ME III: Chicago!

· Maine Event

Saturday was a whirlwind. We got up early and took a bus to Boston. Then we waited there for a couple hours in the Amtrak lounge and then got on the 449 Lakeside train around noon. We arrived in Chicago 22 hours later at 10:10 on Sunday. We decided ahead of time to spend the night in a hotel in Chicago to give ourselves a break from the immobility of the train and to eat a real meal. Our hotel checked us in early and it is a wonderful space and such a treat to have a break from the cramped quarters with a shower not to mention the a break from train-ness of it all. Don't get me wrong we love the train but it is best in one or two-day stints even if you have a room.

We arrived at the perfect season on the perfect day. The high was 58° and the low was 37° and while there is wind it is not cold like the Pacific wind of summer in SF. This meant that we walked to the shore of Lake Michigan so we could say wow a few times and stand in wonder at the amazingness of that much fresh water. It looks like an ocean and has waves as large as the Atlantic Ocean on a calm day. Chicago is beautiful in so many ways and it has the Chicago River running right downtown like a street. Then it has the amazing Lake Michigan. The architecture adds a lot and there are art museums all over the place. After lunch, we went to the Art Institute and had a wonderful time there. Then we needed to nap and shower to regroup and ready ourselves for the next couple of days on the train. The weather this time in Chicago couldn't have been better. My only complaint is the air quality is pretty bad so I'm wheezy. Note: This is a two day blog as it was a day of travel and a day of fun.

Also just to say traveling through Massachusetts on a train takes a really long time. A surprisingly long time and so much of it is very rural and forested. Who knew?

Gorgeous roof in the metro lounge - the nice quiet lounging area in virtually all stations for people who have rooms on the train.
Boston metro lounge
Mass.
Chicopee River played along the tracks for a long way until it met up with the Connecticut River which was big.
Connecticut River
I love the colors of winter trees
For many miles, we had dense ground fog.
For miles and miles outside of Chicago there is heavy industry.
Imagine if one of your streets were to be a river! It's just magic.
The elevated metro trains also really add a lot of character to the city.
Large trainyard, the only one larger than this that I've seen is in Dalian, China and it is about twice as wide.
Skyline
Lake Michigan!
Look at that color
View from the hotel
Camera shop
Since 1899 !!!!!
Under the elevated rail
Gustave Caillebotte Paris Street, Rainy Day (1877), Art Institute of Chicago. We both really like Callebotte and this reminded us of seeing The Floor Planers at Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
The garden wall at the Art Institute (unfortunately the garden was closed).
The view from our other hotel window.
Hotel dining room. Check out that fringe and the colors oh my.
Chcago River at night
Home sweet home for one night.

There is really a lot of light in Chicago at night. Walking around here I keep thinking of my dad who loved Chicago.

Have a splendid night.

Sending oodles of love to all,

Tawnia

18 species over 2 days for this one, mostly from the train: