Chicago. Part 1

Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around, I love it
Bet your bottom dollar, you'll lose the blues in Chicago
                                                                   Frank Sinatra


It has been a few days since I updated the blog, for this I apologise

The fact is I have been too tired every night to even think of sitting down and writing
anything on the computer.

We arrived in Hammond, Indiana on Tuesday the 21 of August. It is a huge marina right next to the equally huge Horseshoe casino.It is about 14 miles from Chicago.

On Wednesday all the loopers got together and WALKED 1.6 miles across the state line to Illinois to buy tickets for the bus and train to Chicago.

The Loopers waiting for the Red Line to Chicago

When we arrived in downtown Chicago I was dumbstruck by the enormous skyscrapers, the incredible skyline and waterfront.

The landmark Chicago Theater on
State Street



 Magnificent Chicago's Skyline, it boasts three of America's five tallest buildings and,
if you include its antenna, the massive Sears Tower (Willis)
 remains the second tallest skyscraper in the world.

Marshall Field clock (now Macy's)

But....first things first; we had to eat, so I had my first deep dish Chicago pizza and it was great.

Mine had anchovies

After lunch we all headed to the tourist information building which is housed in the Cultural Centre.

The stainglass dome of the Cultural Center which used to be a library
Built in 1897 The largest Tiffany Glass dome in the world



The bull (cow?) by the horns

We ended our long day with a stroll through Millennium park.

Wrigley Square Greek style fountian where
I lost my ballance and almost fell in the water

Crown fountian - Interactive art.
Two 50 feet high black granite walls
 with duel screens playing a video,
depicting Chicago citizens who , when they pucker their mouths,squirts water.

Read more about it : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Fountain

Cloud Gate ( The bean)
a beautiful piece of art

Check it out online:
http://gochicago.about.com/od/attractionsandlandmarks/ss/millennium_park_6.htm

Chicago River

The next day Gary and I set off by ourselves. First stop was the Hancock building for a view of the city and then we went to Navy Pier.

154 feet Old Water Tower
One of the few buildings that survived the great fire

Spectacular view from The Hancock Centre
343,5 feet high
A very fast elevator takes 45 seconds to get you all the way up there

He doesn't like heights

Here we walked around all day and I even got Gary, who doesn't like heights much, on the famous Ferris wheel for a ride.

Navy Pier is 3,300 fooot long

Famous Billly Goat CHEEZBOGOUR
The curse of the Billy Goat was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a game against the Detroid Tigers at Wrigley Field because his pet goat's odor was bothering other fans. He was outraged and declared, "Them Cubs, they aren't gonna win no more," which has been interpreted to mean that there would never be another World Series game won at Wrigley Field.

Anchor from the USS Chicago - Navy Pier

Another long day walking in the hot Chicago sun and we were pooped.

Friday we stayed home and I cleaned the boat and did laundry while Gary had to lower the radar mast and antennas in anticipation of our trip through down town Chicago and all it's low bridges.

At Hammond Marina, Keith the harbour host, will drive you to the Hammond train station to catch the South Shore train into Chicago.  They go out of their way to help accommodate the Loopers at here, including offering a 2 for the price of 1 night stays, cheap fuel, free pump outs and of course a courtesy drive into town when ever they can.

Saturday we took the south shore train to the Museum campus station. From there we walked to the Shedd aquarium. ( About 1/4 of a mile)

The water front at Shedd Aquarium with Chicago skyline in the back

Adler planeterium - Moon rock

Fields Museum

SUE is the largest, most complete,
best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex in the world

After the aquarium we visited the Adler planetarium and ended the day at the Fields Museum.

Yes, another long and busy day , but a day we enjoyed very much and will remember for a long time.

The wonderful harbour host picked us up again at the train station and brought us back to the marina.

We ended the evening with a visit from SV Flying Free and we sat on the flybridge and watched the fire works from Navy Pier, 14 miles away.