Spring 2023

CHICAGO!

I know this is not Europe, but we had to start from somewhere so why not Chicago. I mean there are two baseball teams there and there is the Bean. Whenever we asked our friends what to do in Chicago they all answered first with “The Bean”. Now I could not wrap my head around why something called the bean, and resembling a large coffee bean would be so exciting. In fact I was dissing the fact that something of this sort was the most important thing to see. But, was I wrong. The Bean is not to be missed.

The reflections from all different sides are the big draw, and we are told it is also spectacular at night.

We have a week in Chicago, and it is the first time here together. So lets start with the baseball.

Guaranteed Rate field the home of the Chicago White Sox. Nice enough stadium. Rather new, and not much history, and it was cold. There was a nice mural on the way out:

Next up is Wrigley field home of the Chicago Cubs. A stadium with lots of history. Built in 1914, it is the second oldest park next to Fenway park in Boston.

Now this day was one of the coldest while we were in Chicago. I don’t think the temperature surpassed 40 degrees in the sun on this day. Something two from the west coast did not appreciate. And our seats were not in the sun!

Here are some shots of the skyscrapers of Chicago.

The one in the middle is particularly interesting contrast between the old church and the newer high-rise. But one can only take so many pictures of skyscrapers. So we went on a search for Chicago murals. And there is a lot there, although finding them can be a bit difficult.

This is a good time to mention that the transportation system in Chicago is really superb. You can get a Ventra card at almost any major stop and add funds on it from a credit card and go just about anywhere. For $2.50 a person can go on bus, tram, or train to any stop far or near. We primarily used this method in Chicago.

At one point in our search for street art we ran into old friends,