Mon 28th
Went on very circuitous bus trip to the Shedd Aquarium and still ended up with quite a walk – we realised it would have been quicker to walk from the hotel across the park! However. The Aquarium was brilliant. We all love fish and aquariums, and especially liked the coral reef display and the Beluga whales. We had lunch and saw the dolphin show, then Ed and I and Mum and Dad went with Jenny on the River Taxi. We had intended to go to navy Pier, but when we saw an Architecture Cruise advertised which had been recommended to us by Kathy, we took the tour. Very enjoyable and informative, with lovely views of the waterfront from the lake and the river and a history of Chicago’s development thrown in. We went home on the underground train, not the El. Met up with the Maddisons again and had a train trip back into the more central area for dinner at a restaurant they’d previously eaten at. Good food after a short wait.
Tues 29th
After group breakfast as usual Jenny came with us to the town centre on the underground train, where we had tickets to go up the Hancock Centre to the 96th floor viewing area. The lift gave no real impression of speed, though our ears popped. The views were splendid – down Michigan Ave, back towards Gary, Indiana round the coast, and up the coast to the beach resort area. After lots of photos we came down and had cheese cake at the factory in the basement of the building, as recommended by Mike and Connie. We enjoyed it, but weren’t bowled over. The building was worth visiting, for its quirky gold embellishments everywhere, even the ladies’ loos.
We then walked down the Magnificent Mile, past all the famous shops – Bloomingdales; Sachs; Tiffany, etc. We did some window shopping, but didn’t buy the shoes reduced to only $100 in the sale. We saw a spectacular multi-caked wedding cake with adjoining icing bridges in one shop window.
We realised what an opportunity we’d missed. After a good walk we picked up the free trolley bus back to the hotel and met up with the Maddisons, who’d been to the zoo in Lincoln Park. Trained back into the city to an area they’d discovered and had meal in posh restaurant frequented by the famous. Lovely seafood – best mussels I’ve had. As it began to rain as we came out, we jumped in a taxi to get home and save more wet walking after a strenuous day.
Wed 30th
Our last day in Chicago. After group breakfast we all walked across the park to the Field Museum of Natural history (and ethnology). Wonderful museum again – we all loved it. We toured Africa, American birds, native Americans, geology and jewels and a number of other sections before lunch in the café, then did the Egypt tour with Georgia and Jake – good artefacts, not a great tour guide, but the kids enjoyed it.
After viewing the dinosaurs and a whistle stop through sections we couldn’t deal with that day, we took off on a water taxi again to Navy Pier, where we strolled amongst the holiday makers like at Blackpool, then when we got too hot, went inside and thoroughly enjoyed the Museum of Stained Glass Windows.
Train back to the hotel, where we met with the rest of the family for a farewell dinner in our hotel restaurant, sitting outside on the sidewalk. Lovely evening and excellent food – we may have eaten in more if we’d realised!
