Day 150 of international places giving smiles – Remembering lovely times with lovely people in Chicago, America
7th June’2013 Day 1
Very thrilled for the first aerial view of the north American continent from the aircraft window…we actually saw the snow and ice covered Tundra regions of Canada that we had read about in our school textbooks.
And at Chicago’ s O Hare’s airport we stepped foot for the first time on the American continent! Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to actually see what I had always dreamt to visit since my childhood days.
Our dear relative took half days leave from work (not too easy to do with limited holidays in US) and picked us up. We were like kids looking out of the window as he drove us on the broad highway towards his place which is one of the northern suburbs of Chicago at Hoffman’s Estate.
On the way we drove past an interesting looking fort like structure that is actually a fine dining restaurant with a theme called The Medieval Times.
We also drove past an interesting arrangement of layers of rocks called the Prairie Stone which turned to be some kind of a performance centre.
We were charmed with residential layout and its houses which seemed huge as compared to average Mumbai houses size standards. In fact it is also the almost impeccable cleanliness of public places that I loved and dreamt to replicate in India. At the , Arboretum Complex, had the first treat of the typical highly cheesy local Chicago pizza.
Day 2
I am awake at. 6 am as usual. Outside temperature is 8 * in summer? OK so went with a jacket for a morning walk with aunt and daughter around the Canterbury fields residential complex. Green grass, big houses, clean roads, blue waters. Something I would search for in a holiday resort in India is an accepted part of the average American’s life over here. Though we were surprised to see the place littered with bird droppings at one corner.
Delicious Indian breakfast and family is ready to explore the city. Swami Narayan temple of Chicago may be looking beautiful as the biggest Hindu temple in Chicago yet I could not sense any spirituality of the place. The serenity of the Baha’i temple totally gave me a peaceful experience that I was on search of.
Was thrilled at the Achar family reunion on the occasion of my Auntys birthday. A buffet Indian lunch at Tiffins and a chance to get a feel of a mini India at Devon. We even saw a road sign saying Gandhi street.
And the kids too had a great time together especially at our next stop in downtown Chicago, my cousin jyothis house. Was amazed at her personalized collection of hand made scrapbooks and tried to catch up on 15 years of stories!
We got to drive past the soccer stadium and hear the crazy fans scream at the Chicago bulls match. We also drove past the interesting looking shops on the boys section of Chicago complete with proudly displayed gay flags. The street cafes and the roadside pubs just added to the energy of the place.
We drove past the beaches on the lakeshore drive, saw the Rodeo hotel, the beginning of the fashionable one mile street, the swanky high rise building where my role model OPRAH lives, the Buckingham fountain and other sights.
The perfect finale of that day was 3 generations dancing to live music at the Chicago Blues festival. And chatting at cousins place till the end of a memorable day..
Day 3
Got a chance to finally get to see a wonderful family I had heard so much about ever since I had got married – a nephew, His bubbly wife,, gifted son and also his cute over-hyper younger son.They kept us entertained throughout the day. We had coffee at Karibou. Went to the Millennium Park, splashed at the water, took photos under the bean, walked past the pritzel stadium on the Nicholas driveway.
Was amazed at the intelligence of the kids. The elder sons answer to the question – what is the 32 raised to the power of -3/5 was perfect. Both the kids of age 5 and 8 must be going for art appreciation classes and I was thrilled for being given a guided tour by them at the Art Institute. We then had a , Vietnamese lunch at Forest Park, then a long drive through Ghetto area of Oak Park, visited the Garfield Conservatory and even visited their home at Roselle.
Day 4
Went with cousin to her dentist office. Waited a for school friend to come as I was meeting her after 35 years! She drove us to the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall. We went berserk shopping for premium brands at discounted prices.
Brought 3 Tops from Banana Republic, 2 bags from Coach, 2 blue jeans from Gap, 2 purple jeans from NY&C, 1 brown jeans too, also from shoes from converse and puma…having a college going daughter for company when shopping makes it a happy time.
Just a sushi bite for lunch. Did not even realize when it became evening. Caught up with old school stories at chool friendss beautiful home at wood ridge. Again went to buy 3 more tops at Kohls. Very satisfying shop till you drop day!
Day 5
We go on a girls day out in Chicago. It was a long drive to Navy pier. Our first stop was for a trip on the boat for the very informative architecture tour. We actually got to listen to the stories behind the many skyscrapers dotting the Chicago skyline. And then we had the thrill of the speed ride on the vast expanse of the Michigan lake.
Daughter did a mix and match adjustment with my dress on the open pier itself, and I was extremely thrilled to be walking around in a short dress in a country where I noticed many seemed not to bother about their obesity. We four ladies of 3 generations and me had a wonderful lunch together at the food court. The highlight was one Ben and Jerry’s sundae which we ate together as if we were kids.
We took the free trolley to States Street. It was a long walk up many blocks in pouring rain to finally reach the tallest building of Chicago. The 103 storied Sears Tower now called Willis tower.The experience of standing on top of the world in a glass balcony was phenomenal.
I removed my new puma shoes and walked barefoot on the Chicago pavements. Also did some shopping of clothes and shoes in time to catch the trolley and car for the piano recital of my cousins children.A classic experience in very classy ambience. A perfect end to a perfect girls out day.
Day 6
This was kids day out experience. We took the small kids to the natural History museum and the aquarium…and just like them we too squealed in excitement at all the displays. Enjoyed eating, singing, chatting, and even slurping ice cream just like the children. Got to see the back to back traffic jam in the long drove back home.
Day 7
This was a mother and child joint outing day, where else but to another mall…we got our first taste of the best cheesecake in the world at the cheesecake factory…this was soon to be an important part of our weekly menu for the rest of the trip.!
The perfect finale for this times visit was another girls night out at the top floor of the John Hancock tower…the view of the lit up city at night (even from the ladies washroom) was terrific!.
2 years later Revisit to Chicago, so this is day 8We just finished .a ride on the megabus through the boring state of Indiana to reach city of Chicago in Illinois.. were happy to see nephew and family after such a long time…playing soccer, badminton, with overactive high energy kids…and of course shopping at famous stores..it was time for a true taste a true taste of American suburban living
Day 9
It was a new experience of riding the streets of Chicago on a Segway…the fountains …the gardens ..the skyscraper skyline… the lakefront..the museums… the typical American lunch at Gage.. the evening drink on the 27th floor open air the Wit bar…singing on streets with Tina Turner lookalike…getting interviewed for a tv show with D stone pony and budding singer j groove…downtown gay area drive… dinner with cousin and full family…too many things to do in Chicago! —
Day 10
It was time to go to navy pier by local trains and buses and to be amazed at the stories behind every building on the riverside architecture tour…to try out new restaurants from Siam and Bahamas. ..wondering how Americans can eat massive amounts of bread cheese and potatoes all the time…Cosco visit was a must for unique supermarket shopping time…also relived childhood memories of driving around on fancy toy scooters and eating delicious cheesecake
Day 11
Last day in US for this trip as we cherish every moment spent with nephews and family…morning walks, meals together, continuous chatting, high energy play time with grand nephews…so much of simple pleasures in simply being together! Eating a typical American breakfast of skillets at a diner, watching a variety of amazing performances at a ballet show, eating at the quaint Magnolia cupcake joint, the Cosco and Sams shopping experience again. .and of course getting wet and cold in the rainy and windy downtown of Chicago..memories forever…!
So which place made you smile today?
Be grateful for the places that make you smile!
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