My inner five year old says....
So... Yes. A slightly more coherent summary of my trip to chicago is as follows.
On Saturday, we made the train and I got to go back to the snack car for coffee like, three times, which yes, I am a five year old at heart, but moving between train cars while in motion? Rocks. And then we walked up to the hotel right as it was starting to rain (btw, Holiday Inn at Merchandise Mart? Is flipping ON TOP OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES building. Stacking buildings on top of preexisting buildings makes sense but is somewhat new to me in my Oklahoma Plains ways.) And the view from the room was good, even though it was rainy and foggy, but we walked down to the Sears Tower anyway to go out on the Ledge. This was at 1:30.
At something like 3:30, we finally made it to the 104th floor. After (FINALLY) finding out what year it was built. I must say, the lines, while sneaky, cannot top the epic sneakiness that was the Heathrow customs line. Devilish, that one was. The Ledge was pretty cool--V noted that the reason they made us go to the other one, though, was the drops of water from the rain that were making it inside the building, which is not so much "cleaning" as ZOMG WHAT. And then we had to wait in line to LEAVE the building, but met this cool boy scout troop from Ohio who'd just been to Philmont.
And then...we got some indian food, which M hated but for the first time ever I actually LIKE Korma, and then we walked down to Navy Pier (which, fireworks? what fireworks? I've seen better shows in my back yard). And generally enjoyed the hubub. I love walking street festivals and things. And then we walked home and got to see all the pretty buildings lit up and stuff and stumbled upon the giant American Gothic statue. That's one of my favorite things about cities like chicago--you're a little lost but trying to act like you aren't and you turn a corner and suddenly, GIANT FAMOUS STATUE. We were trying to use the Sears Tower as a landmark to make sure we were going the right way, but we kept losing it. How do you lose one of the tallest buildings in the world? This, I need to know.
And on Sunday, we went to church and met this cool old couple when we took advantage of the free coffee-donuts-and-socializing. And then we went to Chinatown, which was actually really cool even though I think it's more fun when you just walk around and not go in any shops, just soak up the atmosphere (which is what I did in London and in New York and in Mexico and in San Diego and which I will continue to do when traveling, because soaking in the atmosphere is COOL) and we had delicious food. It was M's first time on a Metra tube/train/whatnot system which was cool but a little nerve-wracking when she didn't try to hold on to anything when standing up and almost fell in this old guy's lap.
I will admit it--my inner five year old absolutely ADORES riding the El/Tube/Subway/Whatnot. Would, in fact, just ride around in circles if there weren't, you know, other cool things to do.
And then we went to the Field Museum, which (inner five year old again) has DINOSAURS. LOTS OF DINOSAURS. Did you know Pterosaurs are not actually dinosaurs, but winged reptiles? (and yes, I perhaps have been watching too much Torchwood since I'm talking about pterosaurs in the present tense, which ZOMG is Myfanwy OK after they blew up the Hub? Inquiring minds need to know!) But the museum's taxidermy animals were REALLY CREEPY AND UPSETTING. Dead baby lions, guys. DEAD BABY LIONS! (although the sections on the real man-eating lions from the Ghost and the Darkness movie and also the one more recently in 1991 were cool.)
So in an effort to forget about DEAD BABY LIONS, we went to Millennium Park and walked, oh, about 5 feet or so. Then we went to Macy's, and I was starting to get a bit cranky, I will admit freely. Macy's had cool architecture, and I did get hit on. Which was flattering, since I was all gross from walking around and being cranky and, you know, not caring about my appearance since it's just V and M and T and it's not like I notice that kind of stuff anyway.
And then...well, and then I don't really remember, which since I KNOW I didn't get drunk while M was around means that we probably went back to the hotel because feet? OUCH. I'm sure if it was anything more exciting I'd remember. I do remember wanting Nachos and NOT GETTING THEM. Oh, and also the epic search for a Seller of Ice Cream, which we finally settled on 7-11 slurpies since every baskin robbins on the planet was closed.
