Today we landed in Moline. Where is that you ask? I had to look it up myself. I thought it was in Iowa, but I was wrong. Moline is in Illinois, but I was partially correct since our hotel was in fact in Iowa...a mere 15 minute drive away. It's part of the Quad Cities which includes Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Bettendorf. And now you know! They straddle the Mississippi River, where a slew of gambling riverboats line the banks. We arrived as the sun was setting, so there wasn't much opportunity to explore a whole lot, but I ventured out in the blocks surrounding the hotel.
I went to a burger and beer place around the corner from the hotel. I had a burger with sriracha and jalapeños. It was very delightful --the perfect ratio of sriracha to burger. I would recommend the joint even though the bartender kept referring to Kona beer as "Konig." What can I say . . . we're a long way from Hawaii. I walked a little bit afterward. I did actually go onto one of the casino riverboats to check it out, but was inside for less than five minutes. I felt like a record scratched when I walked in. All the old folks turned and stared at me like I forgot to wear pants or something. The smell of cigarette-stained carpets and desperation filled the air, so I used the restroom and promptly left.
I walked around a little bit more along the banks of the Mississippi, but soon got cold and headed back to the hotel. From what I've seen, it's not a bad little town. I mean - I can't speak for the other three towns, but Davenport seems alright other than the cigarette-stained desperation along the river, but that is the nature of casinos. I've never been terribly hip to the casino scene, but I liked the idea that it was on a boat. It's not nearly as cool as it sounds. I was picturing bearded Kenny Rogers-like personas sitting around a card table drinking whiskey, but it was just overweight white people with an addiction to tobacco and (I can only assume) gambling.
The hotel here is much nicer than the airport hotel we stayed at in Milwaukee last night. In fact, I would go as far as to say the Milwaukee Clarion - Airport is the worst hotel I've stayed at since becoming an airline employee. The Radisson in Davenport is much nicer, though I am saddened by the lack of food options I will have for breakfast. Nothing will be open when I have to catch a 5am van to the airport. Sigh. Such is life.
The hotel here is much nicer than the airport hotel we stayed at in Milwaukee last night. In fact, I would go as far as to say the Milwaukee Clarion - Airport is the worst hotel I've stayed at since becoming an airline employee. The Radisson in Davenport is much nicer, though I am saddened by the lack of food options I will have for breakfast. Nothing will be open when I have to catch a 5am van to the airport. Sigh. Such is life.