Disappointment in Chicago

 May 24-31, 2022

Joliet, Illinois

Back on I-80 heading east, and back in the wind. Not bad, just a reminder that it's still with us. Of course we are on our way to spend time in the windy city!

Arriving at Hollywood Casino RV in Joliet is a bit like arriving at "life before people", as the hotel and casino seem deserted. Alas a human does check us in. The park is very nice with grass and trees, and good space between concrete sites. There are "indications" that when wet, the grass area gets very muddy, and very deep! 

Apparently soft grass isn't always best.

We're here a week with water and 50 amp. Rain in the forecast for some of the days, but we desert-dwellers are still not tired of the moisture! 

Wednesday we head out after noon to see Wrigley Field. Like Lambeau in Green Bay, it's an iconic place we really should see. On our way into Chicago we pass by the White Sox stadium, which at the time seems like it's really close to downtown.

I'm fortunate that I was driving out in the desert at age 11, and in downtown Los Angeles at age 16. I'm comfortable in busy city congestion, able to appreciate this incredibly beautiful city. While I'd never want to live in any city again, I very much enjoy visiting these vibrant megalopolitan spaces.

Lake Shore Drive skirts downtown.

Lake Michigan on the east side of the drive.

Getting to Wrigley Field through tight streets of multi-storied residents and little neighborhood shops now makes the previous stadium seem like a rural destination! It's also having some renovation done and feels like a huge monolith that was just dropped there. It's an impressive place. No easy parking so we drive around and check out what we can see. 

Quite possibly the most "interesting" thing we've seen anywhere are these bleachers on top of the building across the street from the stadium!!

The el train really says Chicago to me.

One of the "little" things on my list is the Frank Lloyd Wright "Robie House". I didn't arrange for a tour but am able to find temporary parking to check out the exterior. Built at the University of Chicago campus and surrounded by other incredible buildings, the trademark Prairie style is a stunner.

Across the street is this vine covered church.

Bricks and trees are the theme of the neighborhood.

We stop for what I hope will be my make-up birthday dinner. Nope. Mediocre and the fish bone that sticks in my throat for a few seconds really ruins it. Soooo, that special meal is still out there!

Tessa is overdue for a hair cut so one early morning I drop her at Petsmart while I run errands. I also stop for the best breakfast I've had in years at the Rosemary Cafe. I even bring Bill back later in the week.

A rare latte for me. So good!

Smoked salmon benedict with a little cream cheese and capers. Divine!

Rain grounds us for most of the pre-holiday week with perfect dry temps starting on Saturday. For some reason I'm thinking that the city will empty out for the three days - folks will be on the water and out in the countryside. I'm proud of myself for purchasing Big Bus tickets and nearby parking days in advance. We're prepared!!

Could not have been more wrong. Chicago is where the world goes for Memorial Day weekend! I'll be happy to get on top of the tour bus and stay there. The address for the parking is Lower Wacker. What I don't know until we're underground is that we're underground! Dark, rusty, no signage, lots and lots of cars, a nightmare. There's no turn for the address of the parking lot and finally we resurface having missed our destination. Then the real fun begins as all directions take us to the street that's closed for the parade. Parade participants are also jamming all surrounding streets en route to their starting point. Traffic is at a crawl, sidewalks are curb-to-wall with people, the couple of tour buses we pass are already full. We're discussing several options, trying to enjoy what we're sort of seeing of this beautiful city, still wanting to do the tour if we can park. 

Then we aren't. With this traffic the bus will take much longer, and if we hop off we might not be able to hop back on. Finding convenient parking is probably unrealistic. Even parking outside the city and taking mass transit doesn't sound practical.

Congestion in every layer.

Only at the turns we want to make.

Peeks of city sights through security and crowd control.

Both of us vote for sanity over exploration and forfeit the $140 I was so proud of spending in advance. I am sooo disappointed, have been looking forward to seeing all the things we missed last time we were here. Bill is stoic. I'm sure all my whining and complaining is adding to the "fun" of the day for him!

Like missing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first time due to crowds, this miss doesn't have to be our only shot. There are many options for returning which I very much want to do. 

At one of the many extended stops we come upon Agora. Created by a Polish artist who says she drew on her fear of crowds when creating these 106 headless statues. How appropriate today.

I'd love to take the architecture tour next time.

The Burberry building is beautiful, and very shiny!

The next day we are ready to exchange urban for rural exploring. So different from the city sprawl of Los Angeles that covers every inch in every direction, 30 miles outside Chicago we're in huge country properties and acres of farmland. 

It's a pretty, breezy day in the low 80's. Relaxing and peaceful. Ahhhhh......

Kankekee State Park along the river of the same name. Very nice bike trails, electric-only campgrounds that would fit our 35' but not anything much bigger.

A world away from the 20 story condos of the city.

Rare round barn on a working farm.

Like it knows it's the official kick-off to summer, Monday hits near triple digit temps with 45% humidity. I sleep late and we have a lazy day off the highway, in the air conditioning, preparing for our departure the next morning. 

Tuesday we continue east to Indiana Dunes State Park.