Smooth Ride

The trains in Chicago seem to be clean, fast and efficient. Although we haven’t seen very much yet, we already have a favorable impression of Chicago.
Getting Close

While the area looks like it’s becoming more urban, I see that the main city is still a bit off in the distance. I think that we’ll be there soon. We’re noticing that the train is getting moreMeer informatie
Thor?!

As soon as I saw this guy get on the train, it immediately made me think of the movie Adventures in Babysitting, which takes place completely in Chicago. In the movie, the young girl, Sara, is a bigMeer informatie
We’re Almost There!

According to the map hanging in the train, we’re nearly at the stop where we’re supposed to be getting off. Seeing the whole train system there on a map makes me think of the public transportationMeer informatie
We Made It!

We’re off the train and really in Chicago! This is a very famous theater that can be seen in so many movies. I really wanted to see it and now I discover that it’s at our subway station, just aMeer informatie
Potbelly

Now that we’re here in Chicago, hunger finally caught up with us and we had lunch at the Potbelly Sandwich shop, right next to the train station.
Hungry!

We were so hungry that we ate here before we even went to our hotel. It felt strange, walking into the restaurant with our luggage. It’s not the first time we did that though. I remember we did thatMeer informatie
Ready to Walk

Potbelly’s is a great sandwich shop that I wish had a greater presence back in New York. There are just a few of them but they are all located in Manhattan. I’d like it if the locations wereMeer informatie
Onward to Our Hotel

We don’t have far to go to get to our hotel and the sights that we see as we walk look amazing. This is what I always imagined Chicago to be like. The river running through the city makes ChicagoMeer informatie
Welcome to the Westin

We just got to our hotel, the Westin River North. Kathy’s checking us in while I’m looking around the lobby and taking panoramic photos, like this one. In one photo, you’re able to see theMeer informatie
Our View

Although I wish that we were on a higher floor, I really like the view we have from out of our window. I can’t wait to see how this scene looks at night!
Our Room

Our room is more spacious than we had expected and seems to be very comfortable. I’m sure that we’re going to be very happy here.
Groot Approves

Groot is also appreciative of the great view that we have from our window. We’ve stayed at some hotels that have had awful views. This is so much better!
So Comfortable!

Not content with just admiring the view, Groot now wants to try out the bed. It’s very comfortable! Now that we’re all settled in, let’s go out and see Chicago!
State/Lake

We’re back at State/Lake, the same train station where we got off a little while ago. It’s great to stay at a hotel that’s so close to the public transportation. It makes everything so much moreMeer informatie
Purple Line

The trains in Chicago look very similar to what we have in New York City but it seems odd to have them all outside. It might not be a bad thing though. Being outside seems to keep them a lot cleaner.
Creepy Chicago

We passed this building on the way into the city but I wasn’t quick enough to get a good picture of it. I’m glad that we’re passing it again. I don’t know what this building is but it looksMeer informatie
Chinatown

Like all big cities, Chicago has it’s own version of Chinatown. We came here hoping to find someplace nice to have dinner and maybe do a bit of shopping.
Dragons

Sites like this are so beautiful and really add a sense of character to the neighborhood. I’m always left wondering why New York’s Chinatown doesn’t have anything like this. It would give ourMeer informatie
So Empty

One thing that we didn’t expect was to see a Chinatown that’s so empty. Usually, Chinatown is a busy and crowded community. This neighborhood looks deserted.
The Gate

Gates, like this one, is another example of something that every Chinatown I’ve ever been to seems to have. It’s also an example of something else that New York’s Chinatown doesn’t have.
Won Kow

There’s several restaurants around here but not as many as we were expecting. I like the decorations on the lampposts. It really adds a lot of flavor to the neighborhood.
Chinese Guardian Lion

There’s always a few of these Chinese guardian lion statues around Chinatown, even at our Chinatown in New York. This might be the only decorative piece we have in common with all the otherMeer informatie
No Dinner Here

After checking out each of the restaurants in their small selection, Kathy decided that she didn’t want to eat here. Every restaurant was either empty or had just one or two diners. This was makingMeer informatie
Goodbye, Chinatown

I must say, I’m very disappointed by Chicago’s Chinatown. It’s so small and empty that it’s hardly even a neighborhood. Still, it’s not the worst Chinatown we’ve ever visited. That honorMeer informatie