A really sad goodbye to Chicago

I am sad to be leaving, I've walked miles and miles but enjoyed it. I found the Lake!  Decided to go to Navy Pier as it's one of the featured spots. It was over the other end of the city and took about 40 mins by bus, well two actually.  This is the only time I have had to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus. but it didn't matter as I sat and watched two house removal men.  ' Two men and a van' how English. It was quite educational really, think they must have been brothers because there was a lot of shouting to each going on. They had a huge metal ramp which they put over the steps....clever.  Boy they did work hard though.  

Today I made sure I only travelled for $1.10 I just fed it in the machine.  Had a lazy morning so it was lunch time when I got there and straight into here. How whacky is this. 

What I had to do was show the blue one if I was Ok and the red one if I needed something! They are very quick because someone stopped when I was photographing the red one.

And here's the guy himself! He was doing photo shoots with anyone who so wished. The main purpose of my visit to Navy Pier was to go on one of the boat trips. I chose the Architectural Chicago River one.

Our orator was a very charming but very fast speaking young man and I really had to concentrate for 70 minutes. I didn't think I would be overly interested in all the facts and figures but he was so enthusiastic that I was starting to get cross when the family behind me started talking! Why couldn't they keep quiet for an hour and ten minutes for goodness sake. One thing I remember that he did tell us was that Chicago was not called the Windy City because it is always windy but because in the late 1800's Chicago annoyed other countries when they put in a bid (and won) the chance to host the World Fair. From then on it was called Windy City because the politicians were called windbags! It hasn't been windy at all.

We also learned that the city was built on swampy ground and was called skunk cabbage because the smell was so bad. The river itself was cut through to make a link from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi so canoes didnt have to be carried across country.   It's still quite polluted he said but doesn't noticeably smell.

Particularly this one. This is Donald's hotel and has angered the locals by putting his name on the side of it. Among other things he said was that tourists would flock to the city just to see it! One thing I loved about the buildings is all the reflections you get.

The honeycomb one is different, it has condos and car parking. 

This is my favourite, the curve.

This by all accounts is a posh house riverside and worth quite a bit of money.

The old and new!.

Of course there is the famous Sears tower  now called Willis, where you can go up to the top if you like heights! I believe there is a also a glass platform that you can step out on to if you have the nerve.

Wherever you are in the city it appears to be near to you.

A really interesting tour and because I bought this one I could have a trip on the lake for only $5. So I did. That was really choppy which I didnt mind because it was nice to get on the water again to cool down as it was getting hotter and hotter as the afternoon progressed.

In between though I have to admit to having this!

As you can see its Haagen Daas and it's their take on a banana split!  It was quite delicious which it should be because it set me back $10.40....but I couldn't finish it!! I got all the fruit out, banana, pineapple and strawberries, savoured the cream but just couldn't finish the ice cream. It's only the 2nd ice cream I have had so not doing too badly. I'm also being able to leave food on my plate now! The portions of everything are just so huge.

The pier was really busy, obviously the place to go at the week-end, it is quite long with amusements, a children's museum and lots of other things going on.  Of course in the gardens behind there was a fountain. Fountains and green spaces everywhere in Chicago but all pretty much child friendly.

My condo was in Little Italy and I decided I would go down to the main restaurant area at the bottom of my street in the evening. The University of Illinois campus is in the next street so the place is buzzing. Ended up having a delicious Chinese take away. 

On my visits to cities I am happy to walk around the city to get the feel of the place. Today I decided I would have me some culture and visit the 

I decided I would go just to have a quick look round. I was there 4 1/2 hours! That included time out for  lunch in this beautiful courtyard and watching the sparrows drinking.

It is one of the most interesting places.  Firstly I headed off downstairs to the photography display. Lots of them were gelatin silver prints. People I had never heard off but will look up when I get back. These were proper photographers, not having the modern technology!  From middle 1800's.

One guy,Joe Mayerling, displayed some great shots. In 1966 he trekked across Europe taking photographs in black and white and colour using 700 rolls of film.

Next up to the Asian room, exquisite stoneware and inlaid decorations from Korea. I don't remember seeing any artefacts from Korea before.

I was very taken with the Han Dynasty 206BC- AD 220 burial jades:

Supposedly jade prevented physical decay which inspired jade carvers to make corpse eye covers, amulets to put in the mouth and pigs to be clasped in the hands, which depicted abundance and wealth. In the next life I suppose!

Love him.....Tang dynasty.  Three Colour earthenware, with lead glazes.  Wonder how long those potters lasted?

This room was my very favourite, the Native Indian room.

For all the ladies I know who love beading, how about these, on leather as well!

Totally beaded!

There was so much beaded work but this painted tepee side I love.

My Mum used to say l had eyes in the back of my head because I used to see things I shouldn't!

Well I visited all of the rooms except the Greek and Roman. I went to the special exhibition of Magrite, the surrealist's work and have to say I skipped through there! Not to my liking.

