A Grand Day Out

Ok, so this is going to be a really fact-filled, touristy posting.

The tallest building in the world - for quite some time - was the Sears Tower. It is one end of the Chicago skyline, if you just go back to the "July" photo in the "Summer" post. And at the other end (basically) is another building with tall antennae, that we see below.

But first - the second tallest building in Chicago - is the one that you can see in the next picture. It is the Aeon Center, and stands out in the background (and also in the "July" photo in "Summer"). This picture is shot along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago; the building in the foreground is the place where Swami Vivekananda received a three-minute standing ovation for his immortal opening words - "Sisters and Brothers of America". (The stretch of road in front of it is called "Swami Vivekananda Way"!)


That building is the Art Institute of Chicago - it is world-famous for its many collections, most notably Impressionist paintings (I can remember having seen Monet's Haystacks and Water Lilies). A whole week might not suffice to see its entire collection of art!

The Art Institute is across the road from a wonderful place that is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They have had some great concerts - and you can get student tickets for only $10!

Also south of the Chicago river - which shows up in a moment! - is the Public Library:
And then comes the river itself. The first photo below, contains many buildings that might seem familiar from Batman Begins. The middle photo shows the erstwhile home of the Chicago Sun-Times - I first heard of it because of Roger Ebert's movie reviews on imdb. It's demolished now (for a Trump Tower). The clock-tower beside it is of the Wrigley Building - chewing gum, anyone?








And now to move north of the river. Just on the other side are two buildings called the "Corncobs" - and it is not hard to see why! Note that the fifteen lowest floors are reserved almost entirely for parking!










The building on the right is the third tallest building in Chicago. Named after President John Hancock, it houses (a restaurant and) a bar on the ninety-sixth floor called the Signature Lounge (perhaps to do with JH's flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence?). Ah, the view from up there at night... Chicago is truly a city of lights! (But that's for the next post!)

But the best part of Chicago is the roaming around. The public transport is just wonderful - and the 'L' has been around for over a century!