Another Chicago Tourist Day
Trying to capture the city from every angle.
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As I mentioned a few newsletters ago, our original destination for this vancation was Chicago for a wedding. We were going to drive into the city on a Thursday, so, knowing Chicago traffic, we left Indiana Dunes National Park at 5:30 AM. We followed our typical van protocol: wake up, drive to our destination (a long-term parking space Adam set up weeks in advance), and then make breakfast. We took a beat, eating eggs and rice while listening to the screech of the “L,” rage-filled car horns, and the endless beeping of delivery trucks… it’s surreal to experience van life while a city roars to life, so unlike most mornings in the van.
Since I had never spent more than 12 hours in Chicago (a day trip to Wrigley Field doesn’t count), we planned a traditional tourist day, busy from sunrise to late night. I wanted to capture Chicago from every angle. Angle number one of the day: the view from the street. I jumped out of the van when I noticed the sun hitting the skyscrapers, wanting to catch the reflections on the buildings from this urban canyon of steel and glass.
I love nature, but I also love the city. I could feel the energy as Chicago awoke, making me excited for the day’s adventure, even if we were starting with a bike ride in 30-degree weather (I rode an e-bike; Adam, the endurance cyclist, stuck to pedal power). From the bike path, the perspective shifted. Angle number two: The Skyline. It is jarring how a metropolis that felt overwhelming five minutes ago can look so contained when viewed across Lake Michigan.
My only non-negotiable for the day was visiting Shedd Aquarium. As a former swimmer, I love all things water, so I can't pass up on one of the best aquariums in the world. We gave ourselves three hours to explore, capturing angle number three: underwater.
We spent a fair amount of time at the shark exhibit because there were biologists scuba diving in the tanks. We watched the three biologists feeding a floor-dwelling shark while fending off the others. The scene turned tense when a shark stalked one biologist, forcing the others to “boop” it away from his head. Apparently, all of Chicago is full of hustle and bustle, even inside the fish tanks.
We got back on the bikes and rode towards breakfast and the Art Institute of Chicago (more on that next week).
Then Adam wanted to see Cloudgate (the Bean) before checking into our hotel for the next two nights. Even though I had recently photographed the sculpture, I wanted to shoot it again with my “good” camera to capture angle number four: reflection.
As we walked to the hotel, the light was perfect for afternoon reflections, so I kept finding them (and the light) throughout the city’s architecture. The grandeur of these buildings, just like any Colorado mountain or Utah canyon, reminds me how lucky I am to be alive to witness and capture the beauty around me, even if the beautiful is among the skyscrapers. It’s why I was looking for all of these angles to start with.
Adam and I dropped off our luggage, then headed out the door to meet up with college friends at Sears (Willis) Tower.
We were there to view the city from above, angle number five of the day. It was strange to look down at the lights and landmarks that guided us earlier along the streets. From 1,452 feet up, the city was silent, quite the contrast to the loud, bustling day we had experienced.
After thawing from the cold with dinner and music at a jazz club, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for the next day. There we found our last angle of the day: from the hotel bed after 30,000 steps in one day.
Cheers.
Nice photos. My family on my moms side has roots in Chicago. It was their destination when they emigrated oh so many years ago from Europe. My grandmother was a 25 year old young woman working for the phone company and watched the SS Eastland capsize and sink in the Chicago river in 1915. Many years ago I visited my brother when he lived in Chicago and did a walking tour of the buildings downtown. Fantastic, informative, and a great history lesson for all that has happened in Chicago. So many things to do in the big city. Enjoy.
Gorgeous photos, Rachel. I love Chicago and it’s been far too long since I’ve visited. This was the perfect stand in ‘til I get back there!