Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There (Chicago)

Welcome to my Friday I-Wish-I-Were-There Blog.

Today I going back to one of the most vibrant and high-octane cities I’ve visited in the States: Chicago.

Highlights:
Sears Tower. Okay, it’s called the Willis Tower now, but we still thought of it as the Sears Tower. The views from the top were amazing and we were totally brave enough to step on the clear platforms that jutted out from the side of the building. It was a looong way down, but as I said, we’re brave.

The trains. We enjoyed our 45 minute ride from the hotel to the centre of Chicago. Riding on the public transport in any city is fun— t’s a chance to see what the ‘real world’ looks like.

The EL. Or ‘Elevated Train’—yeah, we felt cool saying, “Let’s go catch the EL”, like we weren’t’ obvious tourists or anything… We still enjoyed the ride, and the views of downtown Chicago.

Navy Pier. Navy pier had some great market type shops, and on a glorious Saturday afternoon (when we visited) it was packed with tourists and families enjoying the sunshine. The ferris wheel gave us some incredible views of the city waterfront, but man, having to have the obligatory family photo (to tempt you to buy mega-expensive portraits later) before you get on, is a pain in the butt. So to exact pacifist revenge, I took a shot of the camera girl. Hah!

Chicago Hotdogs. Mmmmm. Nuff said.

The Bean. A really cool sculpture! One of many in Chicago. Had to get our photo with American Gothic statues in Michigan Avenue.

The people. We found the locals friendly and helpful. When we looked lost stepping off a train, a lovely elderly lady approached us and gave us directions. Then at a MTA station when we couldn’t contact our hotel for the free shuttle, a young lady let us use her cellphone to ring them. People are the best part of travelling!

Getting Hitched. Guess it's a great place for weddings too - we saw heaps of gorgeous brides and grooms!

Unfortunately we only had one full day in this amazing city. Next time we’ll stay longer!

Tracey