The 3rd largest city in the United States lying
on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago gets its name from “Shikaakwa” meaning
“Stinky onion”. Weird right!
Right from the airport to travelling in the L train, from throwing all my stuff in the hostel to finally reaching the aqua waters of Lake Michigan, Chicago offers different panoramas and experiences at every step. It gives you a feel of walking in a big metropolitan city yet feeling at home.
The first breeze in “The windy city” is sure going to give you goosebumps but towards the end of your journey, you would fall in love with it. I walked from the hostel towards Grant Park and found the Buckingham Fountain to be closed for repair. But it didn’t matter. I was still sinking in the fact that I was on my “FIRST SOLO TRIP”. Don’t know if that was what gave me goosebumps, or the breeze. It was insane!
The only time I felt alone was when I walked out of my room to the world outside. But I didn’t realize when that feeling vanished and I felt one with everything around me. I could talk to anyone around me about anything and they didn’t feel like strangers at all.
This is the best part about travelling solo. You come out of your comfort zone and surprise yourself in ways you wouldn’t believe.And since I prefer being a traveler than a tourist, I tend to not plan too well. I just go with the flow. That’s what I did, walked around following my instincts. When I was walking towards the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, I found Myriam, my roomate at the hostel and we accompanied each other the entire day.
I finally got to see the work of the Living Legends of
architecture- Zaha Hadid’s Aqua and Frank’O Gehry’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an
Amphitheatre you’d WOW at.
The “Proud to be an Indian” moment was when I stood in front of the iconic CLOUD GATE or “the bean “ as the locals call it, designed by Anish Kapoor. It truly is a marvel. The sculpture does not only reflect the city beautifully, but also forms interesting patterns when you go under it.
Next to the Cloud Gate is the Crown Fountain, a video
sculpture made of glass bricks displaying random faces of Chicagoans. The water
flowing out of the spout every 7 minutes like it’s flowing out of their mouths, comes as a surprise. It was funny to watch people wait for 6 minutes to get a picture with that.
Apart from walking, the best way to explore the city is to pick up a divvy bike for the entire day. It gets a little frustrating in the beginning trying to understand how it works, but you get adjusted in a few hours. Day 2 was pretty much on the bike. I rode from Grant park following the water towards Navy Pier that hosts some of the best events in the city. But i didn't stay there for long. Guess i was missing the bike!
The ride from Navy
Pier to the North Avenue Beach was the best memory I have from Chicago. I went as slow as I could, watching the
marvelous architecture on the left that totally complemented the turquoise
water on the right. Like a slow motion picture! i'd name it "Tranquility" :)
The beach was quiet and serene. I sat there for a few hours adoring the skyline on this cloudy day and trying out some cheesy poses, intending to make them look candid. Please tell me I succeeded! :D
And there it came- the “Sunshine”, like glitter on the water, giving warmth to the body and the soul. So so Dreamy!
I rode back smiling at the city that welcomed me with warmth and chill. The ride to the planetarium, the opposite side was even incredible.
In the evening I relished on some deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s, something that anyone who goes to Chicago should try out. And yes, the local beer of course, whichever suits your taste. Before I went back to hostel to crash, I walked for hours along the riverwalk. Its a pleasant stroll beneath the movable bridges. An ultimate ending to a "Solo but not-so-solo day" at Chicago!
I just had 2 days to live the city, to get the cold shivers. It was NOT enough. It’s never enough anywhere I go. But that’s the point. I get an excuse to go back there again. :P
PS: Other recommendations
- If you are into Art, look out for exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago. You can even visit the Museum of Contemporary Arts if you have the time.
- For the museum freaks, Field museum, the planetarium and the museum of Science and Industry are crazy places to spend time.
- Take Chicago architecture boat tour to know more about its diverse architecture, if walking isn't for you.
- Willis tower (Sears tower) to experience the
city’s breathtaking views from the 103rd floor Skydeck.
- Eat the famous hot dogs.
- Check out the Cultural Centre for exhibitions. Chicago Architectural Biennial would go on till January 2016.
- Walk around Wicker Park for an artistic and fun street atmosphere. You’d find some cool restaurants out here.
- Go shopping/ window shopping at the Magnificent Mile.
- Take the “L Train” wherever you go, especially from the Airport to Downtown. It’s like time travel, from the cute artistic communities to high rise buildings.
- If you are travelling alone or with friends, I’d recommend you to stay in a Hostel. I stayed in Hi Chicago. It’s neat, cheap, safe and close to the water.
- October really isn’t the best season to visit Chicago since the winters have stepped in and a few touristy places would be shut down for the year. But it’s a great time if you don’t want to be crowded with tourists. Weekends do have some “Fall” events going on and weekdays are quieter.
