Chicago, Cloud Gate, Hamilton, Baseball and Stuff Mart

Cloud Gate

We have returned to the land of big and plenty. I forgot how big everything and everyone is in the USA. 

Our hotel room is bigger than our total square footage of our house. It also had a jacuzzi in the room. I could walk through the room without asking Kirk to move. Heaven! Then the breakfast, OMG! Eggs, sausages, bacon, waffles, yogurt, bagels, Krispy Cremes, muffins, coffee, juices, cereal,  bananas and apples. The endless breakfast bar, all you could eat. Yes, I could not resist the waffles, they were fresh, you made them right there. I would make one to share with Kirk and before I could stop him he was making another one. More food than any person should eat in one sitting. Thank god we only stayed a week or we would of ended up being big and plenty. 

                              Gus would be in pig heaven. 

The roads are just as congested as the UK but twice as big and more construction if you can believe that.  But Chicago is always in transition and construction when it comes to roads. 

I have not driven a car in so long that it was strange to have to get in the car to go anywhere and no where was close.  Could not walk to pub or coffee house. 

We had a wonder evening with Petra and family. So great to see them and Naperville. What a cute town they live in. 

We hit all the highlights.  Went to Windy City baseball game. It was 2 dollar Tuesday, what a deal. I even got to go out on third base and play Hi Lo where I won $20. Could not have been more fun. And best of all, got a picture with Boomer the mascot.

Downtown Chicago still amazes me. I love walking under Cloud Gate and then walking on water at the water towers. Had lunch at Paneras , finally a place that sells salads with not beets in them. Then sure as shootin’ the rain came down in buckets. Just to remind us of home sweet home, England. 

The Chicago Institute of Art was overwhelming as usual. We saw the Chagall stain glass window very different from the Chagall in the church at Zurich. This one told the story of the USA.

My favourite as usual was a Monet waves breaking on the beach. 

Monet

                                               Mary Cassat

                                                          

We took an audio tour of Hamilton era art in the American section. My favourite was a bronzed freed slave. Very moving. 

Then just by accident I was browsing the theatre tickets and found Hamilton tickets for under $100 a piece. Could not believe my luck. It was at the CIVI Theater in downtown Chicago. Our lucky day. What a moving show. Need to read the book now and watch it about 5 more times to catch all the nuances. Absolutely loved it. 

Did successfully get my drivers licences in Indiana and surprised all my old dear friends at Purdue. Was so fun to drop in on them, that was a shocker. 

                                             I even got to visit my piano.

We went on a tour of the Grosse Point Light house. I could not believe it was on this side of Lake Michigan because I thought that Grosse Ppint was near Detroit. Which it is. We had to go see this to make sure I was not loosing my mind.  And sure enough right beside Northwestern University was the lighthouse. Very stately and majestic. 

Now I remember one of the reasons we moved. Getting anywhere from anywhere is a freeway nightmare of a drive. Especially in a big city. I do not miss that. 

Since this occurred over Mothers Day the kids got me a Spa day. Facial, massage and foot wrap, could not of been nicer. 

We managed to go to one more baseball game at the Boomers, but it was rained out cold and windy. 

We finished the trip at a Stuff Mart. Was amazing to walk into one of these and even if it was a superstore I knew where everything was. Picked up those rare items I can not find in the UK. Knee sox, nail polishing 4 grain stick, docker /pants/trousers and fathead sunglasses for Kirk.  (Pants - that word gets me in more trouble than not in the UK, it means underwear, they always get a good laugh out of that. I once wrote an email to send out about everyone needing to wear pants in the clean room, as we were having some women visit, you could imagine the flack I got on that one!)

I found the Chicos and the Apple stores seemed to crop up on nearly every corner. It was dangerous because everywhere I would go there was another Chicos store, to much fun was had. I got all my essentials I can never find in the UK and we headed back home to the doggies in the UK. 

Heading back across the pond. Cheers !

Manhattan and a Little Bit of Mystic Magic

Awesome adventure in New York with my favorite daughter!

The vitual real reality ground zero subway station with World Trade Center 

I managed to find Haley and Memphis without to much trouble. Taxis/Ubers are great.
                We fit in more food and fabulous venues in a week than anyone should.


We walked around ground zero every time we headed out for the subway, did not matter how many time you went by it was amazing. It is really close to Haley apartment.

The subway, now I was told there are rules, no talking, no eye contact just look at your feet and if you don't everyone will surely think you are crazy or that you will meet someone that is. The problem I have is even if  I know the rules my mouth opens before my brain engages. Yes the women's three dozen flowers next to me were beautiful but I did not need to tell her, oh yes I did. The baby in the stroller was ever cute, well that was not a good idea. Then there was the lady that dropped her watch, I picked it up and returned it to her. And she had an amazed look on her face and thanked me profusely. I just can not meet up to their standards. I did survive the subway and I talked to many of them.

The other important thing to remember about the subway is the difference between local and express, there is always the chance you are 50 stops off if you decide to take the express and are not sure where it starts expressing. Oops!

We topped the day off with dinner with all of her friends. It was delightful. They have my art of the walk, I call it my NY Gallery although it is in Brooklyn. They love the science stuff. 

Fermi Paradox

Hawking Radiation

The next day we had a beautiful walk along the Hudson and had brunch with a view of Jersey and ended up at Battery Park.

Walked through Wall Street on the way up the island.

Made our way to the Frick Museum which is a mansion with art from all ages arranged in a live able fashion with a garden atrium in the center. 

We then headed out of the city via Penn Station to Mystic. 

Visited the cousins and had a great time. 

We stayed with Mandy in her beautiful bungalow with a great view of the Mystic River. 

We also managed a day at the fabulous Norwich Spa. Not sure what happened but it was an oil/scrub message wrap with a facial. Heaven Sent!

Now we had to hurry back to the city for a dress up night to the ballet. We went to Tavern on the Green in Central Park for dinner and then to Lincoln Center for the ballet.

Mac & Cheese with Lobster, Rabbit food for Haley.

Well it did not stop here. Could not go to NY and not go to the Hayden Planetarium and saw a Dark Matter IMAX by Neil de Grasse Tyson. And we got an extra benefit as it was also the Natural History Museum and got to see my namesake.  Tyrannosaur Rex.  TR, for those that do not know, that was my nick name in high school.(long story) Lovely friends in high school. Lucky me!

Then it was out on the town again. We ended up at a five start michelin restaurant, delicious Indian food. Then it was off to a SOFAR concert. This is a kind of a intimate small setting with local artists. We got the one and only couch, never have been so comfortable at a concert.

I managed to keep up with all the activities because Haley programed in naps in the afternoon. That was lovely.

Our last day we took the Staten Island Ferry for a trip by the Lady.

On Staten Island we visited the light house Museum and a great Von's like cafe.

We headed back to Manhattan and headed up town to see the beautiful small park squares, the weather was beautiful.

We finished the day with Mexican food, delicious!

My flight was rescheduled so I got a nap before I headed for to the land of liquid sunshine.