August 8 -- morning

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On the morning of the 8th we set out to find milk and Cheerios.  We travel with a cooler, which has plastic bowls, paper plates, plastic spoons and forks, a paring knife, napkins, plastic bags, and all that stuff.  So when we find milk, we have a place to keep it cold, and all the stuff we need to eat cereal in our room in the morning.



One of the things I love about Chicago is the diversity of the architecture.....

Note the elevated train just coming into the pic, upper left.  There are actual subterranean subways, in Chicago, and there are also elevated trains (called "els").  Why they have trains both above and below ground, I do not know.

One of my plans was to take the el around the Loop, but we never quite got to it.  Next time.......

Oh my goodness!  What is this?  With all this exuberant frou-frou on the top?

It turns out this is the public library.  !!!  A relatively plain red building with all sorts of ... stuff! ... on the top.

I have seen cut paper in these sorts of shapes and designs, but not metal.  Goodness!

In addition to all the cut-paper looking stuff on top, it's got deco.

It's got art nouveau.  Sort of.

While I wouldn't design something like this building, nor would I pay someone to build it -- it exists, and it's got everything.  I love it.



Ever'body love the public library..............

We went in, but inside is totally boring, in comparison to outside.  Ah well.  We were happy to see its outsides several times during our stay.



Sears (now known as Willis) Tower.  You can see what I mean about varied architecture.....

Something else to love about Chicago is flowers.  Flowers, flowers, and more flowers.  People whose job it is to water flowers.  All those plants make a difference, just like the flowers and the pond in West Park make a difference.  They make a place seem welcoming and friendly, and as a result, more people who are safe and friendly want to visit...........

Of course we are downtown.  There are stickers, and posters, and beggars, and buskers.  But it's a really nice downtown.....

My better half was going to the Cubs game the afternoon of the 8th, with his oldest friend (since 5th grade).

We were victorious in finding milk and cereal at a CVS.  We took it back to our hotel room, got ice from an ice machine down the hall, and ate.

After our late breakfast, we went to put him on the subway up to Wrigley Field.  First we had to stop at the bridge hotel, and get him a bridge newspaper (the American Contract Bridge League publishes a newspaper every day of national tournaments).

Michigan Avenue, with serious planters in the middle of the street.

Let's savor this a moment, shall we?  Look at the variety of plants!  Varied heights, colors, shapes....  So nice!

Oh my.  Speaking of varied colors..............  This wall was part of a parking structure!  Love it!

Many colleges and universities make their homes in this part of the world.  The Roosevelt building zigs and zags on its narrow faces.  The wider sides are flat.  They do a fine job of reflecting the clouds..........

Sears Tower again.  I don't know what the green marks on the street mean.

I went down into the entrance to the subway, just to see how it worked.  You buy your tix from machines....

When I came up out of the subway, I admired this location info just outside it.  If they'd had these in Milan, I don't think I'd have gotten lost!

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