Chicago

Chicago is all about architecture.  There are a million and one tours you can take, and they are all about the architecture, even the ones that don't specifically say they are.  So, here is my take on the architecture of Chicago.

The inside of the old city library.  When the collection outgrew the building, the city was going to knock it down!

The Pelican.  Seeing the entire structure doesn't make it any clearer.

I really enjoyed Chicago.  Maybe helped by meeting up with my oldest friend Amanda!  We've been friends since we were six, she lives in Christchurch now so we don't see each other all that often.  She saw on Facebook that I was heading to the States, made comment that she was going to be in Chicago, and I ended up staying on three extra days in Chicago until she arrived.  She was travelling with her husband Graeme and their friend Phil, and the three of them were staying with their Australian friends Bec and Lucas, who are living in Chicago because Lucas is working for Groupon.  The six of us had so much fun together.  We did a lot of eating and a bit of sightseeing.

The Bean.  Actually called something along the lines of the Millennium Cloud, but....  

The second photo is taken underneath, looking up.

The view from the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier.  I was taking photos one handed and hanging on with the other...

 So the little yellow dot on the white pier in the bottom left photo is the Ferris Wheel.

These were taken from the 96th floor of the John Hancock building.  I had to give my camera to Amanda and get her to take photos, I had awful vertigo.  At one point I had to hold onto the wall to stand upright!

And then of course there's food....  

Chicago is apparently famous for deep dish pizza.  Pretty disgusting really, that's a hell load of cheese.

On the other hand, the coffee is awesome.  I highly recommend Intelligentsia.

We spent a far bit of time at Intelligentsia.  By the time I left, the staff knew my order...  Addict much?  Chicago was also the first place I got into American beer.  (Being my first stop in the US, maybe not a surprise.)  I did not expect the beer here to be good, but I've been drinking local beers everywhere and they've all been good.  Stand out was Kentucky Bourbon Ale I tried in Chicago.  It sounds like it would be awful but it's really good.

My best memories of Chicago are of killing ourselves laughing while attempting to do Gangnam Style down the street.  No wonder we all got on so well, same geeky sense of humour on all of us!