Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV

Once again I have returned from another business trip. This time I visited Reno, NV and stayed at the Grand Sierra Resort. I heard this particular hotel and casino has changed hands many times. Currently, the Grand Sierra is undergoing a renovation. The place I noticed this most was the very underlit shopping and amenity area on the ground floor. It was akin to walking through a dimly lit cave. Many of the store fronts were empty with the windows darkened. The few shops that were open included a coin collector store, lady's boutique, and candy shop (Yes, I'm not impressed either).  The temporary fitness center and group workout room were also located on this floor.

The hotel room I received was nice enough but again, it suffered from the lighting problem. There were no overhead lights and the lamps just were not bright enough. The windows were tinted which was fine for privacy but really limited the amount of natural daylight.

I did not gamble in the casino but everything was easy to navigate through and the cashier was easy to locate. The majority of the games here were video slot machines (reverse ATMs). There was every type imaginable and most of them had a few players at all hours. The table games were not manned until later in the day or if they were manned only a few tables had staff. 

I always felt the hotel was mostly empty, granted I was there during the middle of the week. This is also the largest hotel & casino in Reno (I think) with close to 2000 rooms and over 50 acres of property.  The parking lot alone was massive. They have a driving range, swimming pool, bowling alley, and arcade (some of the games were not working and some were old...Killer Instinct 2!).

The food was actually not that bad. I ate at a few of the onsite restaurants which didn't impress me but didn't disappoint either.

Anyway, if there's anything else you'd like to know about this place, leave me a comment!

~

Back from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Having returned from Brazil about a week ago, I wish I had had more time to explore this very picturesque country. Unfortunately, I was busy with work just about the whole time I was there. I had a brief moment to walk along the beaches and enjoy some local beverages and snacks when I first arrived. Other than that...it was all work and very little play. 

The main road in front of the chain of beaches (Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana) in Rio is shut down to cars on Sunday to allow pedestrian traffic only. Many people were skateboarding, roller blading, and biking in addition to taking leisurely strolls in the sun. I got to watch Footvolley on the beaches which I had never seen before. Volleyball is hard enough, adding in that you can't use your hands makes it very impressive to watch.

Also on Sunday, there is what is literally called the "Hippie Fair". This is basically an open air market where locals sell a variety of handmade goods, T-shirts, and other touristy items. I didn't buy any merchandise but I did enjoy a snack from one of the food stalls. I can't remember the name of the dish but it was a fried bread with a vegetable based sauce and shrimp...it was slightly spicy. 

Walking back on the beach, you can find small refreshment huts lining the edge of the sand. Most sell a variety of beverages and snacks, including fresh coconuts. I found Brazilians are proud of their beer and I also found it is cheap (with some brands owned by the Belgians thanks to Anheuser-Busch InBev).

As usual, I have a hotel room walk through along with the views from the balconies. I'll admit, it was one of the most scenic views I've had from a hotel room.

This was my first trip to South America...and my first brush with Portuguese. Enjoy the video!

~

Back from sunny Orlando

After experiencing wonderful 80 degree weather in sunny Florida I have returned to my home in the mid-Atlantic...where it is cold, rainy, and not the least bit sunny. 

Once again, I traveled for work and experienced an exposition I had never attended before.

The video below is of the hotel I stayed in. The room was huge and had a living area along with a bedroom/bathroom area.  The air conditioning unit was extremely loud. It was similar to having a big box fan constantly on. The temperature in the room never got truly cold even with the temperature setting at 60.  This is my only gripe really.  There was a free hot breakfast and Wi-Fi for guests...can't complain about that!

1st Business Trip of the Year Complete!

My first business trip of the year is complete! I didn't have to travel too far this time around. It was only about an hour drive (1.5-2 hours in traffic) away from where I live. I am normally the first in and last out during these types of business trips. Even if the event is only an hour or so away, we still need to stay on site to address any issues that pop up.  You never know how traffic will be or how quick a need has to be filled.

The hotel I stayed in this time around was a Residence Inn. I don't think I've ever stayed at one of these before. I quite liked it! They had a kitchenette complete with dish washer, microwave, refrigerator, and small stove top. It was a studio setup so the sitting area, desk, eating, kitchen, and sleeping area were combined. The bathroom area had the toilet and tub in its own room and the sink and mirror were located in the main area.

If you'd like me to continue this trend of hotel 'tours' on my travels, let me know!

Below is a video I took of my hotel room:

~

On the Road Again...

This coming week I start traveling for work again. The first trip of the year only takes me about an hour's drive from where I live. I feel this trip eases me into what could be a very busy year in terms of traveling for both personal and business reasons. 

I am often asked the following:

Question:  Do you enjoy the travel that comes with your job?

Answer: I do. 

I have gotten used to being on the road, renting cars, flying, managing per diem, and sleeping in hotels. Some people love the on-the-go lifestyle, although, I've talked to some fellow business travelers that are ready to settle and stop traveling so much. At this point in my life, I don't have much screaming for my attention where I live. If I'm gone for two weeks, it's not a big deal.  

Look for some videos of hotels and venues I travel to, in the near future. 

I think I would find it hard to take a job where I didn't travel...having been in this job for almost two years...

What's your job like? Do you travel or sit at a desk day in and day out? Do you get to interact with coworkers and customers?

~

Leave Comments: hellothankyou.blogspot.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/brightness86
Tweet me: @heybrightness86

TTMIK Level 2 Book Overview!

[UPDATE] I finally noticed a typo on this post and fixed it! Bonus points for commenting what it was!

Want to learn Korean? Check out this overview I did on Talk to Me in Korean's Level 2 Book!

Visit talktomeinkorean.com for more content absolutely free!

On Twitter...Finally! And more things to come in 2013

Greetings to my readers!
Again, I am sorry for not updating this blog very often...if at all.

I finally joined Twitter and my handle is @heybrightness86, based off my YouTube channel.

While I have been lurking on many Twitter feeds for years now I had not bought into the idea of using it myself until recently. Having met so many people across the globe these past two years, I realize Twitter is a quick and (possibly) the easiest way to stay in touch.

I hope to be more involved with various social media come 2013. I feel next year will be very exciting for me personally and professionally. I'll be sharing more frequently through various channels so please stay tuned.

Thanks!

Leave Comments: hellothankyou.blogspot.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/brightness86
Tweet me: @heybrightness86

~