The city you can never predict — Chicago
They say every city has a story to tell. A story that captures its essence but what is it about Chicago that draws you to it? Is it the architecture along the Chicago River’s banks? Or is it the stunning view of the pristine blue Lake Michigan? Whatever it was, it wasn’t the weather.
I landed on a rare sunny afternoon on an airline like Southwest. If you have flown on it, you know you can’t pre-book your space. But, priority boarding is such a blessing. Especially for those fascinated by window seats. Luckily I found one in the second row. The Windy City is a sight from the air. The city stood tall and proud on the shores of the lake. For someone who had always been fascinated with New York, I was in complete awe of the city and a convert. I couldn’t wait to get my feet on the ground.
The drive from the airport to downtown was a long and slow one, because of rush hour traffic. But, it gave me a chance to view the skyline from afar. The one thing I looked forward to in this city was the famous coffee shop — Starbucks Reserve. With five floors to itself, it was perfect for every coffee-obsessed person more so for its cocktail menu. Each cocktail with its theatrics was an ode to the coffee. To complement the cocktail, we ordered a Tiramisu. It was beautifully constructed with slight chunks of chocolate in the layers, melting in your mouth. After an indulgent snack, we walked towards the Chicago River. Also known as the river that turns green for St. Patty’s. Along the banks of the river, you’ll find pieces of history in the form of buildings. With each piece of architecture, you learn a little bit more about the history of the city. How it came to be after the Great Chicago Fire. Imagine cruising on a boat in the middle of the city surrounded by tall structures glimmering in the last rays of the sun. The transition to night light is a sight for sore eyes. With the night light comes the nightlife. It only made sense to indulge in a deep-dish pizza before heading towards the various bars the city had to offer. With cheese oozing out, I could sort of manage a slice but it was worth trying at least once.
Day two was more for brunching and relaxing by the lakeside but the weather had its own plan. Halfway through the day, we got drenched in rain. It was worth noting that the day started as a perfect beach day for the locals. You could see half the city out by the lake catching some tan or swimming in the water. There was still clear blue water as far as the eyes could see. I could imagine myself sitting with a book and coffee by the lakeside on any weekend had I been living in that city. Of course, the condition would be as long as the city doesn’t intend to be freezing. But then again that sort of seems to be its MO because when I woke up the next day, it was snowing. Over 3 days, I saw a perfect summer day and a glimpse of Chicago winter. With a steaming hot cup of tea in hand, we went to check out Millennium Park. Although not a good idea considering it was windy and cold, I had to see The Bean or rather the Cloud Gate. A piece of art installed in the park shaped like an inverted Bean, the idea was to capture the movement in the park. It is one of the key attractions of Chicago. Also one of the world’s largest permanent outdoor art installations. Like a typical tourist, I ensured I got my photograph clicked beside it. But needed something warm after that and soup dumplings in Chinatown only made sense. Unfortunately due to the weather, even the Navy Pier was difficult to explore. It looked like the calm before the storm. You could only wait and see what was meant for the city.
With so much still left to explore, the weekend came to an end too soon. Will have to make a list of things left. But for now, the Museums and the Sky Decks await amongst the metallic forest by the lake. It is a known fact that Chicago in the summer is beautiful but even in this uncertain weather the city managed to surprise me in every manner. Guess, New York is going to have to wait because I have found a new favorite.
Copyright © 2023 Sonika
