Civic Space
A city is defined by its public areas, art and architecture and in all of these Chicago is top notch. I have gone a bit photo wacky these past couple of days.
The new Millennium Park is one of the coolest civic spaces I've ever been in with truly breathtaking sculpture and an outrageious outdoor stage. It's at the northern tip of the huge Grant Park which stretches along the front of the magnificent Lake Michigan, it's not like you need to build right up to the water when you go up 112 stories.
Apparently I can post photos on here but it doesn't seemto want to co-operate so you'll just have to wait.
Amid all of the architectural splendour rises the impressively ugly Sears Tower again confusing the issue of world's tallest building by claiming the highest occupied floor. The funny thing it that it seems to be the fashion to copy it with two other black monoliths with twin white antennae sprouting forth. One of these I went up last night, all you have to do to get to the 96th floor is buy a drink in the bar there which is a win-win situation really. Minimised tourists, no lines and sometimes it is better to view the giant rather than stand on its shoulders.
Speaking of deals, it seems to be the latest trend among panhandlers to come up to you and start a conversation, pretty easy to target someone lugging a 20kg pack and then a short way after "so where you from? Let me guess Sweeden, the Czech Republic, England? Noo Zeeeland that's by Switzerland isn't it? Say man can you help a brother out ..."
Now I still stand by what I have written previously but this is often coming from people who are better dressed tahn I am. Also I'm getting pretty sick of getting singled out cos I'm white - what makes you think I've got more change in my pocket than these black guys in suits around me, honestly it happens all the time. When I think about it it doesn't seem like such a bad rub getting a buck or two for a conversation I don't want to have, but to pay and commune is just a rip.
One thing that I haven't mentioned yet are fireflies which I first encountered in Nashville. Impossible to record on film unfortunately but fun when you're walking down a street to have all these little flashes of light flitting about.
Today I'm going to go to Lincoln Park Zoo, apparently it's free - booyah, and a Cubs game a Wrigley Field. Pretty much just leaves Fenway Park in Boston to go in terms of iconic baseball fields to visit.
Something that definitely helps when travelling is seeming to being blessed with an innate sense of direction. So far I have had little trouble with any of the places I've been and been able to navigate without a map fairly easily, even when exiting subways and the like I seem to know what way to head. But Chicago is messing with me. It's as if the compass has been turned around 90 degrees counter clockwise and I can't quite get used to it.
The new Millennium Park is one of the coolest civic spaces I've ever been in with truly breathtaking sculpture and an outrageious outdoor stage. It's at the northern tip of the huge Grant Park which stretches along the front of the magnificent Lake Michigan, it's not like you need to build right up to the water when you go up 112 stories.
Apparently I can post photos on here but it doesn't seemto want to co-operate so you'll just have to wait.
Amid all of the architectural splendour rises the impressively ugly Sears Tower again confusing the issue of world's tallest building by claiming the highest occupied floor. The funny thing it that it seems to be the fashion to copy it with two other black monoliths with twin white antennae sprouting forth. One of these I went up last night, all you have to do to get to the 96th floor is buy a drink in the bar there which is a win-win situation really. Minimised tourists, no lines and sometimes it is better to view the giant rather than stand on its shoulders.
Speaking of deals, it seems to be the latest trend among panhandlers to come up to you and start a conversation, pretty easy to target someone lugging a 20kg pack and then a short way after "so where you from? Let me guess Sweeden, the Czech Republic, England? Noo Zeeeland that's by Switzerland isn't it? Say man can you help a brother out ..."
Now I still stand by what I have written previously but this is often coming from people who are better dressed tahn I am. Also I'm getting pretty sick of getting singled out cos I'm white - what makes you think I've got more change in my pocket than these black guys in suits around me, honestly it happens all the time. When I think about it it doesn't seem like such a bad rub getting a buck or two for a conversation I don't want to have, but to pay and commune is just a rip.
One thing that I haven't mentioned yet are fireflies which I first encountered in Nashville. Impossible to record on film unfortunately but fun when you're walking down a street to have all these little flashes of light flitting about.
Today I'm going to go to Lincoln Park Zoo, apparently it's free - booyah, and a Cubs game a Wrigley Field. Pretty much just leaves Fenway Park in Boston to go in terms of iconic baseball fields to visit.
Something that definitely helps when travelling is seeming to being blessed with an innate sense of direction. So far I have had little trouble with any of the places I've been and been able to navigate without a map fairly easily, even when exiting subways and the like I seem to know what way to head. But Chicago is messing with me. It's as if the compass has been turned around 90 degrees counter clockwise and I can't quite get used to it.
2 Comments:
I'm enjoying these posts tom.
I heard a rumor that you maybe choosing to stay in america. Can you confirm or deny this?
Don't know, maybe if you identified yourself ;){
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