Chicago, Illinois

"Come on! Feel the Illinois!"

Spring Break 2011

Chicaaaaaaago!

Perhaps my favorite city in the USofA. Why? Because its majestic and interesting with so much to do! And it is also the complete opposite of Hawaii. I found it fascinating. The most obvious difference was of course the weather. Now then, this was my spring break trip. So I'm talking about Chicago in march. Which was still wintertime (I'm only imprinting this detail for us Hawaii people who are unfamiliar with winters). And winter + Chicago means freezing and windy. Unbearably freezing and windy. And I didn't even experience the worse of a midwest winter.

So, as I was saying before: spring break. As a little background, my brother Daniel has lived in Chicago for about four years. He was visiting Hawaii this past march on his first week of spring break, but was planning to go back to Chicago for his second week. I shared the same spring break with him on his second week (except I only got one week, not two), and long story short, he invited me to Chicago! Two days before he left. But I was able to trade work days and buy some long-sleeves in time for the trip. We had a little bit of trouble leaving Hawaii (flying standby don't forget), which was discouraging, but then we were off. Oh yeah, and these are all taken with my Diana Mini, 800 iso fujifilm.

I was pretty excited to see snow down there.

It took a long time to fly to Chicago. It was nighttime by the time we arrived and I was immediately greeted with the cold embrace of Illinois air. My mom had insisted I take her winter coat with me, which I twice refused, but the minute I got there I was grateful. I know that I've been building up how cold it was there, and I did find it as cold as I am making it sound, but the actual temperature was only in the 30s. So there, call me weak. But even though I was cold, it was so new to me that I was ecstatic about it. The last time I had been on the mainland in the winter was when I was 10 years old. Chicago was foggy and windy and freezing, but I honestly liked it (well, the freezing part not as much). It was going to be another short, but memorable trip.

Daniel took me to get a Chicago-style hot dog once we arrived.

The next morning I went downtown with Daniel. He had to work so I was on my own for a little bit. However, we did make plans for me to meet up with his friends John and Andrea. The coolest people ever and most amazing tour guides. They took me shopping all around Chicago! And I went to Urban Outfitters for the first time in my life.

From around the city:

Theres a place in Chicago called Water Tower Place. This is where you go to shop. I went sort of crazy with shopping on this trip. Urban Outfitters, Free People, H&M all in one city. Plus more. Hawaii may have Waikiki and Ala Moana, but compared to Chicago (and probably every other city on the mainland), we're at a disadvantage. Andrea and John took me here the first day and then to a place called Wicker Park. Theres one word for Wicker Park: hipster. But theres really good shopping there. The gem of Wicker Park was a multistory used bookstore.

Wicker Park

And then of course cool coffee shops.

There was a Back to the Future car in the cafe window.

Back downtown. I got to attend mass in this beautiful church.

Trader Joe's

The next day, Daniel had the day off. And we were going to the beach!

Lake Michigan. I would like to surf a Great Lake someday.

John, Andrea, Me, Daniel

So. Cold.

The Drake across the street. This place is in several movies.

Daniel's campus.

Hancock Tower

More sightseeing:

A highlight of my third and last day was getting to explore Chicago on my own. Daniel had work again so I wandered around Water Tower Place, the beach, and everywhere surrounding. I sort of like wandering by myself.

Ducked into a Starbucks for a hot chai. Seriously, the fanciest Starbucks I have ever been to.

Around Town

Finally some sun.

When he finished we went to the Berghoff for lunch. Its the oldest restaurant in Chicago (since 1898) and has an amazing German menu and homemade root beer. The root beer has some historical significance. During the Prohibition, the restaurant began brewing root beer instead of beer. Once alcohol was was again legalized, they attained the first liquor license in Chicago.

Down the street was Millennium Park. If you are ever in Chicago, go there. And right next door is the Art Institute of Chicago. I didn't go to the museum on this trip, but I have before and it was amazing. As I said before, theres so much to do!

And thats the end.