Chicago, the Windy City!

view of Chicago from Sears Tower
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Chicago is a cool city. Its very modern with plenty of Skyscrapers, but also has Lake Michigan and some beaches. Its a bit more Eastern in culture, than say California.  I had a bit of a nightmare trying to get here though. After taking off from San Francisco, the plane had to turn back beacuse of a mysterious noise coming from the door. Following a long delay, a new plane came, but I didnt arrive into the hostel until 4.30 in the morning!

I came at a decent time though, as the famous 'Air & Water show' was on this weekend. Military planes and paratroopers flew around the sky above the beach doing stunts, pretty cool if a bit cheesey all american top-gun style!

Its worth standing out on the glass ledge looking directly down from 103 stories up

Buckingham fountain
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The first thing I noticed about Chicago is the amazing buildings. Im not usually one for architecture, but the sheer amount and design of the buildings is awesome. Sear's Tower is the 2nd tallest building in the world. I went up there today, the view wasnt great beacuse of cloud cover, but its worth standing out on the glass ledge looking directly down from 103 stories up! They also have a newish park called Millenium Park. Here there is an amazing design of a stage where free live music plays during the summer.

Pritzker music pavillion
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Chicago is known for its music, particulary blues. Despite the hostel not being great, I did manage to make it out one of the nights. After a few tourist 'Irish' pubs, an American guy showed me a local jazz bar, where a blues type band were playing. Decent night, though the band could have been better.

I wandered around the shops a bit aswell. Michigan avenue is the famous 'magnificent mile' stretch for shopping. I got myself a long awaited rediculously oversized hockey shirt!

Off to New York tomorrow to round off the whole trip. I've decided to head back home to good old Ireland then, so the next blog will be the last!!