Chicago
I never really talked much about how my trip to Chicago went.
I think if I had to do it over again, I would be there for less time, but the reason I was there from Thursday evening through Monday evening was mainly plane ticket prices. Anyway, it felt a bit long. Being there on Monday especially was kind of a drag. I felt like I didn't have much to do and I was all by myself. I ended up just going to Target to buy a phone charger (since I had left mine at home) so I could call Shannon and Rudy, and then after my phone had charged, I left to return my rental car and get to the airport.
The actual weekend itself was mostly a lot of fun, though. The blues festival was pretty much what I expected; by the end of the day on Saturday, my ankles were hurting from dancing on the asphalt. Not a fan out outdoors dancing, but the music was too good to not dance. I met a ton of cool people at the event, and made a few new friends. :)
I did do some sightseeing as well; I got to go on a walking tour with a new friend, and basically there were these people called "insta-greeters" who took us around Millennium Park and some of the surrounding area and told us about different buildings and such. It was pretty cool. On Sunday, I went off on my own to see a garden, some statues, and the Art Institute of Chicago. I only had a couple of hours there, but it was perfect, since I didn't want to see everything in it anyway. I made a point to see the French Impressionist stuff, and I was very pleased with the selection of Van Gogh pieces they had, as well - more than the DeYoung had in SF a few months ago, and they hyped it all up and made it sound like it was going to be this amazing exhibit... but it was overpriced and overcrowded. This was much better - more Van Gogh paintings, less $ and fewer people. I also enjoyed Chagall's America Windows. It was cool to see some of the stuff I saw in Ferris Bueller. :P
And, of course, I had to have deep dish pizza. I ate at Giordano's two nights in a row, with different groups of people; that's how good it was. Now I'm inspired to try all the Chicago deep dish pizza places around here to try to find something as good.
I am really glad I decided to go. I like going to places I've never been before, and meeting new people, and this definitely fit the bill. There were only four of us there from San Francisco, so it was a great way to meet a lot of dancers I hadn't met before. :)
I have posted a lot of pictures on facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150333462190968.416445.507990967&l=2cd8a0da15
and here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150333531005968.416467.507990967&l=1e1d74ac32
Enjoy! :)
I think if I had to do it over again, I would be there for less time, but the reason I was there from Thursday evening through Monday evening was mainly plane ticket prices. Anyway, it felt a bit long. Being there on Monday especially was kind of a drag. I felt like I didn't have much to do and I was all by myself. I ended up just going to Target to buy a phone charger (since I had left mine at home) so I could call Shannon and Rudy, and then after my phone had charged, I left to return my rental car and get to the airport.
The actual weekend itself was mostly a lot of fun, though. The blues festival was pretty much what I expected; by the end of the day on Saturday, my ankles were hurting from dancing on the asphalt. Not a fan out outdoors dancing, but the music was too good to not dance. I met a ton of cool people at the event, and made a few new friends. :)
I did do some sightseeing as well; I got to go on a walking tour with a new friend, and basically there were these people called "insta-greeters" who took us around Millennium Park and some of the surrounding area and told us about different buildings and such. It was pretty cool. On Sunday, I went off on my own to see a garden, some statues, and the Art Institute of Chicago. I only had a couple of hours there, but it was perfect, since I didn't want to see everything in it anyway. I made a point to see the French Impressionist stuff, and I was very pleased with the selection of Van Gogh pieces they had, as well - more than the DeYoung had in SF a few months ago, and they hyped it all up and made it sound like it was going to be this amazing exhibit... but it was overpriced and overcrowded. This was much better - more Van Gogh paintings, less $ and fewer people. I also enjoyed Chagall's America Windows. It was cool to see some of the stuff I saw in Ferris Bueller. :P
And, of course, I had to have deep dish pizza. I ate at Giordano's two nights in a row, with different groups of people; that's how good it was. Now I'm inspired to try all the Chicago deep dish pizza places around here to try to find something as good.
I am really glad I decided to go. I like going to places I've never been before, and meeting new people, and this definitely fit the bill. There were only four of us there from San Francisco, so it was a great way to meet a lot of dancers I hadn't met before. :)
I have posted a lot of pictures on facebook, here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150333462190968.416445.507990967&l=2cd8a0da15
and here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150333531005968.416467.507990967&l=1e1d74ac32
Enjoy! :)