Diamond Jublilee: Greektown through downtown, Chicago

I arrived in Chicago from St Louis in the late afternoon and quickly walked to the hotel. I stayed in a hostel (at least with a private room), because all other options were way over budget. I discovered that I was in Greektown which ended up being a godsend since it meant many cheap food choices were available (and during COVID most of Chicago's restaurants had gone to take-away only).

I found something to eat and then relaxed in the room. The following day I would head off to Milwaukee, but I selected a later train that would allow me to enjoy a half-day in the city and not put me in Milwaukee ahead of American hotels' often ridiculously late check in times (4:00pm?? really??)

Unfortunately, it rained (and it was cold!)

strange art on the street of Greektown

I woke up and stowed my bags with the front desk. The weather was depressing, but I couldn't be greedy - it was the first full rain day I experienced on the trip.

I made my way through downtown toward the lake retracing many steps from trips where Brian showed me the city. I forgot how compact downtown Chicago is.

300 S. Wacker Drive. I loved the "you are here" mural/map.

I crossed the river and soon passed under the Sears Tower (Willis Tower - but it will always remain Sears in my mind). I never liked it, although Brian and I went to the top years earlier.

Willis Tower

I don't think any visit to Chicago can be complete without walking under the "El". The Loop is such an integral part of a visit to Chicago even without riding it. The experience is not only visual, but also auditory. I love listening to the trains pass overhead on those old, iron viaducts.

In keeping with the general theme of the trip, I passed by the Federal Reserve Bank (third one).

And, I stopped at one of my favorite plaques in the US. It commemorates the establishment of time zones (previously every place had its own time based on the position of the sun). Rail travel meant faster travel - something had to be done. In 1883, under pressure from the railroad companies, the US time zones were set. Interestingly, a year later in Washington (not London), Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian were established so Europe could follow suit.

An American invention (kind of) - the time zone.

As I drew closer to the lake, I happened upon an interesting (modern) building that attempted to capture Chicago's older architectural style. It turned out to be the Public Library. I ventured inside (it was open) to check it out. The only "new" place I visited on the walkabout, it provided some shelter from the rain (that had intensified).

July 2021

After the sky cleared, I continued across Michigan Avenue to the parks along the lake. It had been a nostalgic walk (and my first in Chicago not in winter). I looked forward to seeing the city's famous lakeside parkland in the summer.