Thursday, June 16, 2005
Day 21: Chicago
June 16: Boiling hot today again. Packed a box full of stuff to send via sea mail back to Australia (so mum, you should get it in 6 weeks time), so I headed afterwards to the post office to send it.
My morning and early afternoon was spent in the sun, relaxing, walking around Lincoln Park Zoo, which was free admission - I could have happily paid $10 or more to visit. I saw a range of animals including zebras, giraffe, leopard, hippo, rhinocerous, monkeys, the new apes exhibit, a variety of birds (eg kookaburra, flamingo, owl, hornbill, South American birds), penguins, sea lions, reptiles, bears and even polar bears swimming around in their water enclosure as it was so hot! Highlight: definitely seeing the polar bears!
Went into town to take in the glorious skyline view of Sears Tower. Queues were quite short, so I was up the tallest building in the USA in no time. Great views - similar to the John Hancock Building perspective the other night, but a daytime view instead - also reminded me of being at the top of Sydney's Centrepoint Tower.
The sun was shining, Lake Michigan was glowing, blue sky - it was heaven!
Went for dinner with my friend, Jason, before heading home to spend time with Gila, Joe and the family. Went passed the lake shore and beach area - lots of people were playing beach volleyball and dodgeball on the sand, as well as people running and rollerblading along the promenade. Very pretty area along Lake Shore Drive.
Didn't get time to do as much shopping as I would have liked, nor go to a Blues lounge to hear the music this area is known for, but at least that will give me something to do next time I visit!
Overall comment on Chicago - absolutely loved it, lots to see and do, great summer weather, good shopping... if it weren't for the freezing cold winter I hear so much about, I could easily live here.
My morning and early afternoon was spent in the sun, relaxing, walking around Lincoln Park Zoo, which was free admission - I could have happily paid $10 or more to visit. I saw a range of animals including zebras, giraffe, leopard, hippo, rhinocerous, monkeys, the new apes exhibit, a variety of birds (eg kookaburra, flamingo, owl, hornbill, South American birds), penguins, sea lions, reptiles, bears and even polar bears swimming around in their water enclosure as it was so hot! Highlight: definitely seeing the polar bears!
Went into town to take in the glorious skyline view of Sears Tower. Queues were quite short, so I was up the tallest building in the USA in no time. Great views - similar to the John Hancock Building perspective the other night, but a daytime view instead - also reminded me of being at the top of Sydney's Centrepoint Tower.
The sun was shining, Lake Michigan was glowing, blue sky - it was heaven!
Went for dinner with my friend, Jason, before heading home to spend time with Gila, Joe and the family. Went passed the lake shore and beach area - lots of people were playing beach volleyball and dodgeball on the sand, as well as people running and rollerblading along the promenade. Very pretty area along Lake Shore Drive.
Didn't get time to do as much shopping as I would have liked, nor go to a Blues lounge to hear the music this area is known for, but at least that will give me something to do next time I visit!
Overall comment on Chicago - absolutely loved it, lots to see and do, great summer weather, good shopping... if it weren't for the freezing cold winter I hear so much about, I could easily live here.
# posted by mishij @ 7:55 PM 
