Monday, March 24, 2008

Birthdays are better than Easter.

So, we didn't exactly pick the best weekend to travel to Chicago, weather-wise. But I can't help when my birthday is. Still, the snow on Friday was pretty unfortunate.


So Friday was not exactly the day for outdoor sightseeing, which was too bad because Chicago has a double-decker bus tour and I love those. Still, we had fun shopping, and then we met up with two fabulous Chicago bloggers, Nilsa and pseudostoops, to watch the UNC game in a sports bar. We had an absolutely fantastic time, and both of those women are amazing people and now, amazing friends. I had never met anyone from blogland before, and I was really impressed at how well and how easily we got along. And also, they gave me the sweetest birthday present of a Dominican Republic travel guide, along with a map and magazine about Chicago to help us plan our weekend. All wrapped in purple paper, of course. Because they are fabulous and also very thoughtful. I'm only jealous that the two of them live near each other and get to hang out whenever they want.


The weather cleared up on Saturday, though it was not exactly balmy, so Torsten and I walked all over town, starting by taking the El up to a little shopping neighborhood near Lincoln Park. The sun was an incredibly welcome feeling. But we couldn't believe that the ticket machines only took cash and did not give change.


We walked down by the lake, which Torsten had never seen before, and it was very pretty, despite all the snow on the beaches and the incredible, slippery slush on all the walking paths. I love cities that are really on the water, and no, the Potomac doesn't make DC count. Walking along the lake made me really wish, even more than usual, that we had a dog.


We also tried to take the Ferris wheel on the Navy Pier, but for some inconceivable reason, it wasn't operating. Something to do with the open cars and ridiculous wind, perhaps? Hard to tell, but at least it was photogenic.


We capped off the trip with the obligatory trip up the tall building at night. It was no Empire State Building, but it was still very pretty. Although the view of the Navy Pier was another bitter reminder of the Ferris Wheel Ride That Wasn't. Oh, well. I'll just have to hold out for London's Millennium Wheel next month.


You can see the rest of the photos (pretty much all taken by Torsten) here.

40 comments:

  1. birthdays are definitely better than easter ;)

    glad you guys had fun despite the snow! you look so COLD in that first pic!

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  2. it looks cold but nice...happy belated bday :)

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  3. Actually the Ferris wheel was pretty freakin scary. Looks lovely!

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  4. I LOVE Chicago! It's such a great city and what a great place to spend a birthday, cold and snow notwithstanding.

    Happy Birthday!

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  5. i'm so glad you had such a fun weekend! the snow sucks, but.. um.. maybe that makes you appreciate the flowers that are out in dc more now? maybe? i'm reaching :-)

    i'm SO JEALOUS you got to hang out with the chicago bloggers! that's so fun. yaaay for good bday weekends! and happy belated birthday again!

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  6. Sorry you didn't have better weather but I'm glad you still had fun!

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  7. I'm cold just THINKING about riding that ferris wheel in that weather.

    Hope you had a great birthday!

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  8. Great pictures! Happy birthday!


    I love seeing my city through other people's eyes :)

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  9. That ferris wheel looks very cool. Think it will be open this weekend?

    That first picture of you in the snow cracked me up!

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  10. Happy belated birthday!

    Love the pics. I can't wait to go back to Chicago.

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  11. Yeah for your trip to Chicago! It was such fun meeting you - and thank you for putting up with my, ummm, friends. C'mon, we'd been at the bar since 2!!! :-) Sorry the weather wasn't perfect, but clearly provided many good stories from your weekend. Now, I want your recap on food - you were hitting some local favorites!

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  12. Sounds like a wonderful birthday weekend, even though mother nature could have been more cooperative. What a bummer that the ferris wheel wasn't operating. Although it made a great photo!

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  13. Aww, you guys are adorable! :) Happy late birthday!

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  14. You guys are like matching in your gray coats- so cute in the snowstorm!

    Chicago looks like an awesome city. I really need to visit! Glad you had such a great time. :)

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  15. What great pictures! Despite the snow it looked like you had a great time!

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  16. glad you had a good time and happy belated birthday!

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  17. It looks like you had so much fun! I went to Chicago during Spring Break of my junior year in college and it snowed then too! It's still a great city, either way. That last picture is amazing!

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  18. The pics are AWESOME!! Sorry it didn't turn out quite like you wanted, but glad yous till had a great time.

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  19. Awesome pictures. I love going to places and just wandering around, seeing stuff, taking picures, shopping...

    Happy belated birthday.

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  20. Oooh, pretty pictures! Glad you had fun, and in case I didn't already tell you HAPPY be-lated BIRTHDAY. You are so cool - I can tell. :)

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  21. Whooo! Look at that snow! Definately the same weather we had going on here in MN. ick. Pretty, but I'm soooo over it. Looks like you had some fun regardless though!

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  22. Happy Birthday!
    I sounds like you guys had an amazing time despite the snow...thanks for sharing!

    I'm heading out to Chicago on Thursday, but I won't be brave enough to get on that ferris wheel no matter what the weather is like, so you're already a better woman than me :)

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  23. I hope you'll make a return trip to Chicago in better weather... and when I live there!

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  24. Looks like it was really a great trip despite the weather! I'm glad that you had such a great time!

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  25. The snow may have not been ideal, but it did make for a great picture of the two of you. Glad it was a good birthday weekend and once again, Happy Birthday!

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  26. You weren't kidding when you said there was a blizzard! My goodness! Sounds fun, regardless. And I already told you, but happy belated birthday.

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  27. Looks like a lot of fun! Sorry about the crappy weather!

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  28. Looks like you had a great time!!!

    I would love to meet some friends from Blogland, but I haven't found any near me way down here.

    I need to work on that!

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  29. that looks like a ton of fun. and ridiculously cold. I am a little jealous. but not of the weather. Bummer about the ferris wheels. I have no idea why I am writing in such mini random sentences.


    Happy Birthday again!

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  30. Oh no! Snow on your weekend getaway? I'm so sorry Chicago didn't cooperate. Sounds like you still had a great time, though. And happy birthday!!

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  31. Oh poop, snow. It looked pretty in the pictures though.

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  34. Oh my! You look sooo cold in that first one. I'm glad you had a great time!

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  35. Happy Belated Birthday! I'm glad you had fun, despite the weather.

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  37. When I heard the other day that Chicago was getting pounded with snow I thought of you, but it still looks like you have a fun trip...and more importantly a good birthday! :-)

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  38. Meeting bloggie friends in real life is AMAZING.

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  39. Hey! My birthday was Friday too! Hope you had a good one :)

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  40. I, too, thought of you on Friday as I watching the unbelievable snow billow down outside the house that I did not leave that entire day.... it was horrendous. And, since I'm just over the WI/IL border along Lake Michigan (on the WI side) I was not too far from you AND the farther north you go, the worse the snow - AND they're calling for at least another 6 inches of the crap tomorrow. SOOOOO TIRED OF SNOW you have no idea. We've been pounded all winter. Not to mention the horrific flooding all this snow then melting then snow then melting is causing.

    Wow, I definitely am not a good candidate for the Illinois or Wisconsin tourism department am I?

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