A Visit to Chicago City.

It was our intention all along to go into the city, but we had to figure out how to do it.

The research we did yesterday was only partly right.

After a normal kind of breakfast and waiting out the forecast rain, we decided to go for the 10.35 bus to China town. Armed with our raincoats and not much more, we made our way back to the Casino from where we would catch the bus. First we had to buy our tickets. The bus to Chinatown leaves every hour, so that was the only place we could get to. Buses from the city to the casino leave only late afternoon into the evening. They were not the ones we would have to worry about, however. We arrived early and hung around inside the gaming floor, watching people gamble. We have no idea how to play any of the games, but it makes for a fun spectator sport...if only they didn't all smoke! ack!

We heard a frightening statistic on the news yesterday....1 in 5 Americans smokes! Too many for my liking.

Buying our tickets at the Valet desk just inside the casino, we then made our way to the bus passenger holding area, and were told which bus was going to Chinatown. We waited for the driver, and the other (mostly Chinese and black) passengers to board before finding ourselves seats. Not knowing how we were going to get from Chinatown into the city, we had some research to do when we got there.

 The Gate to Chinatown.

 Chinese Pastries!

 Of course we had to go into this store. Didn't buy anything, but found a whole truck load of things we would have LIKED to buy.

 Couldn't resist this sign! I should have had one of these a looooong time ago. lol.



Street stall outside a shop. There is SO much of this kind of thing  in this district.

 A Slab on the pavement.

 Live fish in one of the many Chinese grocery stores. The tank was not very clean and there were some dead fish in the top.

 This is where we ate lunch!

 The 9 Dragon Wall just outside the Subway.

First up, though, it was time for lunch. We walked down the dirty streets of Chinatown to find a restaurant that looked clean enough to eat in. After looking in on a couple of bakeries and marveling at the pastries....many of which looked familiar from my time in Hawaii... we stopped at a small bakery/restaurant to order lunch. Combination Fried Rice and General Tso's chicken was the best we have ever eaten! WOW! Got to get the real deal!

Tummies satisfied...we ate the whole lot... and good thing we did too, as it turned out!, we ventured forth onto the streets. Eventually we found the Chinatown Library...part of the Chicago Library system, but all the books were in Chinese! The librarian was very helpful and gave us a map of the city and train schedule. She also pointed us in the direction of the subway to get into town and made recommendations as to which stop we might like to get off at.:)

So, we got on the 'L' into the middle of the Theatre District and got off at Monroe Station.

We got on at Cermak/Chinatown.

  and ascended the stairs at Monroe station.

 Our first look at Chicago!

 

 Our first look at the public Artworks that we found were everywhere....as were the gardens:)

 Chase Tower is bent! (middle building)

 I love these hydrangeas.

 More DIY bikes. Love these. Chicago is one of the bike friendliest cities in the USA.

 This is Chase Plaza. Love the garden and the Mosaic.

Of course all this touristy thing is very thirsty work, so we had to stop in at Peet's for a superb Latte When they found out we were from NZ, they were very welcoming and hoped we enjoyed their city. Not one of  them spoke American English!

 The food is all made on the premises!

 I thought I might someday try making some of these!...without all the white sugar on top.

 and we were somewhat disturbed to find that the corner newspaper man has been replaced by a metal dispenser!

Note the large steel structure down the middle of the street? rail!

 Taken on the fly, while crossing the street.

 Fascinating skyline

 with Trump Tower at the end

 We made our way to Grant Park.

 I love the parks and gardens in the middle of cities. They are generally well used.

 The glass blocks have projected images on them. Water comes out of the mouth of the photo. Kids were playing in front of them...getting wet, but having fun. It was hot!

 Fabulous Sculpture in Grant Park.

 This fellow was in his own world doing Tai Chi.

 The Edible Gardens were throughout Grant Park. No signs to say who could or couldn't harvest the food!

 More edible garden surrounding this peaceful and gorgeous sculpture.

 Finally!! I get to see The Bean! Yes! This iconic Sculpture is in the Millennium Park, right next to Grant Park.

 This rose bush was in amongst the food in the garden.

 The back side of the sculpture.

 No kidding...that's us! :) not the most flattering photo !!!

 The city skyline is reflected in  The Bean. There I am at far right. White shorts, red shirt.

 and in the middle of it....this!

 The Jay Pritzker Pavillion for outdoor concerts.

 Love it!

 The map of the Park.

The Art Institute of Chicago

 Looking towards Lake Michigan and the City Marina

 The Art Institute from the Lurie Garden. The garden is on it's last legs of summer.

 Looking west from the Lurie Garden, over the Pritzker Pavillion to the skyline.

 This decorative feature of the Lurie Garden was popular.

 The tree looks like an Oak, but this acorn was nothing like anything we had seen before. Beautiful!

 We walked the Serpentine as far as we could. The balance of it was closed due to construction of more park!

 Construction of the new park.

 Roosevelt and Columbus

 The Cancer Memorial Garden gates.

 The iconic Radisson Hotel

 Roosevelt looking back to the city

We walked for about 5 hrs all up, and decided after coming this far, that it was time to head home. More and more people were on the sidewalks and it was obviously getting to be home time for the city at large.

We had to get back to Monroe and the Red Line to get back to Chinatown. In the meantime we were dying of thirst. This necessitated finding a shop that sells water. We happened upon a market, and saw this view from the top of the escalator. Lovely little park!

 The coffee shop sold water, fortunately and allowed me to take photos too:)

 Love the artwork!

 and the décor in general.

We sat outside the coffee shop and relaxed for 15 mins and watched the comings and goings in the park, and just enjoyed our surroundings. We had to  move on...a bit exhausted, to tell the truth! Sensory overload!
In a garden on the way back to Roosevelt, we found these lovely grasses.

 and this garden at the entry to the Aon Building.

 and needed to go to the toilet, so Macy's looked obvious!

 The Atrium is fabulous!

 including and especially the mosaic ceiling.

 The clock on the Macy's building.

Chinatown from the subway station.

 We had 45 mins to fill in before catching the Casino bus back to well, the Casino of course. The bus filled up as we went to all the Chinatown stops, and there was almost no standing room. We surmised that it was pay day! Lots of people going to gamble, tonight.

This was rush hour on the freeway going east. We joined the Indiana Toll Way, where there was little traffic and made good time all the way back to Hammond.

 This is the bridge over the Cal/Sag Canal which we will be motoring along come Sunday...all going well.

 Looking through the bus window going south, the Cal/Sag canal. It is the industrial canal, and we have to go through here because we are too tall to go through the middle of Chicago on the Chicago River. Bummer!

 The Cal/Sag looking north.

 And we are home!'

We were so glad to be back. It was hot and humid so we put the air con on in the boat. We dined on leftover lamb curry (thank goodness for left overs! and had a quiet night.