I found out who the artist was of the polystyrene looking statue in the street, there was another of his in the gallery.

These were so beautiful, the colours startling!

My last visit was to a special exhibition by a weaver called Ethel Stein, who is 96 and still weaving. I have never heard of her and this is her first exhibition at somewhere like Chicago. I don't weave, would like to have a go,

but think I would get very tangled up! I was so impressed with her work. She also dyes her threads.

I had taken these photos before I got told I shouldn't have!

Seeing all the different artwork, Chinese, Mayan, Japanese made me want to rush out and buy some sewing work to do. Can't wait to get to the quilting shops!

What a wonderful 4 hours!  Time for another wander as I was in a part of the city that I hadn't been to. I spied another park, another fountain? Well yes in the one next to the institute, but I had already called in that one and went to the next one along. And found some new friends. Sat next to him but he didn't have much to say!

These were in the Van Buren park.  Thought they were quite lovely.  Onwards....... over a huge bridge into Grant Park by Lake Michigan. Now there was a fountain, Buckingham Fountain!

Very impressive.  Sat by the Lake for quite a while with about 100 Canada geese behind me. They were out for a walk.....

Then decided they would have a little fly and a swim....

For a short moment I thought to myself, I didn't know that Canada geese swim in the sea!,,,dimbo... But it does look like the sea.

Time for home, as I was walking back to catch the bus I remembered it was a one way street,flip, now what?  Brainwave, try next street up...yea cracked it, that traffic was also one way, but going west!  There was the number 7 Harrison bus stop. Felt quite smug really lol.

Found the parts of Chicago I was in very safe. I wandered down the street again that night to an Italian restaurant that I had been passing all of the time, called Tuscany.  It looked a very expensive place but it always had a lot of people there so as it was my last night I thought why not.   Some of the best pasta I have had and it wasn't expensive. So yet another lovely day! 

I'm now in Washington DC. Wonder if it's the place to be on 9/11!  No idea why there is red print all of a sudden, it disappeared on its own!

Chicago rocks part2 !

I decided I couldn't be bothered with buses and would walk home and I'm so glad I did. It seemed there was something interesting around every corner.

 These trains always remind me of ER

No idea what this is but I like it!

 

 These people were in Daly Centre by City Hall and were having a Protest/celebration about a green issues march from Los Angeles to New York. There was much singing and dancing.

Even the grannies were there!

These were having a great time skate boarding and acrobating.

Graffiti.....wish I could draw like that.

 

Another art work. Thought it was a MacDonalds place when I first saw just the top of it.! There are random pieces like this all over the city.

I really thought I was going to be in a police chase advert.  I saw a whole bunch of people gathered around a van in one corner and on the other was a police car with two officers standing by it. I crossed over and asked a young woman what was happening and she told me it was a police car chase advert but I couldn't watch it from that corner. Of course I didn't move and she said you gotta move down ma'am . So I went a few more steps and she kept saying move further down ma'am. Then I saw the van with a camera on the back so reckoned I would see if I stood in a garage further down the street.  Well what a let down, a car came down the road, turned round and drove towards the camera at about 20 miles an hour and then the police car came and was doing about 30 and stopped when it got to the camera. That was it!   Not even a squeal of brakes. So I went and had a Starbucks.

There is something about these fire escapes! 

Chicago rocks!

 In all the cities I've been in so far the transit systems have been so easy. Chicago has had me some what puzzled. I'm getting there slowly!  

My first day here I decided that I would have a wandering day, no plans except I would like to get to see Lake Michigan.

So got on the bus to take me downtown and would decide where to get off when I got there.

A not so nice bus driver wouldn't let me have a senior ticket because I hadn't got a card. I made the mistake of asking him if it was a dollar. So I had to pay $2.25. Because of that I decided I would go as far as his bus was going which was Harbour Point. That sounded promising anyway.

It would have been if there were not road works happening. Couldn't get across the highway to the harbour. Never mind...I was near some gardens......

                                        

 This looked promising.

Through the archway it had metal plaques with advice on mental health and physical health. It was obviously a place where down and outs slept! There were two on the first two seats and what a shame it was sadly neglected.  It could have been so pretty. I couldn't decide if this little chap was a tufted whatever or also a down and out! He looked a bit scruffy.

So back into the street, a different story.

 Flowers all the way down the street.

So three ways to go, which one to choose. Towards the city I think. Good choice. I had been looking at a big metal structure so walked towards that which led me to 

  

The metal structure was, I found out, the roof of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion which is a concert venue and can hold 11,000 people. 4,000 on the seats and 7,000 on the lawn.

Off this you enter the Lurie Gardens, specially designed to represent the City in a Garden, a five acre site,which today was looking a bit sad. I've caught it mid season and a lot of the plants are dying. I can tell though that in mid summer it would have been stunning. It has walkways, benches and best of all a man made stream!

