http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Illinois , Chicago en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:53:46 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:53:46 +0000 Saturday November 25 2009 PostscriptOverview of Blog 3 Months after the trip... Well itrsquos almost 3 months since my return from the summer 2009 Chicago Illinois to St. Lake City Utah roundtrip drive camping the entire month. Sophie my traveling companion drove a total of 6000 miles driving through 11 states and returning safely back home to Chicago with 3 weeks to unwi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457610.html Are you sure I need to be there at 8amYes...you are supposed to be here at 759amYikes I don't like having to be at my parttime job at 8am. I normally start at 10 am and I was trying to not have to come in until 9am since I was the 3rd 8am person scheduled.Wasn't I in for a surprise when I called to tell them I was running 20 min late Can I talk to Rosie And the response I got...Rosi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457572.html Woke up to rain and we happy we still had the car. Andrew did his first mistake and tried to turn left into the left lane but he did correct before we got into too much trouble Headed straight to the United Centre the home of the Chicago Bulls to see a tribute to Michael Jordon. Dodgiest suburb ever and he stadium was just a concrete building. We both expected a lot more. Only ran in and out a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457086.html We started the day a bit sceptical but after about a 20 min walk from our hotel found civilisation ad Chicago is actually a beautiful city. Walked the streets looking at old buildings and crossing the Chicago River. Made it down to Lake Michigan... unbelievably huge shows how much Andrew knew he thought it froze over and he could ice skate on it I couldnrsquot stop laughing when he said tha http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457083.html The following day we slept in before heading into town in search of the Willis Tower which is Chicagorsquos tallest building. Great view and in the lobby they had a great display of history and facts surrounding Chicago and what it is known for. We then headed across town in search of Millennium Park to check out ldquothe beanrdquo which is a massive aluminium bean shaped sculpture. Pretty s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-453538.html The original plan was to get a bus to Chicago but after some extensive research of flights we decided it would be much more economical to just fly. At this point Kaz was still in hope of somehow obtaining Oprah audience tickets so we agreed to spend a couple of nights in a posh hotel firstly to get a bit of a break from hostels but also because she heard the concierge of particular hotels can som http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-453537.html Waiting for Vix to turn up and we're trying to work this blog out over skype. shesh. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-452558.html Well here I am back in the windy city again...that's right Chicago Now I happen to really like Chicago perhaps because I had such a great first visit here though alas I was not blogging then and perhaps just because it's a city that sits well with me for unknown reasons. Because generally when I'm here I don't get to see much of it. Like the last time when I came just for lunch. Bu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-451292.html I have been thinking of traveling to Chicago again ever since summer. There are so many things to see and do and a lot of them are free. I think Chicago has more places with free admission than any other city in the Union. I have written an article for anyone who is interested in visiting Chicago on a Budget.There's Navy Pier Grant Park the museums have free days on Tuesdays almost once a m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450729.html August 16 2007Kristen and I are traveling to Chicago IL with my parents to attend the graduation ceremony of my brother Jamie. He has joined the Navy to become a Master of Arms and is ending his recruit training at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago where our hotel is. Unable to see him until after the graduation we decide to spend the afternoon driving around the area through a r http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450609.html Just when you think you're in like Flint ... NOT.Here I sit at Chicago O'Hare Airport waiting to see if I get on a plane out of here tonight to London. Yesterday up early said goodbye to Jackie went back to bed. It was early My dear sweet Lee took her to the airport and saw her at least through Security. I got to sleep a couple of hours more.Back to the airport by noon. I'm traveling on http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450005.html Every little girl dreams of being a princess. Make your little girls dreams come true with Disney bedding in the Princess design. Your little girls can snuggle up and sleep tight under Disney Bedding featuring Princess Jasmine Cinderella or Princess Belle and feel like shes living a dream.The beauty of it is that youe not going to pay the earth to make them feel like that little princess. disney http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-445490.html I actually slept Thursday night which was shocking to me given how frazzled I was but I think exhaustion just got the better of me. The plan was to get up early finish up some packing drive downtown early to drop my car off at the parking garage Gara is watching it for us while wersquore gone and then get a coffee and wait for my visa. All goes relatively well. Besides that itrsquos http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-445305.html Okay the more I spend time planning for my trip the eager I get. I really can't wait. I've been working hard at work and working long hours well maybe not that long anymore. I'm just trying to enjoy my time here as much as I can before I jetted off to Europe. So far I got a few cities that I'm set on visiting. It seems 2 months is too long. I should have planned for 3 months. If I just have the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444844.html Chicago What a cityGisteren was Columbus Day. Op deze dag viert de Amerikaanse natie dat zij in 1492 ontdekt zijn door Christopher Columbus die per ongeluk tegen dit eiland aanvaarde op weg naar India vandaar ook de naam Indianen voor de toenmalige inheemse bevolking Hhoor ik je denken wat heeft dit met Chicago te maken Nou de reden dat ik dit stuk begin met de vermelding dat gisteren http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444740.html The Windy City.That in itself describes just a fraction of what Chicago is and means to the locals and visitors who stampede the streets of Michigan Ave as well as grazing their frigid fingers along their reflexive bowed selves thanks to an artist who mirrored a giant bean and placed it delicately in the midst of heavy foot traffic and downtown skytowers. I came I saw but I feel I didn't qui http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444685.html I don't know what's windier the city of Chicago or the politician's hot air. At any rate this is our starting point for our journey down the mother road Route 66. Upon arrival we immediately checked into the Hyatt thanks to Priceline and for my Wife taking William Shatner at his word and headed to the original Gino's East for some Chicago deep dish pizza. These Chicagoans aren't bored http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444575.html Route 66 starts in Chicago and though the original downtown alignment is long buried under decades of new development it's a great place to kick off the tour. For us East Texans though that means a solid 950 miles before we can set out on historic 66. Of course any road trip you embark on inevitably takes on it's own character after a few miles. Saturday October 10th we left Nacogdoches and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444250.html Here it is The Route 66 trip Misti and I have been so adamant about taking. It's a journey down the Mother Road and a look at America during the early part of this century. We are joined by Misti's parents Craig and Dottie Bridegam who will be following closely behind us. And the car of choice an 06 Dodge Magnum RT HEMI to pay homage to the Detroit leadsleds of the time and it's the only t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-444228.html Early checkin or Of course itrsquos gonna cost me 4000 to change my flight or Oompa Loompa Surprise24123 pm. Thursday. The day before we leave for our honeymoon in Goa India. Jared is in Toronto on business scheduled to land that evening at 825 pm. Christine is at Jaspreet and Itay's home where we have been staying after we sold our condo but before we start on our roadtrip to move http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-443483.html