It was unseasonably cold for July (sweatshirt weather), but we were just happy it didn't rain.
I love how all of my senses are stimulated when I travel to an environment that's outside of my normal ho-hum routine. My stepdaughter was quick to notice some of the back alley garbage smells that drifted to seemingly clean streets. We assured her it was normal.
Here are the views from the Sears Tower (Still seems weird to call it Willis Tower). It was a cloudy day so we couldn't see four states like you're supposed to, and it was an hour and half wait. We played several rounds of 20 questions while we were in line. It's a good game for a ten year old.
View of Shedd Aquarium and museums
Chicago River
Windy city means getting wet by the blowing fountain!
Impromptu chess game
We had a beautiful window bench with plush cushions in our hotel room. Perfect spot to take a nap or people watch. I liked watching how confused people got at this particular crosswalk.
Shedd Aquarium. GOBS of people because it was a Saturday in the middle of summer, but we spent the entire day and saw just about everything. This is a humongous crab.
Anaconda...I'm really surprised I didn't have nightmares that night.
Can you see him??
Jellies! These had to be the most inspiring creatures of all. No blood, brains or bones, but living creatures that are 95% water and sting their prey. It was a hectic day absorbing all kinds of facts but the exhibit talked about how millions of these came together, preventing some form of pollution in the ocean. I wish I remembered more. I just remember being awed.
The sea otter was a favorite of ours! They're so playful (and fast). It was hard to get a good pic of them.
We had the chance to touch the stingrays. They were soft and a little squishy. I was surprised by how playful they were. We laughed at how many of them flocked to my stepdaughter but flapped away my husband's hands.
The aquariums are soothing to watch (minus the 20 people bumping into you).
The Shark tank
Captured this pic during our evening speedboat ride on Lake Michigan. As the sun set, the city lights dotted our view.
My camera was having fuzzy-ness issues but I kind of like the effect in this pic.
Cloud gate at Millenium Park. I had fun taking creative pics with this sculpture. It's one big mirror.
Our reflection. Where's Waldo? Can you see us? I learned to not put the camera in front of my face.
Fountain at Millenium Park. This place is a blast for little ones on a hot day.
Nap time on the window bench.
Whenever I come home after a trip like this, I not only feel rejuvenated and happy, but I get a better view of my life. Travel is like the zoom function of a camera. I live in this world, but my zoom is always fixated on the autumn tree on the left side of the picture. It's pretty, it's nice, I know all the angles and nuances of that tree, much like my daily life. But if I can zoom out and see the whole picture, I get a new perspective. Better yet, if I can zoom in on the trickling brook on the right side of the picture, I start to think differently and how it fits in relation to the tree. I can see how that one broken branch on the tree needs to be trimmed or better yet, how magnificent that autumn tree really is. My perspective blossoms. I don't know if it's how the neurons fires in more parts of the brain as different areas are stimulated by new and unusual environments or if the mind just needs the flexibility of a "zoom function" from time to time.
I'm awed by this world, and the array of places that exist. The big cities, the people there I rarely come in contact with in my mid-sized conservative town, different transportation (hey-taxis were fun for us!), new ways of thinking, the city noises, and changing up your schedule for a few days. And you don't have to travel halfway across the world for this. We drove three hours.
So long Chi-town. We shall return!
So glad you could go = and share those new experiences with Taylor = You kept me interested and made me want to go!!
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to see and do in Chicago! I used to take my daughters there every summer for a week. We stayed with my college roommate and every year we'd go to Great America and shop at Woodfield Mall, but other than that we'd visit different places every year. Great pictures!
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