 as the starting time, so I got down to breakfast at 8, to score a seat at the windows on the second floor.
While waiting for the parade to start, I watched the qualifiers for the last F1 race of the season. It can get very exciting tomorrow. I wonder when I’ll be able to see the race; the schedule is full.
According to Google, it was about 6-7 °C outside, and there were quite a few teams of cheerleaders, probably wishing they had more clothes on. I guess they waited a fair amount of time before the parade started (when they might have had jackets, of course).
There were a few main types of equipages. Large balloons. Cheerleading team and dancers. Different “Miss Texas-yadada”, usually in a car or on a float. Marching bands. Mascots/characters, either walking or in a car. And most of the cars advertised the Texit Coin, which I guess is quite interesting that a city-sponsored event is advertising a cryptocurrency.
There were very different gaps between the equipages. Sometimes it took a couple of minutes until the next one showed up. It was nice to sit inside behind a window, judging by the spectators who sat and stood on the sidewalk, in winter gear and blankets.
At ten, I left my seat and got back to my room for a shower and closed the suitcase to check out. They had a laundry room here, so since I have the time (and the street would be blocked for another hour or so, I put in a full load, which should be enough before heading home in 8 days. While the machine was running, I watched the game between IK Sirius BK and Västerås SK. Started really well, but the final 20-30 minutes were very nervous. We won in the end with 5-4, yay!
I took my bags and walked over to the train stop where I would take the Orange line to the airport, but I stopped on the way at a Chick-fil-A for some lunch. The train departed at 14:00. Just over an hour later, I had arrived at the airport, dropped off my bag, and passed through security. Then I took the Skylink to go to Terminal D. A driverless train that runs pretty fast, the trip took just a few minutes. Smooth!
Boarding started at 17:15. While waiting, my phone decided to reboot twice, which might have been when I opened the American Airlines app. So I got a bit nervous. Since I somewhat suspected the AA app, I opened my Google Wallet instead, where I also had the boarding pass, and the phone stayed on.
The flight took about 2½ hours and had some turbulence. I just read the whole way and finished the book. I have to borrow new ones now! Touchdown at 18:25 and fifteen minutes later, I stepped into the terminal, greeted by slot machines. Is this Vegas or not?!
I got a notification that my luggage had arrived early. Since I dropped it off so early, it got sent on a previous flight. First time that happened to me. I had to find the American Airlines luggage office and pick it up there. When I got my suitcase and put my “overflow” backpack into it, I booked an Uber. The pickup spot was in a parking garage where they had set up six rows with 10 “bays” in each, and a waiting area for the customers. So when the driver arrives, he sends a message to the customer which row and bay he is waiting in, so you can easily find your car. Smart!
I waited just a few minutes before my driver showed up, and when we got into his car, he asked me how I was doing that evening. I answered and followed up with a comment about the pickup system. However, the lack of response I got made me suspect that he didn’t speak very much English. He did use the indicators though! He took a shortcut and went through a parking garage, and said that we had arrived. It was on the back side of the hotel, with a proper entrance, but it felt a bit weird at first.
I had to navigate through a whole floor of different casino machines before I found the front desk of Best Western Casino Royale–Center Strip. If the receptionist in San Juan was “short, factual, and demanding”, this woman was more procedural. The rooms seem fine. First, I thought that the windows would be fake, but they are actually real! And there is a safe!
Google Gemini had recommended I go find dinner in The Linq Promenade, which is just around the corner from my hotel. So I took off and found Off the Strip. Sat down at the bar and ordered a Pasta Pesto Salmon, and the bartender fixed me up with a great mocktail. The food was great, and I ate pretty quickly. I wanted to explore more!
Walked back out to the strip and walked towards The Bellagio to see the fountains. However, I chose the wrong direction, which I discovered a bit too late. I got to see The Sphere instead!
I checked out where I’m picking up the car on Monday. These places are like mazes! And there is people smoking everywhere. Much more than any other place I’ve been to during this trip.
Tomorrow I’ll watch an NFL game and a show with Penn & Teller.