On Monday, got up, got the amigos gone, went to Buckingham Fountain, which was cool, went to the hostel, which was exactly like Lottie Jane except with suites instead of trad. rooms and you could hear the El every few minutes. I also went to the Chicago Public Library, which was right next to the hostel, and was ZOMG cool because I am a huge huge nerd and, seriously, seven stories of books in a building with cool copper gargoyle things--what is not to love? Then I went to Museum Campus where I proceeded to work on my sunburn and read Good Omens.
I got changed that evening and went with a group from the hostel (which, is there a law somewhere that every guy from England has to be named either Pete or Richard? Seriously. But the gal from NZ was super-cool, as was the gal from KC looking at grad schools) to Kingston Mines, which is a famous blues bar. Which was cool, even if the drinks seemed a touch pricey, which didn't matter cause the hostel got us in without a cover. And then of course when I left I got turned around (hi, have you met me?) so I got to walk all the way down Halsted at night. And by all the way I mean like, 10 blocks. But now I know where the Steppenwolf Theatre is.
And I met my hostel roomie, who was hilarious and from San Fran and COULD NOT STOP SAYING "LIKE" as she talked a mile a minute. But then I fell sleep, and she had an 8am flight, so it worked out great.
On Tuesday I got up and went to the Art Institute. As I was waiting to get in (since it opened not at 10 but at 10:30) I started chatting with this gal next to me, who turns out has museum membership and let me in on her plan for free! The moral of the story is ALWAYS TALK TO STRANGERS.
I was particularly blown away by Taft's Solitude of the Soul (any surprise? He's heavily influenced by Rodin, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia). Also very impressed with the Toulouse-Latrec, the Ethiopian illuminated manuscript and triptych, and the architecture of the newly-opened Modern Wing. Not so impressed by the room full of Monets or (surprisingly) the El Grecos or (unsurprisingly) the art IN the Modern Wing. The Grand Jatte was pretty cool mostly because you could see the bloody dots.
And then I went to North Beach, which like Playa del Norte has water and sand but unlike Playa del Norte is not in Mexico. After acquiring a lovely sunburn, I went back to the hostel, picked up my bag, and chillaxed in the Union Station Grand Hall until the train came.
And then I went to the T's and watched Torchwood and IS IT 9pm in LONDON YET?
On Saturday, we made the train and I got to go back to the snack car for coffee like, three times, which yes, I am a five year old at heart, but moving between train cars while in motion? Rocks. And then we walked up to the hotel right as it was starting to rain (btw, Holiday Inn at Merchandise Mart? Is flipping ON TOP OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES building. Stacking buildings on top of preexisting buildings makes sense but is somewhat new to me in my Oklahoma Plains ways.) And the view from the room was good, even though it was rainy and foggy, but we walked down to the Sears Tower anyway to go out on the Ledge. This was at 1:30.
At something like 3:30, we finally made it to the 104th floor. After (FINALLY) finding out what year it was built. I must say, the lines, while sneaky, cannot top the epic sneakiness that was the Heathrow customs line. Devilish, that one was. The Ledge was pretty cool--V noted that the reason they made us go to the other one, though, was the drops of water from the rain that were making it inside the building, which is not so much "cleaning" as ZOMG WHAT. And then we had to wait in line to LEAVE the building, but met this cool boy scout troop from Ohio who'd just been to Philmont.
And then...we got some indian food, which M hated but for the first time ever I actually LIKE Korma, and then we walked down to Navy Pier (which, fireworks? what fireworks? I've seen better shows in my back yard). And generally enjoyed the hubub. I love walking street festivals and things. And then we walked home and got to see all the pretty buildings lit up and stuff and stumbled upon the giant American Gothic statue. That's one of my favorite things about cities like chicago--you're a little lost but trying to act like you aren't and you turn a corner and suddenly, GIANT FAMOUS STATUE. We were trying to use the Sears Tower as a landmark to make sure we were going the right way, but we kept losing it. How do you lose one of the tallest buildings in the world? This, I need to know.
And on Sunday, we went to church and met this cool old couple when we took advantage of the free coffee-donuts-and-socializing. And then we went to Chinatown, which was actually really cool even though I think it's more fun when you just walk around and not go in any shops, just soak up the atmosphere (which is what I did in London and in New York and in Mexico and in San Diego and which I will continue to do when traveling, because soaking in the atmosphere is COOL) and we had delicious food. It was M's first time on a Metra tube/train/whatnot system which was cool but a little nerve-wracking when she didn't try to hold on to anything when standing up and almost fell in this old guy's lap.
