Where Are We Sleeping Tonight: Crowne Plaza Metro Hotel Today we walked over the bridge into Chicago where we took in the many sights the town has to offer. It was amazing to see the buildings that have been built right next to the river - they must have some good foundations! I was excited to see the Cicago Board of Trade, not because of what happens in the building, but because the exterior has been seen in so many great movies, from The Untouchables to Payback. Continuing the movie theme, we walked under the elevated train that was so integral to the action in The Fugitive.
After exploring a Books A Million book sale, we stumbled across the official start to Route 66. It is amazing to think that we started our American Adventure at the other other end of this famous road almost 2 months ago! We have seen so much and have so much more to squeeze in! Visiting the Millennium Park, we not only saw the Smurfit-Stone Building (featured in the Elizabeth Shue movie Adventures In Babysitting), but we also saw Cloud Gate (aka The Bean). Having taken the same photos as everyone else has taken, I decided to walk under The Bean and take a photo up inside it. I have no idea how they built this thing!
Walking around Chicago, it is wonderful to see the diversity n the architecture. From the numerous gothic inspired buildings, to the iconic Sears Tower, to the giant Marilyn Monroe statue - this city has a bit of everything. Continuing on our travels, we noticed a giant phone on a giant bone... what better sign post to the Museum of Contemporary Art is there? We visited the MCA Shop where we bought various funky things, including a plush toy Giant Microbe Herpes for a friend. It looks so cute and it is hysterically funny :)
We continued walking until we hit the coast, arriving at the Navy Pier, home to the Chicago Children's Museum. We walked around the Pier, tasting various treats and enjoying the atmosphere. With our feet asking us to give them a rest, we decided to catch a taxi back to our hotel.
Back at the hotel, we bumped into Emma and Dale, friends from back home whom we had planned to meet - funny how we just bumped into them though :) We organised to meet later on in the hotel bar for some drinks before heading out on the town.
After enjoying some drinks at the bar, we headed out for dinner, with Emma & Dale picking the restaurant. The food was nothing special, but the company made up for it. Next up we all squeezed into a cab and headed out to the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, the old hangout of Al Capone. Sadly they wouldn't let Clare in because she didn't have any ID on her - how ridiculously stupid! While we stood on the sidewalk trying to decide what to do, I witnessed the bouncer ask a group of senior citizens for ID! Apart from the fact that they are missing the point of the law, this is where Al Capone disrespected the laws frequently and they won't let us in to see the place! With a very bitter taste in our mouths, we headed back to the hotel.
Stupid Bouncer...still makes me mad a year later!
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