Our Cleveland adventure continues:
Saturday we had a lot of things planned. At noon we were taking a 2 hour tour along the Cuyahoga River on the Goodtime III. As food was not included in our tour, we wanted a big breakfast to tide us over until dinner.
We decided to try the shuttle to take us to the Horseshoe Casino, whose buffet I had heard a lot about. For $11.99 and included beverages, seemed a good deal in a very expensive city. The shuttle dropped us at the front door, and we made our way to the buffet. The line to get in was not too long, but was painfully slow. When we finally got seated, it took quite a while to get anyone’s attention to get our drinks. After the waiter went off to fill our drinks, we filled our plates at the multiple stations. Basically, all the standard breakfast foods were represented. Meats, eggs, made to order omelet station, potatoes, grits, french toast, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs benedict, pasties, and even pizza, which seemed oddly out of place. Really, anything you could imagine you wanted for breakfast was represented. Well, now that I think about it, I didn’t see anything like smoked salmon (lox) for bagels.
The food was good, not great. Meant for mass consumption as freebies for gamblers above us. Comparatively speaking, we probably would have spent close to the same for bacon and eggs somewhere else so I won’t complain. Interestingly enough, in the city I did not see any McDonalds, Wendys. Burger King, etc. Nowhere to go for a quicky cheap breakfast. I saw a few Subways, but weird, we didn’t get bombarded with Golden Arches.
After breakfast I convinced Omar to play a few hands of blackjack. Omar is not the gambler, he will admit that. I however, love the smell of the felt tables, and the excitement of a good hole hand. I could play poker all day, and can hang with the big boys. But I digress. We walked the entire casino to see only 2 craps tables open and not ONE blackjack table. It was 10 a.m.! Well Horseshoe Casino, I guess I won’t be taking your money THAT morning!
We proceeded to leave and thought we were so smart trying to take the FREE public trolley system that was supposed to pick up every 10 minutes and drop right in front of your hotel. We waited for what seemed like forever, with a nice couple next to use waiting for a different line. During our wait, we were regaled with entertainment of street performers and one crazy lunatic who walked around screaming to (himself?) everyone? crazy blathering that I could not make out. I heard something about killing everyone, so yes, in broad daylight I was pretty nervous. We tried to stay far away from him.
After a 15 minute wait, the nice couple next to use informed us if we were waiting for the “B” line, it only ran Monday thru Friday. This being Saturday made us go “doh”! We hopped the L Train and wound up close enough to our hotel for an easy walk.
Wow was an eventful morning and it was barely 10 a.m.!!