Saturday, June 27, 2009

VACATION IN A DAY

It's amazing how sometimes a one-day jaunt can really make it seem like you had a big vacation.  I highly recommend thinking in these terms.

Some day-trips can be free, and others not.  We chose the "not" this time, and spent one day in Chicago.  It was a very pleasant day indeed.  Chicago is such a congenial city with an atmosphere of friendliness and general well-being!


Visiting my parents allowed us to drive to South Bend, where we caught the old South Shore train for a 2 1/2 hour ride straight into the heart of Chicago.  My Younger Son and I had planned a perfect itinerary which gave us the following:

We rode the elevated train to the Sears Tower area.


We went up into the Sears Tower.


We enjoyed watching the interaction between a large Amish group and the "big city" employees there.  Young employees were taking photos of families for the official Sears Tower photo (which the Tower would try to sell us later); I whispered to the young man that the Amish might not like to have their photos taken.  He was startled, but didn't really care.  After herding the 15 into a reasonable group, and being ready to take the photo, the Amish patriarch finally realized the intent, and politely put a stop to that;  but I'm not sure he ever did understand WHY they wanted to take a photo in the first place.  It WAS very disconcerting to me too!

I do not have a photograph of that incident.

We ate our packed lunch in a beautified area amongst the skyscrapers.


Then with a self-guided tour in hand, we walked the financial district and the shopping district with architecture in mind.

The Daley Plaza (Picasso)



Tiffany Mosaic Dome--the largest of its kind--on the ceiling of the former Marshall Field's Department Store


The Great Clock at Marshall Field's


The Rookery, remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907.


We got on a city bus, went to Navy Pier, and sailed on a tallship.


My two sons helped to hoist the sails.


We ate at a restaurant that served excellent gluten-free food for us, spent a very fast time at the Art Institute, and slept much of the way home on the train.



5 comments:

  1. How wonderful. I want to sail on a tall ship some day! The Art Institute is one of the best in the country.....I love Chicago at Christmas. You are making me nostalgic!

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  2. I loved Navy Pier. I don't like the Sears tower that much anymore. I get an uncomfortable feeling going up those elevators. We are the only family John has around here. My sister has power of attorney. Looking back I can see where we should have been much more aggressive about the whole thing, but we didn't know!! It makes me sick. What if they let him go long enough that his mind is gone now? No one ever consulted us about restraining him! It's terrible and awful. My sister is gone right now with something she planned and paid for a long time ago so we have to wait till she comes home and then we are going down to do SOMETHING! ANYTHING! We should have had him back in our area a long time ago!! Can you tell I'm a little upset?!

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  3. ahhhhhh, the Art Institute. One of my favorite places on the planet. I hope you waved hi to the Young Girl at an Open Half-Door for me.  

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  4. mornin glorie...I'm over from Old Hats place...because I too am a chickadee feeder - very clever handle there....then I had to search all your chicago pics to see if my daughters were in them - they moved to chi 3 years ago from north ga.  They say the people are great there after the winter thaw....We went last fall and I loved it too - but I didn't know you could sail the tall ships Very nice tour ms. chickadee feeder...oh nice hats too....have a great fourth!!!!  Marsha

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  5. Wow, great mosaics and my boys would love the tall ship. If we ever manage to visit friends in Illinois we'll head that way. A gluten-free meal out without fuss sounds so good

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