A dozen (or even more?) visits to Chicago,,,

We were trying to figure out the correct number of visits to Chicago on the plane, which was packed to the limit. All seats taken - Eco Plus gave us at least a little more leg room, and, flight time was "only“" 8+ smooth hours. From the beginning on, the cabin was completely darkened (it was a Dreamliner with flexible window shading), and nobody dared to switch on a reading light anymore. Everybody staring at monitors or trying to sleep, mostly in vain, due to the cramped seating position. Arriving in the early afternoon local time, I hate to be put into sleep mode on the plane. P. was hoping (corresponding to internet information about the flight) to get beef for dinner for a change, but, no: it was "chicken or pasta" as usual. Service in general was rather slow and not highly attentive in "cattle class".

Getting to MUC Airport in the morning was a piece of cake today. It took us only about 2:25 hours from our door to the gate by public transport (tram/train/train), all went smooth and quick. Wouldn’t have needed to leave home so early, at 6:10 am, but well, you never know,,, First time we are traveling with only one piece of luggage (our large suitcase), which is a big advantage of (short) summer trips!

In the early 2000s we did research for our first, at that time very comprehensive guidebook about Chicago. Since then we visited several more times to gather information and to get to know the city better. But,,, actually we have been visiting even earlier, in 1990, when we were traveling for a basketball book. We traveled by train from sports city to sports city, and, also stopped in Chicago for three days or so, watching the Bulls and Michael Jordan play!

Touchdown at O'Hare Airport was about 1/2 hour earlier, at 1:20 pm local time. We whirled through immigration and baggage claim and on to the train station. Train took about 45 min. to get into downtown, called the "Loop", and, from there we walked over to our conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency Wacker Drive. Unpacked our luggage in a nice guestroom on the 27th floor with a view towards Millenium Park, and, out we were again, unfortunately, in light drizzle at around 70 deg F, humid-warm.

In 2014, IPW, the largest travel trade show in the U.S., with a couple of thousand of participants from all over the world, took place in Chicago for the first time, and, now, in 2025, it’ll be there again. Being invited as part of the German delegation’s media group of around 15-20 people, we are looking forward to meet old friends and new people, hear the „news“, listen to press conferences and hot discussions, feel the mood. 

Chicago is unique. It’s a multi-faceted metropolis, to some degree similar to NYC, but, first of all, the location on the banks of Lake Michigan, which appears like an ocean, is different. Architecture shows much more continuity, starting after the Big Fire in 1871 and going on until today. Chicago is a walkable architectural handbook! In the course of time, Chicago developed from a rather "ugly duckling", a former slaughter house and train / industry town to a „green city“.  Along the lakefront there is a chain of parks, which offer all kinds of activities and cultural programs. There is Magnificent Mile (similar to 5th Ave), many high-class museums and theaters, ethnic neighborhoods, great festivals all year long. And, Chicagoans are „Westerners“, more down-to-earth, more relaxed than the people in NYC. 

 

On "Mag Mile", we had to stop at a Garrett's, the original Garrett's popcorn shop from the 1940s, to get us the "mix", carmel corn and cheese corn mixed. 

Passing Watertower we walked over to the "beach" and ended up in the probably only microbrewery in downtown, Crushed By Giants, and had an IPA each (photo above). 

Called it a long day then, walked back to the hotel, and, in the meantime the sky had cleared up (photo far below).

Chicago River, above, in the evening - hope to get better photos tomorrow!