Tuesday July 12 (Chicago)

I had a really sound sleep and the day started with a Starbucks coffee. I then walked down Adams onto S Michigan Ave and so into N Michigan Ave. 

I wanted to find a sports shoe store and get some laces, why is it none of them sell laces but sell all sorts of other non shoe stuff?? I did get some, at Walgreens, lol!!

I ended up at the John Hancock Tower, now 360 Chicago and decided to do the Hop On Hop Off bus tour, only I did not hop off at all! I did the complete circle and it took over two and a half hours with the traffic! 

It was very interesting and the guide talk was full of interesting information. We passed Chicago's first Cupcake ATM, lol, they have someone behind it making sure the cupcakes are no more than an hour old. It is a 24 hour ATM!

We drove through the Gold Coast area where all the wealthy/famous live or stay. Then through the area known for its variety of eating places and, of course, passed many tower buildings. 

most of the Irish Pub had been dismantled in Ireland and imported to Chicago to be rebuilt!! The front wall is the original as are the furnishings inside! 

The tour stopped at Willis Tower, Skydeck entrance, and this is where I would eventually get off.

It was a gorgeous day and some clouds did come across but they cleared away without any of the forecast showers. The river was busy as per usual. 

I did not know that they actually reversed the flow of the river as it was pouring very dirty water into the lake where at the confluence and the citizens of Chicago were getting ill and even dying! 

They built a tunnel to divert the river and then tunnelled right through to St Louis much to the disgust of that city! The water for the city is now pumped from about 900 feet down in the middle of the lake where it is freshest!

I also did not know that Trump did not put his name on the tower until 2009. It cost$350,000 per letter and each letter is 20 feet deep!

We carried on with the tour and on one turn came to an abrupt stop, very abrupt, apparently we nearly hit a pedestrian! I am not sure what I have done but boy two abrupt stops!?!

We drove through the museum park, I had been here on a previous visit, then on past Grant Park and the Buckingham Fountain. Finally, we drove back onto N Michigan Ave as we returned to my starting point. 

I have to say that I have seen some terrible drivers in Chicago and at times have not felt safe even using the crossing legally. On the other hand I have also seen some stupid pedestrians, lol!

There is a Cheesecake Factory at the bottom of part of 360 Chicago, so that was an obvious stop to get some tea while I passed the time before I caught a Night Tour bus. 

I wanted to go round to see the fountain in colour and then back round again to Willis Tower so I hoped the bus would arrive in time.

I enjoyed a leisurely meal that included some Cherry Cheesecake, very yummy, and then went up to street level to wait for a bus. I waited nearly an hour and the the bus did not stop where I had been told, grrrrr! As with the day tour, it was fairly full. 

By this time dusk had well and truly set in so the lights stood out. Chicago us certainly a different city by night, there are many buildings that are lit up in different colours and, at times, it was spectacular.

The night tour does not go to all the places on the day tour but I was still on the bus got a couple of hours by the time I returned to the Willis Tower, the nearest stop to the hotel. The tour guide wanted to drop me on Adams but the driver said "No", lol!

As many buildings have been preserved, much of Chicago's interesting past is reflected in the tour. So many famous people are associated with Chicago!

There was one disappointment, we did not get the opportunity for a good view of the Buckingham Fountain. On the road that passes it she did not slow at all. There would have been a second opportunity at Stop 7, but no-one was getting on or off so she did not stop, such a pity!!

It meant a very late night but it was worth it, the weather behaved all day and night, no sign of the forecast thundery showers thank goodness.