Trip to Chicago & the Midwest

+ Chicago, IL
+ Bloomington, IN
+ Detroit, MI

July 8-15, 2008

Long story short, my brother was accepted to Loyola Chicago for grad school this fall, so we decided to head out there and check it out. While we were in the Midwest, we also decided to visit our cousin down in Bloomington, IN, where she attends school at Indiana University, who then took us on a little surprise excursion to Detroit. This is our story.
 
CHICAGO
Taking the "El" train from Chicago O'Hare to our hotel in Chicago's "Magnificent Mile." Waiting to transfer from the Blue Line to the Red Line. Off at Chicago Ave.
 
Finally, off the subway and onto the pavement. Checking out what sights we could after 5 hours on a plane and an hour on the subway.
 
The way to our room at the hotel we were staying at, The Seneca (which I totally recommend, by the way, especially if you can find a deal online). Be sure to check out the Saloon Steakhouse in the lobby while you're there. Yeah, we thought it was strange that we got the one room hidden away right by the fire escape, too. If people saw us walking down that way, I'm sure they'd tell us kids not to mess around with the fire escape. I know I would.
 
Inside our room (we got a suite, so it had a fully loaded kitchen - great for all of the cooking we didn't do... :-P ). The view from our room.
 
Day 2 consisted of us getting up early to take a 40 minute ride on the Red Line up to Loyola's Lakeshore Campus (where my brother would have most of his classes). View of Lake Michigan from inside the Student Services Center.
 
Me and bro pose next to a statue of Jesus on campus.
No, we're not religious.
More of Lake Michigan. I guess Jesuits love being next to the water (if you're familiar with Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, then you know what I'm talking about).
 
On the train, passing by Wrigley Field (yes, I took out my camera too late...). An interesting sign.
 
On the edge of Chicago's Koreatown. Not yet Korean here. I know Asians love them some ping pong, but this is something I didn't even encounter while I was in Korea!
 
Views of Chicago.
 
Thought this was one of the most hilarious things I had ever seen (even though I secretly heart Oprah - shhh!). If you can get your hands on this particular issue of the Chicago Reader, the article is actually pretty interesting. A little bridge ornament thing that we encountered while crossing a freeway overpass to get to the Target (Chicago sales tax is 10.25%, by the way, so shop wisely!).
 
The building where my brother might be living. Checking to see what all the fuss with Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is about.
 
Millenium Park
 
Reflecting in the weird silver blob.
The guy in the tanktop standing right behind us in the picture on the right was this annoying British (or some other Commonwealth country) tourist that kept following me around and getting in my shot whenever I tried to take a picture. Just before I snapped this one, I was getting ready to take a shot when he forced his wife and daughter to stand right in front of me for a nice little family Kodak moment. No, I did not move out of the way. I'm sure they're at home right now looking at their pictures, and there's a nice shot of me standing right there with my hands on my hips, glaring at them. I don't know - I guess anyone visiting a foreign country can feel compelled to act a fool (you know: "what you do in Vegas stays in Vegas" mentality). And here I thought it was something characteristic only of Americans... (By the way, I just noticed that he's standing there in the picture on the left as well - on the far right, taking a picture.)
 
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry
Don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a theme here...
BP Bridge
 
Don't jump, John!!! HARPO STUDIOS!!!
 
Unfortunately, there aren't any tapings between June and August. So close, yet so far away... The Oprah Store!!!
Actually, we learned one thing after visiting The Oprah Store: it's expensive to be like Oprah.
 
Chicago's theater district ("Wicked" is currently playing at the Oriental, by the way)
 
The Hershey's Store!!!
 
And I thought there were some interesting combinations here in California... One minute, the skies are clear. Next minute, there's a torrential downpour. Crazy Chicago summers! (That's the Water Tower in the background, by the way.)
 
Up at the top of Sears Tower
 
 
The Civic Opera House Old St. Patrick's Church
 
Chicago's Greektown
Unfortunately, we had just found this place while we were killing time waiting for our train. We didn't get a chance to check out any restaurants here. :-(
Preparing ourselves for a 6 hour train ride down to Indianapolis.
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INDIANA
Views of Indiana
 
The train station in Dyer, Indiana
 
More views of Indiana
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DETROIT
Getting around on the Detroit People Mover
My brother and I decided to roam the streets of Detroit while my cousin and her boyfriend were at a friend's wedding (the reason for the surprise excursion). When we told them of our adventure, our cousin's boyfriend exclaimed with concern, "You mean the 'Mugger Mover?'" ... And here we thought it was a cute little train that reminded us of Disneyland...
The view from the People Mover.
 
We were bummed we didn't have time for Chicago's Greektown, so imagine our surprise when we discovered one existed in Detroit, complete with casino!
We killed two birds with one stone that day: yummy Greek food and gambling (I love me some penny slots!!!).
I waited 10 minutes to take a picture of this area with one of those stupid trains coming around the corner. My poor brother actually stood there and waited with me to get that shot - such a nice guy...
 
Views of Detroit
I don't know if it was because we came here on a Sunday or what, but this place was a ghost town! Yes, the casinos were packed, but the streets - I was surprised there weren't any tumbleweed blowing through. It's too bad because, as a visitor, I felt the city had so much potential! (By the way, shoppers, take advantage of Detroit's 6% sales tax!)
 
Detroit's Hart Plaza
 
The Detroit River, with good ol' Canada on the other side.
 
The GM Building
 
Back in Indiana, and taking a walk through the Indiana University, Bloomington, campus.
 
On our flight back to the OC, we get another chance to catch a glimpse of Chicago.
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