Back to our road trip...
and the city of Chicago.
It was an urban adventure...
one we really enjoyed.
Since taking a motor home into the city center is not advisable...
we hopped on a commuter train and rode the rails in.
Then we did a hop-on / hop-off tour with Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co.
It was most educational.
Our first stop was Millennium Park...
...which is known as the world's largest roof-top garden.
It sits on top of a parking garage and a commuter rail station.
One would never know!
It is also where 'The Bean' (otherwise known as Cloud Gate) is situated.
The Bean is a sculpture of highly polished stainless steel which was completed in 2006.
It's a popular place for photo-taking...
with the Chicago sky-scape mirrored on the sculpture!
Jan Kanoko's ceramic sculptures were a featured exhibit at the park during the summer months.
I have no clue what they represented.
Not too far away...
is a more permanent display of 106 iron sculptures...
called Agora (meaning 'the meeting place').
They are nine feet tall and each weigh 1100 pounds.
They are the work of a Polish artist...
with the three million dollar cost being absorbed by the Polish government and by donors.
Interesting.
Strange.
It's not my kind of art.
A Chicago landmark is the Michigan Ave. Bridge....
a drawbridge that has been used since 1920.
Chicago has its yellow taxis as well...
on the river.
I was pleasantly surprised with the abundance of flowers and planters throughout the city.
Also on Michigan Avenue...
we saw some 15 different ' Chia Heads'...
all sprouting blooms.
They are the work of a non-profit group...
that hope to encourage passersby to think of the environment.
Segways seemed the transportation of choice for many in the city!
Our tour had a stop at the famous Wrigley Field...
which has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916.
It is among the smallest and oldest major league ballparks...
was the last one to have lights installed for play after dark (1988)...
and is known for the iconic red marquee over the main entrance.
We can say we saw it...
though watching a ballgame there would have been a little more special!
Let me tell you a little of what I recall about the buildings of Chicago.
I have some photos in my file that I can no longer identify...
so you won't be seeing those. :)
The Willis Tower.
It was being the tallest building in the world...
when it was completed in 1973 and for some 25 years after.
It was known as the Sears Tower at that time.
Marina City...
more commonly known as the corn cob buildings...
is a double tower high-rise residential/commercial complex.
It was the first building in the United States to be built with tower cranes.
It was completed in 1964.
A recent addition to the skyscrapers of Chicago is...
the Aqua Tower.
The wave-like formed balconies are all part of the nautical theme.
It is the tallest building in the world to have had a woman as the lead architect.
It is 82 stories high....
a mix of office, retail, hotel and residential space.
And then there is the Trump International Hotel and Tower...
completed in 2009.
If you watched Apprentice in its very first season you will recall that the winner...
Bill Rancic...
chose to manage the construction of this building.
And here is a building that has been featured in many movies...
home to the Chicago Tribune and completed in 1923.
Its neo-gothic design was the result of a architectural competition...
and features ornate buttresses at the top.
Another historic landmark is the Carbon and Carbide building erected in 1929.
It is now the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago.
The gold-leaf tower reflects the sunlight...
and is illuminated every night.
Quite beautiful!
Chicago is located along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan.
We hopped off our tour...
and spent some time at the lake shore.
The Navy Pier is Chicago's number one tourist attraction.
We could tell!
We had Garrett's popcorn...
watched the people...
and the boats.
We were there while the Tall Ships Festival was happening.
This was our parting shot of a lovely city...
one that had no wind while we were there.
I'm not a city girl...
but I liked Chicago!
Though we bade the city farewell...
we had forgotten that we would be back in a few weeks time.
Our flight home had a five-hour layover in Chicago.
What would we do for five hours in O Hare airport?
We would find the Garret popcorn kiosk...
get a good supply of Chicago-mix popcorn...
and settle in for a long session of Rook.
We soon discovered that the popcorn and cards did not mix!
Yummy...but messy.
And that is Chicago...
as we saw it in August of 2013.
And that is Chicago...
as we saw it in August of 2013.