I will admit it--my inner five year old absolutely ADORES riding the El/Tube/Subway/Whatnot. Would, in fact, just ride around in circles if there weren't, you know, other cool things to do.
And then we went to the Field Museum, which (inner five year old again) has DINOSAURS. LOTS OF DINOSAURS. Did you know Pterosaurs are not actually dinosaurs, but winged reptiles? (and yes, I perhaps have been watching too much Torchwood since I'm talking about pterosaurs in the present tense, which ZOMG is Myfanwy OK after they blew up the Hub? Inquiring minds need to know!) But the museum's taxidermy animals were REALLY CREEPY AND UPSETTING. Dead baby lions, guys. DEAD BABY LIONS! (although the sections on the real man-eating lions from the Ghost and the Darkness movie and also the one more recently in 1991 were cool.)
So in an effort to forget about DEAD BABY LIONS, we went to Millennium Park and walked, oh, about 5 feet or so. Then we went to Macy's, and I was starting to get a bit cranky, I will admit freely. Macy's had cool architecture, and I did get hit on. Which was flattering, since I was all gross from walking around and being cranky and, you know, not caring about my appearance since it's just V and M and T and it's not like I notice that kind of stuff anyway.
And then...well, and then I don't really remember, which since I KNOW I didn't get drunk while M was around means that we probably went back to the hotel because feet? OUCH. I'm sure if it was anything more exciting I'd remember. I do remember wanting Nachos and NOT GETTING THEM. Oh, and also the epic search for a Seller of Ice Cream, which we finally settled on 7-11 slurpies since every baskin robbins on the planet was closed.
On Monday, got up, got the amigos gone, went to Buckingham Fountain, which was cool, went to the hostel, which was exactly like Lottie Jane except with suites instead of trad. rooms and you could hear the El every few minutes. I also went to the Chicago Public Library, which was right next to the hostel, and was ZOMG cool because I am a huge huge nerd and, seriously, seven stories of books in a building with cool copper gargoyle things--what is not to love? Then I went to Museum Campus where I proceeded to work on my sunburn and read Good Omens.
I got changed that evening and went with a group from the hostel (which, is there a law somewhere that every guy from England has to be named either Pete or Richard? Seriously. But the gal from NZ was super-cool, as was the gal from KC looking at grad schools) to Kingston Mines, which is a famous blues bar. Which was cool, even if the drinks seemed a touch pricey, which didn't matter cause the hostel got us in without a cover. And then of course when I left I got turned around (hi, have you met me?) so I got to walk all the way down Halsted at night. And by all the way I mean like, 10 blocks. But now I know where the Steppenwolf Theatre is.
And I met my hostel roomie, who was hilarious and from San Fran and COULD NOT STOP SAYING "LIKE" as she talked a mile a minute. But then I fell sleep, and she had an 8am flight, so it worked out great.
On Tuesday I got up and went to the Art Institute. As I was waiting to get in (since it opened not at 10 but at 10:30) I started chatting with this gal next to me, who turns out has museum membership and let me in on her plan for free! The moral of the story is ALWAYS TALK TO STRANGERS.
I was particularly blown away by Taft's Solitude of the Soul (any surprise? He's heavily influenced by Rodin, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia). Also very impressed with the Toulouse-Latrec, the Ethiopian illuminated manuscript and triptych, and the architecture of the newly-opened Modern Wing. Not so impressed by the room full of Monets or (surprisingly) the El Grecos or (unsurprisingly) the art IN the Modern Wing. The Grand Jatte was pretty cool mostly because you could see the bloody dots.
And then I went to North Beach, which like Playa del Norte has water and sand but unlike Playa del Norte is not in Mexico. After acquiring a lovely sunburn, I went back to the hostel, picked up my bag, and chillaxed in the Union Station Grand Hall until the train came.
And then I went to the T's and watched Torchwood and IS IT 9pm in LONDON YET?