USA tour - Chicago

After a couple of days in New York, I headed to Chicago. One day only, so I tried to make the best of it. It was going to be tough, considering I only slept 2 hours the night before (yes, NY is the city that never sleeps!)

The flight was interesting. I had the opportunity to try wireless internet access on my mobile. Yes, it sounds very geek, but during a flight you don't have many interesting things to do.

Gangsters! Mafia! Al Capone! It may sound like a cliché, but that's was my first thought when I saw the "old" skyscrappers in Chicago downtown. Amazing to see all those 1910's/1920's architecture, amazing lobbies in some hotels and public buildings! If it wasn't for the modern cars on the street and the typical fast-food / franchising stores, I would say my flight went back in time! :-)

At the same time I could imagine the movie "Metropolis" or the Daily Planet building from Superman comics.
A special note to the "Union Station" for trains. You will see some pictures in my album, but do you recognize the staircase from somewhere? Well, it's the staircase used in the climatic scene in the movie "The Untouchables", where a baby carriage is caught in a shootout between Elliott Ness' G-men and Al Capone's gang.

One thing is true about Chicago: when it's cold it's REALLY cold. And usually I handle cold easily, but Chicago was a challenge!
My one day stop at Chicago was on a rainny day, so I went to the "Museum of Science and Industry". Usually museums aren't my first choice during vacations, but there was a Muppet exhibition going on! :-P

One thing I missed was the typical Chicago-style pizza, which is a deep-dish pizza, a mix between an italian pizza and a french quiche. Yes, you need a big stomach for this one! :)

USA Tour: Chicago Album

Chicago also has a waterfront to the huge Lake Michigan... but that was something I was leaving to explore on my next stop: Milwaukee! :-)