Monday November 13 & Tuesday November 14 (Bryan to Chicago)

Monday
I was up at 5.30 am and we left just after 6.15 even though the train to Chicago was running late. It was cold outside and I was grateful for my hoodie! We decided to get a coffee and pastry from the coffee shop we ususally go to. The train eventually arrived at almost the same time as last Monday when I came in, they run on time to a late schedule it seems, lol! I had a lovely, chilled out week with Lisa, Harry and friends. Thanks to Lisa and Harry who always make me feel very welcome and I feel right at home!!

I hope I do not go home with a cold as the female person behind me has been sneezing and coughing most of the trip, and not covering her mouth, grrrrrr! An older woman further back spent most of the way from Bryan to Chicago making phone calls. The problem was that she did not speak quietly and she also had the speaker on so we heard all the conversations, grrrr! She spent almost an hour trying to do something with her Apple ID, she was having help but not making much progress, her Apple verification was required 5 or 6 times but she gave up in the end. Then we heard all about her 92 year old mother who has a hernia in a conversation with a doctor. Later we heard that she had given the Ok for them to operate. I tried not to listen but it was not easy, lol!!

All in all it was not the best of trips although the train was sure rocking and rolling along as they tried to make up some fo the time. We were eventually three hours late, lol, and it was rather chilly in Chicago, brrrr!

OMG, the adventures continued!! The only type of mini bar I have ever seen is one that is basically a small refrigerator. I had milk and other items that I needed to keep cool so I emptied the soda out! Trouble was, each section then locked itself! The concierge, Carl, arrived with my luggage and contacted housekeeping for me. 

They arrived, Victa and an offsider, and I discovered that every time an item is removed the cost is added to the room’s account, lol! They replaced all the items and then the concierge turned up with my fridge for the next couple of nights! Victa took it with my things in and covered them with ice, oh my! I then had to ring them again to get the hot pot so I could have hot water for my tea. When it came it is actually a jug/kettle similar to what we have in NZ!

Later, I was in panic stations, I could not find my NZ cell phone. I searched both cases and eventually found it wrapped in the bag with my NZ money, phew!! this was so I would not lose it, lolI Thank goodness the rest of the night was calm!

Tuesday
I decided to walk to the Navy Pier early this afternoon. It was a longish walk but would be good exercise before my flights home. As I left the hotel I realised it was colder than the forecast but I was not about to go back and change, lol!

I have to say that the 'right turn on red' rule is fine for the cars but is not so good for pedestrians. 

On the way to the Pier I waited at a traffic lights for the little white man and he came on, an idiot decided to try and turn right and blocked the crossing, I gave him a few choice words and pointed at the white man. 

A woman walking behind me, laughed and told me it had happened to her earlier. Apparently, if someone is on the crossing, cars are not supposed to cross it, ha ha!! I apologised to the woman for my "french", lol!!

I took quite a few photos from a park on the northern side before heading alongside the pier on the southern side and then inside. I decided to get  myself a coffee and almond croissant at ‘Goddess and The Baker’, love that name! Ben and Jerry’s next door had no ice cream, lol!

There is a huge water treatment plant behind the pier that supplies the whole city and suburbs. 

There are black posts, between the trees, with reflective material that are lit up at night. If anyone breaks the line between them it will send an alarm to those on duty inside. 

A guy walking his two gorgeous dogs told me all about the plant. There are also two large pumping stations out in the lake.

To quote my weather app, 39 and feels like 34, so it was cool enough for bare arms! At least one arm was warm, lol! The boats were still making trips onto the lake but not sure for how much longer! 

I stopped and asked a couple of lasses if they would like me to take a photo of them together in exchange for one of them taking a photo of myself, a deal was struck, lol!!

On the way back, I stopped to pet a friendly dog, she was gorgeous, and her owner and I got chatting as he asked me about my shoulder. As we parted he said, "Have a good day kiddo!!", lol, he was probably younger that myself!!

Once back at the hotel, I changed the ice in my 'fridge', wrote the blog and packed. Then an early shower and more egg sammies for tea!

The ACME hotel is a bit different, it has small chalkboards on each door and you write 'do not disturb' etc! 

IT plays a large part what with the mini bar, a tray of treats, that all record to your room, plau they have Alexa, lol! 

I am not sure I would stay here again but I have to say the staff are very friendly an helpful.