Chicago Sights

After experiencing Chicago through Morton’s, Garrett, Pizzeria Uno and Gino's East, I had every reason to think that I’m good and can stay cool for the rest of my stay. Anything beyond is a bonus.

Such contented feeling set the pace for a leisurely do-it-yourself riverside walking tour from where the Union Station and Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) are, up to the John Hancock Observatory. It was a very long walk but seeing the Chicago River up close framed by sky-high buildings both classic and modern, Chicago’s iconic steel bridges spanning a good stretch of the river and al fresco restaurants and bars dotting the riverbanks made the riverside walk less taxing.

A slight detour to the Millennium Park, passing through the Magnificent Mile where lots of stores and shops are, is also worth every single step.


Where we started. Union Station and Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower):

I take it to mean that Union Station is Chicago's counterpart

to New York City's Grand Central Terminal, but the latter is

more grandiose, elegant and beautiful. As it is, Union Station

is a vital link to the railway network of the US as trains here 

take passengers to key cities like New York and Washington, DC 

and even to San Francisco in the West Coast.  

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower); 

often visited for its ledge that affords

a breathtaking view of its environs.

What we saw. The river of course, accented by the age-old steel and steel-decked bridges of Chicago. The city's classic and modern landmarks also dot the riverbanks with a good number of bars and restaurants to choose from. 

One of the steel bridges near the Union Station and Willis Tower; watching

the bridge split in half and raised for a few moments is quite a spectacle.

Might be hard to imagine that Chicago River used to be one of the 

dirtiest and most polluted rivers several decades back but through 

conscious and deliberate restorative efforts, it has become one of 

the cleanest; certainly a ray of hope for our Pasig River. 

The bars and restaurants by the river provide good respite from long

and arduous walks. One can easily drop by for some coolers or canapes.

One of the double-decked bridges spanning across the Chicago River;

this one I believe connects the south and north sides of Michigan Avenue.

Looks like the river is one of the top earners for the city 

with its numerous day and night tours.

Where we ended up in. After hitting Michigan Avenue Bridge, we headed for John Hancock Observatory to view the city from a different perspective. One is usually torn between choosing Willis Tower or the John Hancock; or one can do both but there are financial implications - admission fees do not come cheap. In my case, I chose John Hancock because for one, I sensed somehow that it affords the better view both of the city and the enormous Lake Michigan and the fact that there are more interesting dining places near the observatory - Cheesecake Factory, Ghirardelli, Hershey's, etc. 

L: view from John Hancock showing the Navy Pier protruding into Lake Michigan

R: view from John Hancock showing what they call the lakeside beach/es. 

The high-rise on extreme right is Willis Tower; that's where we came from 

before ending up in John Hancock Observatory. 'Twas a long walk indeed.

Ghirardelli vs. Hershey's. An interesting sidelight across the John Hancock Observatory is the battle royale between these two chocolate icons. Crossing the street is like cruising between Scylla and Charybdis. 

Which one would you choose?; Hershey's building is nice though.

The Millennium Park. We made a slight detour to Millennium Park to see its amazing centerpiece, British artist Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate which is popularly called the Bean, obviously owing to its shape as seen front and back. This sculptural monolith provides yet again a view of the city from another eye. More pieces of public art are also on display within the park.

The Cloud Gate a.k.a The Bean

I am somewhere "inside" . . .

Everyone is practically drawn towards this singular artistic piece to 

marvel at it and to admire themselves and the captive view. People 

really stop, stare and photograph themselves as captured by The Bean.

Oh how I love Chicago. I wanna be back there someday.