So and as soon as I was home, I'm back again in the US. If I'm honest it feels like I haven't left, even though somethings are different. The exchange group I became extremely close to have all gone home to their home university's and I am here alone with the American's. I have also changed halls and have a new roommate. I'm enjoying my new classes and am picking up some useful skills including Italian diction, French diction and conducting.
It was hard getting back into routine after such a fantastic time in the city of Chicago. Originally I was quite nervous about going to the city as their was tremendous storm across the north of the US the week I was meant to fly out. The weather most days was around -25c. Luckily by the time I flew out it was only -12 and it warmed up over the few days I was there.
I spent the first day in the town of Frankfort (which is just outside Chicago) and had my first real Chicago deep pan pizza. It was pretty lush, I won't lie.
You don't get this in the shops.
The first day was pretty chilled. I was quite sick over the holidays and was still ill when I arrived in the city. I was also stupidly jetlagged and wasn't impressed that I was put on an old BA flight. It didn't even have a TV on the seat - what the hell is up with that?!
The second day I spent in Chicago and it was pretty jam-packed. At first we headed into Chinatown and we tried lots of different herbal teas and some Chinese bakery goods. We had the most fantastic lunch at a restaurant in the quarter, making us suitably stuffed for the day. After that, we headed to the art museum - before I go on, America WTF. Why do you charge for your museums?! I can't even get over this. Anyway...
Such a beautiful art gallery and if I'm honest, there was too much to see in a short amount of time. However, I found a really exciting new artist called Monika Baer and I found myself really interested in her work.
We had lunch in the area and then headed to central Chicago. It was here that I completed my dream and I stepped into 'Rock and Roll McDonalds'.
I have achieved everything I wanted in life and more.
Walking through the city we walked past the Chicago river (still covered in ice) and we found ourselves outside the Chicago Lyric Opera. A very special moment for me.
As we continued on through the city, it started to rain. And it didn't stop. I didn't know it could rain when the temperature was below zero...
We stopped at a coffee shop - pretty disappointing, tasted like cigarette butts - and headed to a fantastic Italian restaurant called Quartinos. I would say it was possibly the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to in my life.
Good shout Eli.
After dinner, we swam through the city and found the car and headed to the evening's entertainment - the Blue Man group.
Eli had kept quiet about this group and I wasn't really sure what I was going to expect. All I can say is that it was pretty fantastic, but I can't really describe what happened... I've posted a link to one of their acts, but this is just one part of a large item...
We headed back to Frankfort and we were so tired that we just went to bed. In the morning we packed for a mighty sixteen hour drive back to UNT.
The first day was the drive to Springfield, Missouri (apparently the largest meth county in the US) and that took around nine hours. We stopped in St. Louis, which was a nice town and we crossed the Mississippi River as we left Illinois.
We finally arrived in Springfield and stayed out our friends house - well, log cabin.
It was a really beautiful house and we were really welcomed. We headed off early in the morning and drove through Missouri and Oklahoma as we approached the mighty state of Texas.
I can't say I think much of Oklahoma. It's just.... barren...
After seven hours we got into UNT and since then it feels like I haven't left.
However I can now say:
- I have been to four states in the U.S - Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas
- Driven over 1000 miles in America
- Crossed the Mississippi
- Visited the city of Chicago
Here's to more travelling!
The second day I spent in Chicago and it was pretty jam-packed. At first we headed into Chinatown and we tried lots of different herbal teas and some Chinese bakery goods. We had the most fantastic lunch at a restaurant in the quarter, making us suitably stuffed for the day. After that, we headed to the art museum - before I go on, America WTF. Why do you charge for your museums?! I can't even get over this. Anyway...
Such a beautiful art gallery and if I'm honest, there was too much to see in a short amount of time. However, I found a really exciting new artist called Monika Baer and I found myself really interested in her work.
I also saw an incredibly famous work of art, the 'American Gothic'.
After the art exhibition we headed to Millennium Park, which looked so beautiful in the snow. I couldn't get over how deep it was! I had some fun traipsing around the park...
We ended up looking at the Palladium and the famous Chicago 'Bean'. A lot of people were there, taking photos of themselves in the Bean. Of course, I joined in...
After going to the Bean, we looked at several other sites around the city including the theatres, the ABC news studio, Intelligensia Coffee and the Chicago Cultural exhibit. Before I arrived in Chicago, I didn't think I was going to think very much of the city, but before I knew it, I found myself falling in love with it slightly. It was a very imposing city, with tall buildings and wide roads, but cleaner than New York. There was a lot going on, but not too much. You weren't constantly knocked into.
We headed home after that, I was feeling pretty ill throughout the day and in the end, I was just exhausted. The next day was another early start, but instead it began with a coffee tasting class at 'Counter Culture' in the arts district of the city. It was a pretty interesting experience and as per usual, my taste buds were DA BOMB.
We had lunch in the area and then headed to central Chicago. It was here that I completed my dream and I stepped into 'Rock and Roll McDonalds'.
I have achieved everything I wanted in life and more.
Walking through the city we walked past the Chicago river (still covered in ice) and we found ourselves outside the Chicago Lyric Opera. A very special moment for me.
As we continued on through the city, it started to rain. And it didn't stop. I didn't know it could rain when the temperature was below zero...
We stopped at a coffee shop - pretty disappointing, tasted like cigarette butts - and headed to a fantastic Italian restaurant called Quartinos. I would say it was possibly the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to in my life.
Good shout Eli.
After dinner, we swam through the city and found the car and headed to the evening's entertainment - the Blue Man group.
Eli had kept quiet about this group and I wasn't really sure what I was going to expect. All I can say is that it was pretty fantastic, but I can't really describe what happened... I've posted a link to one of their acts, but this is just one part of a large item...
We headed back to Frankfort and we were so tired that we just went to bed. In the morning we packed for a mighty sixteen hour drive back to UNT.
The first day was the drive to Springfield, Missouri (apparently the largest meth county in the US) and that took around nine hours. We stopped in St. Louis, which was a nice town and we crossed the Mississippi River as we left Illinois.
We finally arrived in Springfield and stayed out our friends house - well, log cabin.
It was a really beautiful house and we were really welcomed. We headed off early in the morning and drove through Missouri and Oklahoma as we approached the mighty state of Texas.
I can't say I think much of Oklahoma. It's just.... barren...
After seven hours we got into UNT and since then it feels like I haven't left.
However I can now say:
- I have been to four states in the U.S - Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas
- Driven over 1000 miles in America
- Crossed the Mississippi
- Visited the city of Chicago
Here's to more travelling!
