AWESOME! The guy in the opposite gate G3 is using the intercom to sing Christmas Carols! Jingle Bell Rock! Everyone just clapped at the end of the son
I have had the best 3 days in Chicago!
I landed and after heading to baggage I knew I was looking for someone I hadn’t seen in about 18 years. Thanks to Facebook I kind of knew who to look for – luckily she found me. Katie then took me on a scenic way home. I got to experience Chicago traffic (like Brisbane in peak hour but there are 4 lanes of it instead of two), see some of the sights (picture below) and drive past the “beach” (more waves than Wynnum even though it is a lake!) – same sort of things – except there was snow!
PICTURE: The Old Post Office in Chicago
We then headed to Andersonville for lunch and met Joel there. Anderson in a suburb of Chicago and has a Swedish heritage which is why Katie likes it. Just to be confusing, we went to a middle eastern buffet place for lunch. Apparently buffet lunches are the thing to do here in because they are quick and cheap so restaurants offer it instead of a traditional Lunch menu. Nothing too different from the food etc you would expect to find home – except there was snow!
We then headed to the house. A beautiful house right on Lake Michigan with their own private bit of beach. The house was built by the Wriggly family – yes the same people that make Juicy Fruit built this house! The house is amazing and is right into the Christmas spirit with Christmas Trees and decorations everywhere – it felt a lot like home – except there was snow!
PICTURE: Looking out of my bedroom window into the front yard.We then headed to the house. A beautiful house right on Lake Michigan with their own private bit of beach. The house was built by the Wriggly family – yes the same people that make Juicy Fruit built this house! The house is amazing and is right into the Christmas spirit with Christmas Trees and decorations everywhere – it felt a lot like home – except there was snow!
Katie and Joel were insisted on showing me things that were either uniquely Chicago – and they achieved it! Before dinner (Italian Beef – a Chicago delicacy! And vegetables – exactly what I was craving) we went for a walk across the road to The Baha’i House of Worship. A beautiful building that was just amazing and so peaceful and spiritual inside. They request that no pictures be taken inside – so I didn’t but the roof was an amazing sight. The building hold over 1000 people for worship and is welcoming to all people and religions. There is only one of these on each continent. Just beautiful! I am not sure where the one in Australia is but I am sure it would be almost the same – except there was snow!
PICTURE: The Baha'i Temple of Worship in Chicago
After sleeping for about 12 hours, I awoke to this….
SNOW!!!!!!!!! And it didn’t really stop all day. Tom had arrived home later that night after finishing College in Kansas so we unpacked his car and planned our day. In keeping with the Unique Chicago theme – we headed into the city, picked up Ashleigh and went to look at the shops. It felt a lot like home – except there was snow! Shopping malls etc – including a Billabong shop!
PICTURE: Random Billabong shop in Chicago Shopping Centre
The water treatment plants are in the middle of the city and are set up as a tourist attraction. It is one of those things that the locals don’t even visit – Ashley and Tom had never been inside them so it was a new experience for all of us! We checked out the river and some other buildings in the city and then it was time for the next Chicago delight – Uno’s Pizza!
This is the yummiest pizza ever! It is called deep dish and is basically pizza tomping on a quiche base – but better. These are the yummiest things I think I have almost ever eaten – and I have eaten a lot of different things, including Pizza! I think the company I was with also helped the taste. Katie, Joel, Ashley and Tom all welcomed me into their home as a long lost brother / son. Thanks guys so so so much (and I haven’t even finished the Chicago story yet!)
This is the yummiest pizza ever! It is called deep dish and is basically pizza tomping on a quiche base – but better. These are the yummiest things I think I have almost ever eaten – and I have eaten a lot of different things, including Pizza! I think the company I was with also helped the taste. Katie, Joel, Ashley and Tom all welcomed me into their home as a long lost brother / son. Thanks guys so so so much (and I haven’t even finished the Chicago story yet!)
PICTURE 1: The amazing Pizza... PICTURE 2: The amazing company!
(The Toronto flight might be delayed due to a mechanical fault – just my luck!)
After dinner we headed to Second City. It is the comedy / impro club in Chicago. Some names that are on the honor roll over the past 50 years (2009 is the 50th year celebrations) include: Dan Ackroyd, Mike Myers, Steve Carrell, Jim Belushi – some real comedy royalty and a host of other names you would recognize. We saw a show that was based on Chicago so it was really good to experience some real Chicago comedy in one of Americas founding comedy institutions.
After the show it was time to ‘hit the town’! Well, we tried but a snowy Tuesday night in Holiday week is not the most exciting night to go out. We still had fun though. I met Angela – one of Ashley’s friends. Two different bars and a couple of drinks and then Tom and I crashed at Ashley’s condo. I had my standard Vodka and Lemonade – but fogot that the Americans call the ‘Traditional’ Lemonade; Lemonade. I needed to ask for a Vodka and Sprite – but the Sprite here is Lemon Lime flavor – it is all so confusing... and they free pour!
We spent Wednesday afternoon at the house – watching the snow storm. We then went out at night and saw Avitar – in 3D. I think it is Fern Gully meets The Matrix; predictable story line, about 30-40 minutes too long BUT the special effect were amazing. I know you will all say that is just like going to the movies at home. Yes you are correct it was pretty much the same – except there was snow!
So that brings me to here at the airport. We passed the Cook County Prison on the way – which made me start singing “He Had It Commin!” in my head and is still stuck in there. Before I left, they gave me an amazing scarf made out of alpaca – very beautiful. And a compass – to help me when I travel if I get lost and am looking at a Map I will always know where North is.
Oh well – The boarding is starting – just in time! Thank you Chicago and thanks to my new American family – Katie, Joel, Ashley and Tom. It really is My Kind of Town and I will so totally be back – you all told me how wonderful summer is over here so I need to see if you were telling the truth!
After dinner we headed to Second City. It is the comedy / impro club in Chicago. Some names that are on the honor roll over the past 50 years (2009 is the 50th year celebrations) include: Dan Ackroyd, Mike Myers, Steve Carrell, Jim Belushi – some real comedy royalty and a host of other names you would recognize. We saw a show that was based on Chicago so it was really good to experience some real Chicago comedy in one of Americas founding comedy institutions.
After the show it was time to ‘hit the town’! Well, we tried but a snowy Tuesday night in Holiday week is not the most exciting night to go out. We still had fun though. I met Angela – one of Ashley’s friends. Two different bars and a couple of drinks and then Tom and I crashed at Ashley’s condo. I had my standard Vodka and Lemonade – but fogot that the Americans call the ‘Traditional’ Lemonade; Lemonade. I needed to ask for a Vodka and Sprite – but the Sprite here is Lemon Lime flavor – it is all so confusing... and they free pour!
We spent Wednesday afternoon at the house – watching the snow storm. We then went out at night and saw Avitar – in 3D. I think it is Fern Gully meets The Matrix; predictable story line, about 30-40 minutes too long BUT the special effect were amazing. I know you will all say that is just like going to the movies at home. Yes you are correct it was pretty much the same – except there was snow!
So that brings me to here at the airport. We passed the Cook County Prison on the way – which made me start singing “He Had It Commin!” in my head and is still stuck in there. Before I left, they gave me an amazing scarf made out of alpaca – very beautiful. And a compass – to help me when I travel if I get lost and am looking at a Map I will always know where North is.
Oh well – The boarding is starting – just in time! Thank you Chicago and thanks to my new American family – Katie, Joel, Ashley and Tom. It really is My Kind of Town and I will so totally be back – you all told me how wonderful summer is over here so I need to see if you were telling the truth!
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