Blogs from Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America - page 100

Any of you who know me really well know that it is TOTALLY unlike me to be waiting to the last minute to pack my bag because I NEVER procrastinate anything, so I'm sure it is a total shock to you that I have yet to organize my luggage for tomorrow. (At least I have somewhat of an excuse since I caught a stomach bug from my sister and brother-in-law and was out of commission a couple days.)My best pal Pam has graciously agreed to get up at the crack of dawn to drop me at the airport and I have yet to figure out if I can reserve a room for tomorrow night....I guess I don't have an 8 hour layover in Dallas for nothing! Not much else to report but that my next news ... read more

14th December Checked into HIChicago along with a zillion school kids. Feeling half dead from Jetlag I could do no more than shower and sleep. 15th Sears Tower I'd been walking around in the loop not being able to work out which the Sears tower was, so figured I best go up. From the sky you know your way higher than surrounding buildings. I hadnt appricated just how big Chicago is, flying in over the lake had been amazing, the sun was setting it was just beautiful, whilst the expanse of water was just huge I didnt get a handle on what size the city would be. From the sky the buildings seemingly go on forever. 16th John Hancock Tower After going to the Aquarium(see later entry) I decided to give tall buildings another go. The ... read more

Can you believe it I have never flown before apart from a quick flight in the 1960’s with the Royal Observer Corps. For those uninitiated the Royal Observer Corps was set up to monitor radiation fall out and nuclear attacks. It sounds daft now but the threat in the 60’s was very real and we were told to make shelters under our tables and under the stairs. A network of stations were set up around the country, some little bigger than holes in the ground where information was supposed to be relayed to the command centres giving information on bombs and fall out. I volunteered for a command centre and worked there for a few years. As part of the training I found myself in RAFValley flying low over the Menai Straits. Since then I have ... read more

Geo: 41.8861, -87.6364My friend Jodily & I spent a week walking & enjoying Chicago. We drank at Mike Ditka's bar, shopped at Marshall Field's, rode the ferris wheel on Navy Pier, and learned to use the CTA like locals!! Fun Fun Fun... read more

Chicago is admittedly a rather violent city. The city has a history of violence, going back to the days of Al Capone and his likes. Crime rates and unemployment rates in some parts of the city are (or at least were) insanely high. Given these facts, and being a pretty experienced traveler, I trust nobody. Inspired by the spirit of the moment, in combination with a few beers, I decide to go against my instincts and have a late-night chat with the guys hanging out outside the Lincoln/Belmont YMCA. Although these guys may not be typical losers, they will most likely never make it to any Hall Of Fame. But they won't hurt me. They won't rob me. They even show some polite interest in Europe, although they really don't care. To them I'm probably just ... read more