Day 6: Chicago

I will admit that I have been a slacker today. We crossed into Illinois and I pretty much missed it because I was napping. When I began taking pictures, I found my camera's battery was very low and then finally ran out.

There is a dramatic difference in the number of rivers and creeks as we cross the border into Illinois. We crossed the Mississippi and several other rivers in our first few miles. The corn is more impressive here than in Iowa, but I know that there will be lots more of those pictures to take, so I saved my remaining battery charge for Chicago.

We stopped outside of Chicago to visit with a former colleague of John's and had a tour of his book printing plant. I wish I would have had battery enough in my camera, because it was really fascinating, Printing has certainly changed from the days when I was trying to be a graphic artist and hand cutting rubylith four color separations. Paul, John's friend, informed us that The Taste of Chicago festival and fireworks accompanied by the Chicago Symphony happening in Millenium Park, just a few blocks from our hotel and encouraged us to go.

Being good travellers, we gave out best shot at going to the Taste of Chicago and the fireworks. It was very, very crowded.

I mean, it was really, really, really crowded....

After joustling in lines for over and hour and a half to buy the tickets to finally get a Chicago Italian Beef sandwich and a sausage sandwich along with a couple of beers we had just about had it. We decided that we would head back to the hotel. Along the way, people were still coming into the park. I don't know where they were going to put all of them!

On the way back, we passed the Art Institute of Chicago, and I realized, that I had stupidly created an itinerary that had us staying in Chicago on a holiday! I wonder what will even be open? I guess that will be another adventure.

Tonight will be the first night that we have stayed anywhere for more than one night. I am really looking forward to not driving tomorrow. John continues to cough, but doesn't complain; he reminds me that the last time he had one of these attacks it took two courses of antibiotics to finally rid himself of it. I hope he won't be coughing away the entire trip.

At last we are back in the hotel and John has gone to bed while I finish typing these last words in our humble accomodations.....

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