The Windy City

Anything but.

A very pleasant 28 degrees was awaiting our landing, after a thoroughly ordinary flight. We got in about 15 minutes ahead of schedule, which was good but by the time they had managed to get the air bridge to us, it was a good 30 minutes before we joined the queue for customs. 35 minutes later we were through and watching for our luggage on the carousel, only to spot our cases in a batch at the side. Apparently that is what they do over in the US, take them off when the next flight comes in, so we were watching cases from Rome going round.

We made it, in a circuitous fashion, to the CTA train platforms and boarded the blue line, alighting at La Salle, about 0.5 mile from the hotel. The hotel, the Congress Plaza is right by the Clarence F Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the largest in the world. Our room overlooks it and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The hotel itself is, let’s say, of a period. Old fashioned, some may say dated but with some nice old wood panelled furniture. I wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but certainly not too bad.   

Having done some unpacking, we took a walk north, towards the Chicago river, where we checked out the tour boats, for the Architectural River Tours, These  river cruisers take you up and down the river showing you the best of what Chicago has to offer in terms of skyscrapers and other ornate buildings. That’ll be something for Tuesday though, as they were all booked for the day.

We walked down towards the lake a bit and then back whence we had come, stopping in a Pot Belly Sandwich shop for our tea/dinner. My first meal on US soil, a pulled pork sandwich washed down with root beer! We then made our way back to the hotel, via the public library, a massive ornate building, which is hard to believe it’s a library, given the marble flooring it has everywhere. We had a little tour round, took some photos and then went back to our room. Whilst Ms Dozey was getting ready for bed, I hit the fitness room and did 3 miles on the runner.

Tomorrow will be a full on sightseeing day, starting off with breakfast at Lou Mitchell's restaurant, one of Route 66’s most famous Chicago landmarks, It’s been serving travellers since 1949, so should be well worth a visit for a slice of history and some waffles.  Until tomorrow.

Windy Ciy, my arse!