Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, is called The Motor City. It is the center of the automobile industry in America. Another popular nickname for Detroit is Motown. Berry Gordy, Jr. started the Motown Record Corporation in Detroit in 1959.
I wanted to arrive in Detroit a day
earlier. However the room would have
cost me $499 plus tax.
Sunday,
August 6 - I left Portland International Airport (PDX) at 05:00 AM, arriving in
Detroit about 02:30 PM. I took a Metro
Cab to the Courtyard Detroit Downtown. I
changed rooms (next to noisy Ice Machine and noisy Elevators). I dropped my things in a more acceptable
room. Great view.
I checked
in with Road Scholar registration in the lobby.
We had Orientation and Introductions.
Welcome dinner. We had a lecture on
Brief History of Detroit and Paths Forward.
The Courtyard Detroit Downtown hotel was undergoing renovations so banging noises began about 06:30 AM in the morning!
Monday,
August 7 - Following breakfast, the Road Scholar group went for expert-led walk through
downtown with a local guide. I went to
the Renaissance Center - GM World instead. I
found the Virtual Cache. GM was
showcasing modern and vintage racing vehicles in a rotating display. I returned
to the hotel. We had lunch at Buddy's Pizza. Afterward we had a city overview via motor
coach with commentary from a local guide.
We took the People Mover to Greektown for dinner on my own. I had a Cobb Salad at Jacoby's.
Tuesday,
August 8 - Following breakfast we had a lecture about Detroit Music History/Motown. We traveled via motor coach to "Hittsville
U.S.A." - now the Motown Museum. It
was much like Sun Studio in Memphis. We
visited Detroit Museum of Art where I had lunch in the Cafe and then did a
Virtual. I skimmed the highlights of
DIA. We had dinner at Dirty Dog Cafe. - a local jazz cafe. Returning to the hotel, I was informed that I
would have to move the next day to another room! Argh!
Wednesday,
August 9 - I packed my suitcase and carryon and left them in the room to be
taken to my new room. After a buffet
breakfast, we departed via motor coach for a visit to the Rouge Ford
Factory. We visited the Henry Ford
Museum. I had lunch of Macaroni and Cheese,
purple grapes, milk and chocolate brownie. Back at the hotel I was given a room
next to Ice Machine and elevators. Not
acceptable. I was given another room on
the 20th floor. Great view but an
absolutely dreadful room. I ate the
remainder of the pepperoni pizza for dinner while watching television.
Thursday,
August 10 - After buffet breakfast, we
took the motor coach along Lake Shore Road to Grosse Point to the 1926/1927 Edsel
and Eleanor Ford's house for a guided tour.
I got a fresh baked Chocolate Chip cookie afterwards. We had lunch at the American Coney
Island. I had a Chili Dog with cheese but
no onions. There was a slight trace of
chili. Deeply disappointing.
Two of us
chose to be dropped off at the hotel. I
rode the People Mover in order to do the "Ticket to Ride" Virtual
Geocache. I
had planned to do a couple caches in Canada but it was just too hot. It was hot in
downtown Detroit also but I got brief breaks sitting down on the People Movers.
It rained toward
the end of the journey. It took me 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the Virtual.
It was exhausting but great fun! We
had a Farewell Dinner at Andiamo Detroit Riverfront.
Friday, August 11 - I rose early,
finished packing and ate a light breakfast.
The Metro Cab was there promptly at 8:30 AM. He dropped me at United. I caught the 11:20 AM flight, arriving in
Portland (PDX) about 3:00 PM. The MAX
Light Rail Red Line was not working so I had to take the shuttle bus to Gateway
Center. I rode the MAX Light Rail Red Line to the
Rose Garden, walked west one block and then rode the MAX Light Rail Yellow Line to Delta Park. I rode the CTran bus to Evergreen Blvd bus
stop in downtown Vancouver, WA where I walked one block east. My daughter picked me up. It was an interesting trip but I was glad to
be home!
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