A very popular stopping place. People were sitting reading books with their feet dangling in the very cold water!. It was lovely and so refreshing, I sat and watched the little Japanese boy loving it, while I ate my peach and guzzled my water which I've decided I really must drink a lot more of. Don't like it really but I think I've got a little dehydrated from all this sun. It's been very hot here (apart from half a day in Oregon I've had hot sun between 80 and 90 degrees for the past three weeks!) People throw coins in the stream, I bet the down and outs come and collect at night!   After half an hour my feet were getting a bit numb so onwards..... And round the corner to the Bean. This is such a fun thing!

Cloud Gate is it's official name and was designed by British designer Anish Kapoor.  why haven't we got one! It's made of stainless steel and Reflects outside and when you walk through it.

Even brides come here on their wedding day (pink dress)

Better outside!

Heard jazz being played.   Drawn to this I wandered down to the outside restaurant and sat myself down to have a drink and a listen. However, someone had ordered baby ribs next to me and they looked delicious, so I spent a happy, almost two hours eating, drinking my prosecco (mistake I didn't want to move after this) and listening to the group playing Latin jazz. Totally wonderful!

They even had wildlife there, think they must have come over from the gardens.

This butterfly was huge, compare it to the size of the flowers. This guy was really pretty.

Well I had to tear myself away eventually!  I started to head off south. Whenever you ask directions it's always by the compass. You need to go west or take the bus south! You actually get used to it.

I hadn't a clue which bus was going to where I am staying and was looking at the map in a shelter when a voice said, you enjoying your visit?  It was a man I had spoken to on the bus coming in. He had asked me if he could help me with anything when I was reading my street map!  Made a quick getaway!

 

The Windy City

Airport with time to spare. Requires two flights to Chicago. Got a 2 hour layover at Denver, that's  Ok will have time for something to eat. Arriving at Chicago 7.20. Not......

Both my flights had E and B seats.  Bummer don't like being stuck between two other people. But never mind won't be for long. 1 hour 15 to Denver then 2 hour 15 to Chicago.

Well... I thought it was going to be, well a different flight, when I saw all our air hostesses were men! Big burly men in black t shirts.....and you do meet some strange people on aeroplanes sometimes don't you? Why is it they have to share their life history with you when all you want to do is sleep?  She was the last on, her case was so heavy that she couldn't lift it to put in the locker. ( I will no longer take any notice of the the measurements they give you regarding carry ons , except for easy jet, but that's another story!)  We (we as in the lady in seat D) had to get out to let her into her window seat and she huffed and puffed and put all the air blowers on. Personally I don't like cold air blowing on me.. She did ask me if I was hot and I said no but perhaps she didn't understand English!  So the drinks trolley comes and being like Ryan air you have to pay ( you don't with Delta)  

 Bless her my new friend wanted to buy us both drinks as she was going to a place near Chicago to cremate her first ex husband? Neither of us wanted one but she bought herself two bourbons with coke which took her about 15 minutes to drink. In between I found out she had been married twice and was now engaged to a vet, a nephew of her husband had now come out of the woodwork and was wanting such and such and husband had been on credits so didn't have anything and his second wife hated her and so on and so on! Also she hadn't slept for three days and she was renting a car when she got to Chicago.  And where was I sitting on the second flight.. Both in row 17 but sigh of relief when I found out she was in F again.

I did want to be sympathetic but admit to rushing off the plane while she was nearly decapitating someone getting her case out of the locker. I had already planned to write my blog in the 2 hour layover.

This I did and time flew and we got called to the gate at for our 4.00 flight only to be told we won't be boarding for a short time as the heating element had gone on screen and had to be replaced. Update at 5.00.. Now had part and was being replaced, only take a few minutes. We left at 6.00 yea only two hours late.  Settled in between nice lady and young man only to be told 30 mins into flight that there was a problem and we had to return to Denver.  I've never been on a plane that turns round but I would never have known!  Take all your luggage and hang around gate 24. We are getting plane out of hanger so it should only be about 30 mins. It was at this point I was glad I had my little bag with me.  You can go and get refreshments but be back in 25 mins.  Did this and then found out they were giving out 15 dollar vouchers to be spent on refreshments until midnight. 

Had had a snack and now no time to eat if I had wanted to but determined not to waste it I bought bananas crisps etc.

We finally got underway at 8.00. Nice pilot said he would put his foot down and only take 1hr 45, 30 mins off flight. Which he did.  Landed at 10.45.  Had to put watch on an hour. 

Katya was expecting me about 8.15 and I was beginning to think I wouldn't have a bed for the night.

No one at Airport Xpress booking kiosk. Slight panic, no need, lovely 59 year old widowed driver, who was waiting outside took me. The service is amazing. He made sure Katya was there before he went. By this time it was 12.00. Raging party going on in downstairs flat.....student area..., but I couldn't hear a thing in my room which is lovely.   Think I was asleep within. 5 mins!