We finally went into the city! For so long we have been sitting on our duffs in Crystal lake selling, selling, selling, selling. We finally thought that since we had settled down and figured the routine out, we would go have a bit of fun. We had anticipated a small trip on Saturday the entire week, but we never really planned what we would do. When Saturday came and we got off work at 4, we were in a rush to even find out how to get into the city. We found out that the train left at 6pm and the last train left the city at 10:30. That meant that we would get there about 7:20 and only have about 3 hours to play in the city.The train ride down proved to be a bit interesting...
there were two girls sitting next to us that we started talking to- they were both drinking very large cans of beer and telling us about all the bars that we could go to. They were gross. But helpful. Upon arriving on the city we realized something that we forgot. A map. Directions. ANYTHING to get around town. We walked aimlessly for a while slowly realizing that all the really tall business buildings didnt offer any type of food or fun... just stuff to look at. We kept walking and found ourselves in a not so desirable place... but it was by the city train, so we went to see if we could get somewhere better. This is where the drunk girls came to the rescue. We found them in the train terminal getting tickets to go to Lincoln park, where apparently a lot of restaurants are. We followed them there, and after a very long walk through city neighborhoods (not scary, no worries) we found a bunch of restaurants. I ate at this place called pasta palazzo- it was way good! Everything was 10 bucks or less, and the portions were pretty big. It was a really cool place... after that it was getting to be about 10pm, and the train left at 10:30 to get home... the drunk girls had mentioned that there was another train after the 10:30, but we werent positive if they were right or not. So we started back. In the process a bunch of us got split up and there were stragglers, but I and one other got to the train station just in time for the 10:30... on the platform we asked a man if there was a train after the 10:30 and he said no. WHAT? All the other guys (14 of them) weren't there and wouldn't make it. The other kid and I got on the train and we were a bit concerned for the rest. I called Trent and told him to run his guts out to try and make it, so he started belting through down town Chicago to try and make it to the train on time. I then noticed that there was a conductor right outside the train and we asked him if there was a later train... apparently there was a 12:30 train, so we were all right. We got off, and had another two hours in the city. After that we all met up and went to look at the Sears tower and other stuff in the city... but it was the middle of the night. Hahahahaha (I don't recommend walking the city at midnight). There was NOBODY walking around except for scary drunk homeless dudes that want to chat their heads off to any soul that would give them the time of day. Then it started to rain. By this time I was WAY happy that we missed the 10:30 train... but I have to admit, it was a fun adventure being downtown when nobody but a group of 16 guys dares to be there...
6 comments:
boys. That sounds super fun - not! I would be a stress case. I hope you have a few more chances to go to the city before we come so you know where to go and what to do. Do you remember what a mad-woman I became coming home from Palmyra?? I believe we accidentely dropped Heidi off in Harlem BY HERSELF- I still have nightmares about that. Glad you're still alive!
Ya bunch of knuckleheads! The cardinal rule is never be downtown when there aren't normal people walking around with you. You are a big old target for being mugged. I was in Cleveland Ohio once and was walking around the city about 8:00 and noticed that the only other people on the street were homeless dudes and drunks. That is a sign to get the heck out of there!
You should take a dang Saturday off and visit the city when the rest of the normal folks are there. I'm glad you are still alive to tell your tale.
I had my scariest moment in Chicago walking in a bad part of town in the middle of daylight! Zak you need to value your life more. It is fun to see the city at night though - you need to take the boat tour of the architecture during the day - that is way fun. It is cool to see the city scape from the Lake at night too. I suggest you get a copy of Frommers Guide and go into the city a couple of mornings. I'll bet the buses run then - you could hit the free day at the museums. You for sure need to see the Chicago museum. You'll be blown away!
That's funny Zak. I think those are the best memories--when the day is unplanned and you really don't know where in the heck you are--I guess there is more opportunity for danger though. I can't believe you saw the drinking girls again! That's pretty random.
I'm glad you made it home safely.
Jaime, that was funny when we stopped to drop me off in the middle of Harlem. I think that was our only choice, since you and Zak were racing to get to the airport. There was a subway stop right there though, so it wasn't too scary.
You should have partied with the drunk girls.
Please, PLEASE don't get shot or mugged. Ok? Deal?
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