Following the game, we had the rest of the day plus most of the next day to check out Chicago. We back-tracked to Union Station to pick up our bags, which we couldn't take to the stadium, before hiking the urban jungle to our hotel.
With a great base camp at the downtown Fairfield, we explored most of the city's vibrant core on foot, walking from Soldier Field in the south to the Hancock Building in the north, and from Union Station in the west to the tip of Navy Pier jutting east out into Lake Michigan.
To rest our tired feet, and more importantly for some narrated history of the city and its architecture, we also enjoyed an open-top river cruise of the city from Lake Michigan to quite a ways down the Chicago River South Branch, on yet another beautiful autumn day.
By late afternoon, we worked our way back to the train station and caught our ride home. Several unexpected delays hindered our progress, but otherwise the ride was peaceful and smooth. We crossed the border at midnight into a traffic jam on the Ambassador Bridge due to overdue structural repairs and a backlog of transport trucks.
After a long day and a lost hour returning to Eastern Standard Time, I dropped off Other Mike and finally made it home by 130am......with the alarm set for 6am and back to work after two very long but fun-filled days.
Deep Dish pie at Lou Malnati's
Enjoying a few brews at Rock Bottom prices.....
City skyline from the end of Navy Pier
A relatively calm day in The Windy City!
Chicago North from the 94th floor of the Hancock Building
Welcome to the Jungle!
Navy Pier and Lake Michigan from high above
Only the 2nd largest building in Chicago, but still....huuuuuuuge!
Bridges and Skyscrapers
Reflections of a City
The El crosses the river
The Merchandise Mart - the largest building in the world when built in 1930
Willis (Sears) Tower - the tallest building in the city and second tallest in North America
Cool old school drawbridge - the whole THING goes up!
Chicago from below
Riding the Rails again as we head for home
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