IT WAS AWESOME!!
Our hotel was great, it was an 8 minute drive to the nearest train station, and we did have to pay to park the van, but overall it was great. We had breakfast in the lobby every morning and the room was the perfect size. Missey chose an executive suite and I will try to make that my room style choice from now on whenever I travel. When you enter the room it is like walking into a living room, not like a traditional hotel room which opens into a small hallway. Executive suites give you lots of room to move around in.
Thursday night we made it into the heart of Chicago just in time to visit the Art Institute for about an hour before they closed. Such an amazing display of art. I am excited to go back and see the whole place.
This was one of my favorite pieces. The family of three reminded me of my own small family.
In China Town we had sum good dim sum.
I have always loved going to aquariums. The Shedd Aquarium was amazing even though the large ocean area was closed for upgrades. Sephie and her husband Jared are planning a trip with Steve and I to go back sometime in 2010. I am so excited! We found Nemo and some of his friends!
We stood in line at Gino's Pizza for an hour and 15minutes to get some authentic chicago style deep dish pizza. That wait was just to get in the door. After another 20 minutes or so we were seated. Then it takes another 45 minutes to prepare and bake the pie!
Holly Moley it was so worth the wait!
We visited the 95th floor of the Hancock building at night and looked out over the city! So beautiful. The image on the left is a view looking north up the shore of Lake Michigan, highway 41 is filled with the headlights of late night travelers. This image of the right is a view southwest into the city. This town is just as beautiful during the day from the ground as it is during the night from 95 stories up.
This may sound cheesy, but sometimes we all get visions of what a place is going to be like based on stories we have heard or movies we have seen. Well I had an idea in my head of what Chicago was going to be like ... full of activity, noisy from the trains passing by at regular intervals, heavy traffic and loud car horns, great food, beautiful architecture, amazing views, and great attractions. I love this picture, which I took as we crossed the street under the train line. It reminds me of all the movies I've watched that helped me to develop my expectations of how great this city would be. It also reminds me of how this city lived up to all of those expectations and even surpassed a few!!
We had a great time. I cannot wait to go back and visit many, many more times!