August 8 -- the lake!

.

I left the subway station and headed for the lake.  Here's the el.

Did you see the moose, above?  Love this blue building, and its decoration...........

Planters.

We've just crossed Michigan Ave, going east toward the lake.  Lots of people in Chicago get around under their own steam.  A pack of teenagers on scooters are crossing, going south, and this woman and her dog are headed west.

I am headed north a bit, then east toward the lake.  This glass front is the Spertus Institute.  Buildings on both sides of it (and other places right around here) are Columbia College, which seems to be very arty.  Exhibits of fancy dresses, and pictures of students and faculty with an emphasis on the arts.

The east side of Michigan Ave is the west edge of the set of parks between downtown Chicago and the lake.  It was warm enough that I was glad for shade and the cooler air beneath trees.

Looking back south.  I am surprised to see the lights were on, when I look at these images.  I didn't think it was dark out.......

I have moved inside the park.  You can see Michigan Ave at left.

I am moving eastward into the park.  Looking north.

Going east.  My first view of the lake since we got to Chicago!  Can you see it?

Here, I'll zoom in.   See the pink roses, on the other side of the street, between us and the lake?

Let's cross the street and get up close and personal with the roses.......

Looking north -- Buckingham Fountain.  And you can see the Hancock Building, dark, with two points on it, at left.  I remember reading about the Hancock Building in Life Magazine when it was built (in the 60s....).

Looking the other way, and zooming way in -- the Field Museum (natural history).

Moving eastward.  Looking north.  More and more flowers...........

At last we've crossed all the streets, and are right next to the lake.  There is a broad concrete walkway beside the water, but you can't get into it here.  I mean you *can*, but you shouldn't.  There are "no swimming" icons everywhere, and there are boats going along right beside the concrete.  (And I bet it's polluted, too.)

You can just barely see Navy Pier behind the boats.........

I decided to sit down for a bit.  I shared a bench with this temporary art installation, made of abandoned junk.

From the bench (see the "art", lower right?) -- looking south at the Aquarium and Planetarium.

Still looking south, but also a bit more to the west.

Walking back west, now.  One last look at the lake, for today.

Walking west, looking north.

This is a really big road.  I snapped off one pic as I crossed.  It looks like this road will run into the Field Museum, straight ahead, but it doesn't.  The white building at left is the Aquarium.

In the park.  Looking south at Buckingham Fountain, and a bunch of buildings.

I walked under some crab apple trees.  They had these nice big (nearly 2" long) apples.

Getting close to Michigan Ave.  There is the Roosevelt building again.

Back in the hotel room.  Disappointed to be in a room with an air shaft view.

.