Chicago – Day 1 Exploring the downtown

This trip has been in the planning for at least a year. Many people say to us, “Why Chicago?”… and the answer is far to big for a simple reply. I started dreaming of Chicago when I discovered online the Smith Museum of Stained Glass at Navy Pier. Had to see that! We knew nothing else about this city until we started researching and discovered a kazillion things to do. So plans were made with our good friends, Maneau and Jake and the day finally came to fly west.

The weather was beautiful when we arrived. Clear blue skies and 20+ degrees. We landed at O’Hare and easily found the subway to the downtown ($5 – can’t beat that). As we emerged from the subway, we realized the Chicago Marathon was in full swing. 40,ooo runners and all their fans. There were half a million people crowding the street and cheering wildly. We were a bit early to check into our apartment so we found a great lunch spot at Chicago 11 (the burgers are to die for). After lunch we wove our way through the crowds and waited patiently for a chance to cross Michigan Ave. to our apartment building (quite an experience – 40,000 runners!). Finally! We walked into to our apartment on the 28th floor just at the south end of Millennium Park, and entered the world of the rich and famous. This place is fantastic. What a view!

We unpacked and gathered ourselves together and set out for a walking tour through Millennium park and all the way down the Magnificent Mile. Oooohs and Awwwws all the way, camera shutter finger in full action and smiles abounding. We are in Chicago! We walked and walked until our feet hurt. Saw many places that we made a mental note of for returning later.

After six hours of walking, back to the apartment to freshen up for supper. This time we took a cab to Pizano’s on Madison Ave. My very first deep dish pizza and was it EVER good! I had hot peppers and anchovies on mine – much to the amusement of the waitress. What a wonderful day, full of so much discovery and promises of even better things to come. Chicago is My Kind of Town! Here is the day in images: