Eveyone's kinda town!

Chicago is manageable and offers something for every visitor....and there are a lot here at the moment! Its weekend, there's a Vietnam Vet's twenty-fifth reunion, and a big ball game!! Although its a little humid at present, there's a breeze and it certainly feels cooler than the Southwest! Our Sunday walkabout began with a trip to an old favourite "The Corner Bakery", after which we meandered down Michigan Avenue to the river.

On the way we passed the magnificent (white) Wrigley Building....where there's no chewing gum on the pavement...with Trump Tower in the background! (Wrigley's started out selling flour and gave away the gum as a gimmick!)

We also passed the fabulous Gothic 'Chicago Tribune Building', the external walls of which boast original pieces taken (legally!) from other famous locations such as Edinburgh Castle, The Rome Forum etc. Reaching the river, you see instantly why Chicago has been so influential in the design of skyscrapers and are reminded of its many film locations.....from the 'overhead transport system' ("The French Connection") to the circular condo buildings that provided the model for the cartoon series "The Jetsons".

Next, we called in the Cultural Building for a 'to do' list and emerged with a host of free material. Then it was time to visit fabulous Millennium Park. This is much smaller than New York's Central Park, but it boasts beautiful gardens, magnificent contemporary (interactive) public art, an amazing outdoor auditorium, and the snake-like (BP) walkway (designed by Frank Gehry) which also serves to reduce traffic noise in the auditorium.

On the day, there was a rock concert organised for the Vietnam Vets during which there was some very straight speaking.....not everyone agreed with its substance, but people listened and were tolerant.....maybe that's what free speech is all about. We moved on to the River-walk and down towards the Navy Pier past some very neat apartments in a very desireable neighbourhood, calling into "Fox & Oble" for coffee and a browse through its grocery department, which is very nice but not for the cost-conscious! (Note to Keith...its a 'Wholefoods' clone without "Z Crackers"!!) It was then time to take refuge in the Crowne Plaza to skype the fair Jenny and plan 'dinner & tomorrow'! And now some music from today's concert....!