Roadtrip & Chicago September 2007

I know, I know, it's been a long time since we updated this...but we've been busy!!

Since our last (/1st) entry Linz and I took to the Canadian roads in our very own wheels of steel!!! (Still can't quite believe they hired it to us - especially after I attempted to turn it on and kangaroo jumped it across the car park!!) And yes, it was at times as horrendous as it sounds...note to others - it's not the brightest idea to arrive in a city at night, with no map, no where organized to stay and not speaking a word of french!! (or not really speaking to each other...)
We went to Montreal 1st, 5hours or so from Toronto, armed with our trusty 1995 road atlas - strangely the roads have changed a bit in the last 12 years!!!
We've discovered that it is possible to see the whole of a city in 1 day..regardless whatever the Lonely Planet says, so wandered around doing the touristy bit and marvelling at how frenchy everything seemed!! And in my own opinion, most excitedly of all - saw the Basilica that Celine Dion was married in!! WOOOOO!! (NB not all of us were AS excited by this fact - Linz)
The next day, it was back in the car - basically think family of 4 saloon styleee...god!! And off we headed to Quebec City, (3 hours north of Montreal) still not having learnt our lesson and bought an up to date map and so obviously got lost in 1 way hell in the centre!!
Quebec is so so beautiful, so European looking, and very excitingly - hot & sunny!! Again, did our usual speedy tour about the city, taking a zillion photos and not understanding a word anyone said to us!! Went out for drinks with our 2 japanese roommates..cue stilted conversation from hell about the relative merits of japanese ski resorts, sushi, and Linz and I discussing the problems of binge drinking in the UK!! Random..don't think the UK tourist board will be rushing out with jobs for us just yet as roving ambassadors...
The next day off we set again, had seen in the lonely planet there was an Ice Hotel (in our heads a Mythical Narnia like building) kinda on the way to Ottawa that you could do tours of, so off we trotted...an hour out of the way...hadn't really thought it through / had all time blondest moment EVER...that unsurprisingly enough the Ice Hotel isn't about when it's hot and sunny...(but if anyone wants to go, we are able to give you directions from the Ottawa road!!!!)
In Ottawa we really impressed ourselves by actually doing organized tourist stuff rather than the Linz&Lucy versions, did a tour of Parliament, saw the Basilica, a random huge spider, war memorials & bought heat..yep, we did spend $7 on it..and it was worth every penny!!
Ottawa was also the venue for our acts of extreme bravery....a 200 foot bungee jump into a reservoir..Linz had to talk me into it..but it was awesome! And fact fans, it was the highest bungee into a reservoir in North America - and we have the dvds to prove it! I went 1st, quietly into my fate and got drenched!! Linz screamed like a banshee the whole way down, but stayed pleasantly dry! Was amazing, a total highlight of the trip!


Despite all the road trip fun(?!) we decided to fly from Toronto to Chicago for next stage of trip...not really digging the idea of an 20 hour bus journey. And also, it's always fun to give the US airport staff someone to be pissed off with..and that would have been us..they were not fans at all of the vagueness of our trip!
Think we also managed to pick the most random / grotty hostel in all Chicago to stay in - they had seemed surprised that we weren't really keen on the room that didn't have a lock...but we did have a poster of Al Capone watching over us in a vaguely threatening way as we slept!! Hence the move to Essex Inn, prob out our budget but all good for the worst backpackers ever!!!
Day 1 in Chicago was mentally busy, we went to see Wrigley Stadium (home for Chicago Cubs baseball team) and then did the walking tour of Chicago...and walked the wee legs off ourselves - honestly walked about 100miles!! Including cocktails at John Hancock Centre bar, on the 96th floor, now that's a lifestyle I could get used to!
The next day we went up the Sears Tower..had some weirdo telling me he couldn't go up as he couldn't go through the metal detectors...why do we always attract these freaks?!! Went for authentic Chicago deep pie pizza and then felt like we could never move again!!
Big night out planned for the Saturday night..all went a bit off plan! We tried to go to a jazz club (as recommended by bloody guidebook) but it was closed..ended up in the place that Al Capone used to hang out in, which was awesome, once we got past the world's scariest bouncer!! Then headed for a club ( as recommended by some Chicago magazine) and it was closed...so we followed some random bouncer's advice and went to Excalibur..which was huge..and incredibly random! Sasha was playing, and me and Linz were the hit of the place..our particular highlight was being complimented on our grasp of the English language....well, gee thanks....
Inevitable hangover day the next day, so we messed about doing nowt..and then had to pack for our horrendously early flight the next day to Minneapolis.

I know this is incredibly lengthy, but I like the sound of my own voice!! We'll update it soon I promise with more exciting adventures!!

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