Sunday dawned and the second half of 48 hours in Chicago had begun. The first part is here: 48 Hours in Chicago. The morning was designated for sessions at the conference, however, we had learned that the conference hosts had provided the attendees with three tours of Chicago to choose from for Sunday afternoon pleasure, on a double-decker tour bus.
The tour guide in the red shirt wasn’t our first guide. Minutes after the bus pulled out of the station (so to speak) our original guide went down the spiral staircase with an “I’ll be back in a minute” announcement. When she returned, she picked up the microphone to begin the tour. She was in the front of the bus with her back to the goings-on ahead, when suddenly someone yelled “Duck” to our guide. She ducked briefly, raised up and hit her head on the bottom of an overhead we were riding under. She went down as a passenger rushed to her side. The driver was informed and we pulled to the side of the road to await an ambulance.
The tour got off to a rough, traumatic start. The woman was given a good prognosis and taken to a hospital to be checked out. Thoughts and prayers are with her.
Greg, the stand-in tour guide, was informative and a well-versed Chicago native who regaled us with many tales of the city.
This is the Aqua building, an amazing condominium building designed by a woman! No two balconies, are alike which totally rocks.
And the famous clock, though I must admit, I didn’t know there was a famous “Meet me under the clock” clock in Chicago. Apparently there is. Who knew?
We drove by Solider Field and Navy Pier, which was wall-to-wall people, once you got passed the curb-to-curb parking lot called a road. I would have loved to have walked around, finding a nice table beside Lake Michigan by which to dine. Didn’t happen because our tour was still in progress.
The tour guide showed us the building where Alice Cooper resides, and where Oprah and Sammy Sosa once lived, though not together, I’m guessing.
The tour ended at the John Hancock Center, an upscale part of the city near Mag Mile where there is dining, shopping and attraction opportunities galore!
We found an alfresco Italian cafe, Bella Bacino’s, to grab a bite before hailing our last taxi back to the hotel to attend the evening event at the conference.
The weather was perfect and the food was delicious. The bruschetta was a great appetizer and the cheese pizza was delish.
The beauty that surrounded us as we ate is unparalleled to anything I have seen because I don’t live in a big city nor do I frequent one as big as Chicago on a regular basis.
I loved the Trump building which reflected the other side of the street. It was a perfect time of day for that.
The final day in Chicago was short but sweet. I awoke to the sun glistening on Lake Michigan, a special time of day. The view out the window of the Hyatt Regency was stunning.
The morning ended with a walk along Lake Michigan before we hit the road.
48 hours in Chicago was a full and fun weekend.
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