It was worth it! For the free eats, of course, but also for the trip on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, looking up at all the tall buildings. Chicago is the "Second City" not, I discovered today, because it's one behind NYC but because it was all burned down by fire and this is their next attempt. I also learned the difference between Beaux-Arts and International Style architecture, although I've forgotten that now. The cookies were great.
We sauntered up and down Michigan Avenue, and washed up again at Portillo's. No Italian Beef this trip, we were there for the Chicago-style hot dogs. It's a normal hot dog, but covered in every relish, pickle and sauce that you can think of (although I've just found the Wiki page that gives full, in-depth morphological details). It was...interesting, but improved by the frozen goblet of beer we ordered with it.
Then it was onward to the Chicago Blues Festival, the biggest in the world, they claim. We'd been on our feet for around 14 hours (possibly) by this point, so picked a shady spot and let the guitars, pianos and harmonicas wash over us somewhat. It was really hot. So, probably sooner than we should have, we were back at our hostel and out for an early dinner. But what a dinner! At Cumin, a Nepalese-Indian restaurant, and finally a decent onion bahji and chicken jalfrezi, almost on a par with the British originals.
Our boat, ready and waiting.
Cookie, muffin, coffee, but it's still early.
Out through the lock gate and onto Lake Michigan.
Leaving the city in our wake.
Hannah admires the skyline.
And what a skyline it is!
Back onto the Chicago River. This is the Trump Tower, which used to be one of the world's tallest buildings.
Oh yeah, there's also a free stained glass museum here. How's this for an 1890s special effect? Before...
And after! Gabriel appears to annunciate Mary.
Hannah checks out property. Amazingly, city centre Chicago is a lot more sensible than most of the Bay Area. But no Chevron hereabouts.
The tall John Hancock building.
It's Mr Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!
But he was only trying to get us in here, and it sure isn't Cadbury's.
At the base of Trump.
Chicago hot dog and beer.
Down at the busy blues festival.
Hannah steals a sneaky kip.
Bluesman busking.
A little cheesy-caramel snack to keep her going until dinner.
And what a dinner it was! I'm tempted to relocate on the strength of this alone.
