Chicago

Monday, 5 October 2009

Road Trip Day 47

I don't dislike hotels. After so many consecutive nights they have become second nature. I'm used to the rigmarole of bags in, bags out; remembering not to leave stuff behind (ever since the Alice incident); the different design clock-radios; hunting for the ice machine and all the other idiosyncrasies of hotel and motel life.

That said, it's a welcome break to be staying with family. No housekeeper knocking on the door, no check out time and top class coffee.

On Your Bike

Today's first escapade was a cycle ride. Simon has a spare bicycle so he and I rode out through Lincoln Park along the Lake Michigan shoreline to a jetty for a view out over the downtown skyline.

There were more than just this one stop intended for our ride, but fate intervened when, with no intervention on our parts and the bike standing quietly, the valve on the front tyre of my bike blew. An attempt to fix it using a borrowed pump failed leaving no option but to wheel the bikes back home.

Authentic Food, Part 1

We arrived home, a little deflated and made plans for lunch. I cannot come to Chicago and not have a hot-dog, so we drove out to a very traditional restaurant for jumbo dogs with appropriate toppings. I avoided the assorted tomato, peppers and lettuce, but did have onions and some of the virulent coloured relish.

I now know what the colour green tastes like... I'm not sure what it's made from, I just hope it isn't Soylent Green.

We're Off

Nicky kindly then dropped us off at Oz Park, named for the Wizard of Oz whose writer, L. Frank Baum was a resident of Chicago. The park is very tranquil and appears well loved by local residents. It also features statues of the principal characters from the Wizard of Oz. Here's Tin Man and Dorothy.

Vertigo

Simon and I took the 'L' (the nickname for the "Elevated Railway") into the city centre and got off by the Hancock Centre so that we could visit the observation deck on the 94th floor.

The weather today was perfect for the views with blue sky and just enough cloud to make for a more interesting background. My slight tendency to vertigo gave me a few moments of unease, but the view was so very worth it.

The Magnificent Mile

From the Hancock Centre, we walked along the section of Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile, which is the centre for shopping and also for some quite stunning classic and contemporary architecture. I knew Chicago was reputed for it's skyscrapers but was possibly expecting a similar feel to New York.

However, whilst there are similarities between the cities, I would say that, for me, Chicago edges out its more famous rival for the elegant mix of new and old. The planners and builders have taken more risks than in New York and there are modern classics side by side with more traditional designs.

Bean There, Done That

Last night on our after dark tour, we went to Millennium Park which features several artworks, including The Cloud Gate. Today I got the full impact of the work, known locally as "The Bean", which is a highly polished, solid organic form which reflects you and your surroundings in some strangely challenging ways. It's a fun place to be and both last night and today was surrounded by happy faces clicking away on cameras looking for peculiar views.

In this first shot, taken up and under the sculpture, Simon and I are standing side by side, forming an X shape and I can see us at least 12 times.

The second, from last night, gives more of an idea of the shape and has the skyline reflected.

And finally, my favourite is a shot from some distance away and makes the Bean appear like a bubble behind the trees.

Authentic Food, Part 2

Another food for which Chicago is justly famous is the Deep Dish Pizza. Simon, Nicky myself and Ed from the flat above whom we absconded as he entered the building just as we left went to Pequods Pizza for dinner where we shared a very large, very deep Pizza pie filled with sauce, cheese, pepperoni, onions and olives (on their half, not mine, ack!).

I'd describe it as like a hot, savoury cheesecake with an almost biscuit like dough base, turned up at the edges and with a crust of caramelised cheese around the edge. I'd also describe it as extremely tasty and thoroughly enjoyable.

Goodnight.

Stats - Day Seventy-Three

Distance travelled - 0 miles - Stayed in Chicago

State count - 29 + DC + B.C.

Room numbers stayed in - 203, 1, 148, 212, 205, 210, 246, 118, 3, 145, 229, 111, 207, 206, 40, 605, "Cowboy", 35, 11, 18, 262, 216, 208, 430, 216, 59, 226, 115 / 110*, 309, 30, 8, 255, 428, 209, "Spare"

*room switch