I didn’t make it into downtown Chicago until about 5 p.m. Amazingly, I barely got lost, and when I did finally get off the expressway to figure out where the heck I was, it turned out that exit was the right one.
So, that worked out.
I spent my evening wandering along the lakeshore, admiring the view of Lake Michigan and enjoying checking out the names of various boats. It’s incredibly humid here today, so everyone who owned a boat had apparently contacted everyone they knew and they were all out and about. Many were only somewhat dressed and posing on the bows of the boats in beer commercial-chic fashion.
The names of the boats on the lake and at the marina varied from the hilarious like the “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat” to the questionable “Skidmarks” to the poetic “Plainsong” to the very honest “My Anesthetic” to the variety of names, presumably ex-wives and mistresses’ monikers, that are standard to such things.
After having supper at one of the many outdoor lakeside/riverside cafes that were dotted along the waterways, I ambled alongside the river for awhile, and then went back to my hostel via Michigan Avenue, with stops in Millennium Park where I checked out The Bean, proper name “Cloud Gate,” and other public art and a lovely public garden.
The soundtrack for the evening was provided by a free concert that was going on in the park.
Then, because I have once again changed time zones and I plan to walk my feet off the next two days, I came back to rest and find some relief in the air conditioning of the hostel. But I’m already thrilled with Chicago and glad I have two full days to spend here.
My apologies for the iPhone only photos. My shoulders needed a break from carrying the full SLR.
Victoria Paterson 