The Chicago trip went well. Contradictory to our history of vacation disasters.
This time, we had saved up ALL the cash we needed to take with us. Even though we had to do some work on Mary's car, we still had enough to take this trip.
We left Friday evening and crashed in Springfield, IL before heading on to Chicago on Saturday. The first five nights in Chicago were spent in the Doubletree in Alsip. Yes, it's quite a ways from downtown. Sunday, we finally got our CTA 3-day visitor passes.
Those CTA passes really got us around the entire trip. We hardly drove anywhere. We rode the 'L' (elevated rail) everywhere, transferring to buses whenever necessary.
Early Monday morning, Mary had a photoshoot. Though it ended up not being so early. Horrible mix ups... The shoot was at a small beach downtown called Ohio Street Beach, conveniently located where Ohio Street ends at the lake.
Tuesday was a day of relaxation and nothing else.
Wednesday, we walked around downtown for a bit before heading out on a boat architecture tour. This tour took us on the Chicago River, pointing out some of the beautiful architecture that is downtown Chicago. Near the end of this evening tour, we were taken out onto Lake Michigan where we could view a fireworks show from the boat. It was very nice.
This was the first time Mary had been on a boat, too. She loved it so much, she wanted to take the tour again, though we never got around to it.
Thursday, we started out towards the Field Museum of Natural History. The Points of Interest book in the hotel room said that Thursdays admission was free. After spending almost an hour on public transit to get there, the attendants tell is that it is NOT free on Thursdays and never has been free. Naturally, I was a bit upset. I called the hotel to notify them of this information.
After that let-down, we headed over to the John Hancock tower to hit the free lounge, one floor below the pay-per-view observation deck. The tower itself is quite magnificent. After locating the elevator, which was tucked away around a corner, we were told the lounge was closed. Closed? Yes, closed. It had been reserved for a private party.
Shut down twice, we decided to have lunch at the Cheesecake Factory at the base of the tower. Wide selection, good portions, good food, by the way.
We headed back out to hit our second Chicago hotel. A real cheapy, the Rodeway Inn. This place was terrible. The air conditioner was so noisy, it literally sounded like an idling lawn mower. The water was hooked up backwards (hot = cold, cold = hot). In the morning, the breaker kicked off. All this topped off with the fact that they screwed up the payment, charging my credit card instead of allowing me to pay in cash. Thankfully, only one night there.
Friday took us downtown to stay at our fancy place, the Swissotel. Very swanky. Very expensive. It's one of those hotels that it takes money to stay in because everything costs. I'm surprised we didn't get an electric bill. Overall, an okay experience in this hotel.
Friday evening was the most eventful. We headed on the town to hit a jazz club to hear some live music. It was okay. The musicians were good, the singing was... eh... We had an eight dollar cheesecake that consisted of four tiny squares. Delicious, though. After that, we started to head back to the hotel.
Some buses stop running at 12:15, but I did not know this. After waiting for almost thirty minutes at a stop, we headed on down the street towards the hotel. Just after we crossed one street, Mary says she heard a girl scream, though I do not remember it, then a horrendous *crash* from behind. As I whip my head around, I see a motorcycle and rider flipping through the air and the whole passenger side of a cab smashed in.
Before the motorcycle hit the ground, I was already reaching in my pocket for my cell phone. I dialed 911 and relayed all the information that I had as fast as I could. Just saw an accident, motorcycle into the side of a cab, injured man on the pavement, corner of Ohio and State. After the ambulance arrived, I head someone say that there was someone else. There had been a passenger on the motorcycle also. She had been thrown about 50 feet from the site of the accident. Thankfully, another abulance arrived promptly.
After returning to the hotel, we were out.
Saturday started our long trek home. Stopping at the same motel in Springfield along the way. We arrived home Sunday evening around seven with $38 left over from our budget. All in all, a good trip. Can't wait to do it again.
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