Vacation 2016

I am now into day 2 of work after a 10 day off vacation.  And I'm still getting into the groove.  Love vacations but boy, it's hard to get back to routine.  This year was different for hubby and I as it was the first year that none of our now adult children were not with us.  That was a bit of life change that took getting used to.  We were so used to planning our holidays around what we thought mostly they would enjoy.   We hummed and hawwed forever and a day in trying to decide what to do and where to go.  A couple of weeks before our actual holiday time, our friends invited us to join them in Spokane, Washington.  They were going for a couple of nights.  It sounded like fun so we joined them (though, oyvay, the exchange rate just about made us pass out!)

What a lovely experience it was for us.  We loved the hotel we stayed at, Red Lion at the Park.    (BTW, this link shows just a small section of this huge hotel! )  Even though the hotel was under major renovations while we were there, I have to say it was still a great experience staying there.   All staff we dealt with and all the construction workers were super friendly and super helpful.  Our room was upgraded from a regular king room to a king corporate suite....for free!  What a blessing that was!  Definitely will stay there again.

A huge downtown park where they held the '74 Expo is where the hotel is so there was lots of wonderful paths along the river that runs through town and we were within walking distance of downtown and tons of stores, restaurants, and a big mall.  (Hello my first experience at Nordstrom's and their Anniversary Sale).  My friend knows all the stores in Spokane and is designer savvy and knows good prices.  She is power shopper extraordinaire so it was lots of fun going with her!

Carousel in the park.

There was also a small ferris wheel and carnival rides...very family friendly

And the pool was wonderful.  Have to say I spent all of our 3 mornings out there reading and swimming.  Yes, it was already hot enough by 9:30 to be out sunning and swimming.  One of the most favorite parts of my holiday.  I finished 2 books.  I have to say this was one of the most relaxed vacations I've ever had.  Even though hubby is not a pool lounger or a swimmer he let me spend as much time as I wanted down there.  A real gift!  Every once in awhile him and the dog would show up in the window and wave to me.  :D

view from our room

But as with every holiday of eating well, staying up late, sleeping in and generally not running on any schedule whatsoever, I am easing very slowly into this week.  Yikes.  6:15 comes mighty early.  I'm always amazed at how easy it is to lose routine even when only off of it for 10 days.  But get into it I must.  So I've dug out the extra large cup of coffee and I'm motoring on!