Saturday, April 24, 2010

Chicago.....the Wonderful City

I truly did not mean to wait so long between posts, but it has been a hectic week around here.  I guess it is the price we pay for having a fun time away.

As I said before, we love Chicago.  A big city is so much fun to visit.  We have Los Angeles fairly close to us, but it is certainly not a city one would choose to go for a visit.  Everything is so spread out in L.A.  which is completely different from Chicago, Boston or New York.  The public transportation makes it easy to get around and the walking is fabulous.  As well, the food is to die for!!!!

We visited the Chicago His*tory Museum which was so interesting.  The one thing that really bothered me there was undisciplined school children.   Why is it that some teachers and escorts cannot keep their charges from ruining others visits?  We actually complimented one teacher who had complete control of her students, even to the point of telling one young lady that it was not ladylike to hop down a stair. 


We were able to catch the Matis*se exhibit at the Art Institute.  Although it is not my type of art, I can see the significance of his work. 

Prior to visiting the Art Institute we walked around Mil*lenium Park.  It was a glorious day with temperatures in the 80s and everyone was out enjoying the sunshine.  The trees were in full bloom and the flowers were stunning.








This is what the Chicago folks call "The Bean".  It is a huge mirrored kidney shaped bean in the park which reflects the surrounding buildings.  It was fascinating.



As well we saw this fellow on stilts.  Guess where he was going.  You won't believe it, but he was heading to L.A. on stilts!!!!!  Are you kidding me?????  I wanted to go tell him that I was going to beat him, but figured that I best let him keep on moving since he had a long trip in front of him.  I keep meaning to "go*ogle" him and see where he is.


The tulips along Michigan Avenue were nothing less that breathtaking.  They go on for miles down the middle of the road and on both sides.  Everywhere, there were flowers blooming.  The heat just made them all pop at once.













Another very fun street to walk down was Dearborn Avenue.  They have many of the older homes there and they were just gorgeous.




This one was for sale.






Of course we had to stop at this store....they were giving free samples too!!!!


The Chicago River....the one they dye green on St. Patrick's Day.

As you can see, it is a fabulous city to visit.  Coming home is also wonderful and there is nothing like your own bed waiting to be crawled into.

25 comments:

  1. So many flowers! The photos are beautiful. I didn't realise Chicago was a pretty place!

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  2. What nice photos you showed to capture the essence of Chicago for those of us who have never been there! Thanks!

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  3. I love that city.
    So much nice old houses.
    Will you buy that one that is for sale...........
    And so many tulips.
    Where are they came from
    from holland I think. Here we have in our neighbourhood many fields with tulips. they picked the flowers of to grow the bulbs for export.
    But first it is nice to see all that great fields.
    This week I will made some pictures for you.
    Have a great sunday
    Dorine

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  4. I never visualized Chicago being so pretty. Lots of flowers!!

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  5. Love the "bean"!!!!!! it is so quirky!

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  6. For some reason, I never thought of Chicago as being such a pretty city! I guess they don't show the good parts in movies!! lol I so enjoyed looking at all your pictures, from your previous post as well. It certainly does look like the kind of place I love to visit. Look at all those tulips, how wonderful!!

    Were you able to find out more about that guy on stilts? People who can walk on stilts have always amazed me, I fall when I wear high heels! lol

    I know what you mean about undisciplined school children in a public place. Some teachers just have no control at all. It doesn't help that some of these children are not disciplined at home either!!

    That "bean" is so very neat and I just love the way it reflects everything around it. I've seen a lot of outside displays but never a mirrored bean:-)

    There's a Hershey store in Niagara Falls as well and we always stop in to have a free treat! hehe Some times it's a piece of fudge, other times it's a chocolate dipped strawberry:-)

    I wonder what that home went for? How I'd love to live in a place like that. I so love old houses with character and history!!

    Hope your weekend is going well:-) I've been busy pricing stuff for the yard sale I'm making next weekend. It's such a lot of work, I just don't know why I talked myself into making another one!! lol xoxo

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  7. I love the trip photos, really enjoyed the train station ones as well, wow!!
    The Easter photos of the grandy's were lovely, looks like a great time, can't buy those kind of memories! lots of love, Tracey

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  8. I was looking out for the second part of your post from Chicago. They are great photos. It's convince me that I must try to visit Chicago one of these days - Thanks for being a good ambassador for the place - Hugs Nat

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  9. Thank you Mary for sharing your trip with us. What beautiful buildings and tulips. I just love tulips. Must be my Dutch heritage.

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  10. Thanks so much for your nice comments on my blog! Your trip to Chicago looks wonderful! I've not been there for about 9 years. Wow...free samples at the Hershey store! That would be the highlight of the entire trip for me!!

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  11. Chicago is beautiful, all those flowers and beautiful buildings. You've had a wonderful trip,loved all your photos.Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Okay, you've convinced me that I must make a trip to Chicago - only in the spring (or maybe fall). No thanks on winter or summer! Beautiful pictures!

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  13. I was just over at Louise's and realized you might like to have a copy of the cd, too - if you send me your mailing address, I'll send you one!

    Send it to my email address, of course.

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  14. wow! what a wonderful trip1
    the flowers are breathtaking!

    that "bean" is interesting! Neat houses there!

    Hersheys and free samples? yummo!
    green river eh? thats neat!

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  15. It has been yrs since I have been to Chicago. We took our 8th grade school trip to those museums. I loved it.
    Your photos are so breathtaking.
    Thanks for sharing them.
    I sounds like a lot of fun but I agree with you it is nice to sleep in your own bed.

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  16. I went to Chicago once and had a blast. You saw much more than I did, though, as I didn't see "the bean."

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  17. Love all the flowers. Isn't spring wonderful. Did you bring any samples to share. What a fun place to visit. Love those old houses.

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  18. Wow. I love all of your photos. Beautiful place but you are so right, there is nothing like coming home to your own bed.

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  19. Thanks for taking me to Chicago! ;o) Beautiful city! Cheers!

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  20. I enjoyed touring Chicago with you.
    The last picture looks like Canary Wharfe here in the East End of London.
    The 'bean' looks like a motor cyclists helmet.

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  21. What beautiful pictures! It looks like I will have to plan a trip to Chicago in the near future. We are always looking for places to vacation. Thank you for the tour.

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  22. I need to visit Chicago! Your posts have made me realize that my uncle's invitation to visit, should not be passed up. Last time I visited was when I was 12. I think it's time to see what's new. :-) I love those flower pics!

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  23. I too love Chicago but I guess I am a little partial! Your great pictures really capture it! Thanks!

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  24. I just stopped by to say hello and notice I haven't yet commented on this post.
    They do such a beautiful job with the flowers in Chicago! The tulips are glorious.
    I'd love to see "The Bean". What a remarkable art work is it!
    The old buildings are so elegant. Looks like a fascinating city to visit. Our daughter was there with her husband for a wedding the first weekend in June.
    Your tour is the next best thing to visiting in person. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos :)

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