I spent a three days in Chicago last weekend, and I can summarize it as follows: it's big. Or at least, its buildings are. I came back to Cleveland and one of the first things that struck me is that here I can count the big skyline buildings on the fingers of one hand, and still have enough left over to snap my fingers. That's really not the case in Chicago.

Things I liked best:

• Having drinks at the top of the Hancock building, and watching a lightening storm over the Chicago skyline.
• The Art Institute of Chicago. Among other things they have (to quote a stupid tourist Laura and I once overheard in the Musée d'Orsay) "a pretty good impressionist gallery".
• Seeing a big hipster district. These people were, to paraphrase, cool enough to keep a side of meat in for a week, and so hip they had trouble seeing over their pelvises. This is a neighborhood consisting primarily of used bookstores, used music stores, chic cafés, and stores selling $3000-$4000 chairs by famous designers. Interestingly, hip and trendy fashions and furniture are all almost directly out of the 70's. Disco and bad hair should be back any day now.
• Much better public transit than we have in Cleveland
• And, of course, seeing my brothers, which was the point of the trip.

Much fun was had by all. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

Category: Travel

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