Chicago - Part 1

So my trip from Manchester to Chicago was done as a family.  T and the girls continued from Chicago back home.  Bari picked me up at the airport. I know I've said this before, but I love that meeting people from the blogosphere isn't weird.  It feels like seeing an old friend...because really we are.  :)  

Our first stop, after checking into the hotel and handing over the keys to valet parking was to get lunch.  And I didn't take a picture of the place, so I don't remember the name.  I had my first taste of Chicago deep dish pizza.  It was yummy.  Bari and I shared a little-in-diameter pizza and got salads.  She was being so good drinking water and I sucked away at Coke.  


I had to take a picture of this.  
"The Purple Pig"
"Cheese, Swine, and Wine"

We walked the Magnificent Mile
aka Michigan Ave.

Saw the Chicago River.

The Bean!!

Our feet in The Bean

Navy Pier (obviously)

Road the big-ass ferris wheel at Navy Pier. 

My feet in Lake Michigan. 
It felt so good after all the walking and sweating in the humidity.

Dinner was fabulous.

Drinks here were fabulous - expensive but Godiva Chocolate Martini? Yum.

The view from the 96th floor was pretty awesome too. 
See the big-ass spiders? They were blowing in the wind on the outside of the window.
On the 96th floor.  Survival of the fittest.

See the Sears Tower with the white pokies on the top?
(Yes, I know it's the Willis Tower now. But it will always be the Sears Tower.)
(Also? Pokies is a technical term. I swear.)

On the way home we stopped to have sangria. Yes, a $15 martini wasn't enough. :)

Then on the way back to the hotel, Bari petted a horse who looked tired from pulling tourists around town for the evening.  


The next morning found us out for a 3-mile run at 8 a.m.  More to follow!!

Comments

  1. Jade @ Tasting GraceJuly 2, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    Oh this looks like so much fun! You're making me want to travel now!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chocolate GirlJuly 2, 2010 at 12:43 PM

    I love Chicago. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bacardi MamaJuly 2, 2010 at 2:20 PM

    From the look of the pizza, I'd say you ate at Gino's East. Just guessing. Can't wait to hear more. It's such a fun town.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BariJuly 2, 2010 at 5:10 PM

    Good guess, Nancy, but it wasn't Gino's East! (That was my backup plan.) We ate our pizza at Giordano's on Rush Street just a couple blocks off Michigan Ave.

    Kirsten was right, it was like I was picking up an old friend from the airport and like we'd known each other for years. I had a blast hanging out with Kirsten and showing her some of my favorite (albeit touristy) aspects of Chicago. Can't wait to do it again!

    ReplyDelete
  5. KarenaJuly 3, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    Sounds like you had a great time! Glad it was like getting together with an old friend when you met Bari -- that's how I like to think of us all!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Heather DJuly 5, 2010 at 5:13 PM

    After reading all your Chicago posts, I really want to go!! Looks like you had a great trip!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MendieJuly 6, 2010 at 9:36 AM

    Great pics....so glad you guys had a blast!

    ReplyDelete

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