Welcome to Chicago

Yeah, you heard that right.  This is a Des Moines photoblog but we’re no more hermets than anyone else.  The next few posts will show photos taken from our half week trip to Chi-town.  This post focuses on what we saw when we first arrived and between other sights in the Chicago area.

Nice hotels in decent parts of Chicago are extremely expensive.  We instead stayed out in the Suburb of Itasca and commuted via Metra trains to Chicago each day to avoid outrageous parking costs.  You get to experience the city a little more that way also.  After exiting Union Station in Chicago, this is the great view you’re greeted with.

Our cab ride back from the Museum of Science and Industry, taking the safe route around the ghetto.  On our way down there, having not prepared a route, we took the L train down to Englewood where we waited on the street for 25 long minutes to transfer to a bus.  I wouldn’t quite suggest it.  The bus stop probably isn’t the most dangerous part of this Chicago neighborhood, but that wasn’t reassuring either.  You know you’re in a poverty stricken area when a street vendor exclusively sells used couch cushions and socks, and the citizens congregate on milk crates in the median of the road.  Needless to say, the camera was well hidden in my bag, thankfully.  Come to find out, this is one of the worst crime areas in Illinois, with approximately 70 murders a year.  See the link above for statistics about lovely Englewood.

So the cab driver speaks English that is less than distinguishable, and we have to pay $40 to avoid waiting in the ghetto at sundown.  That’ll be just fine I guess.  Hopefully his night will be as safe as ours, driving cab here is Russian roulette.

 This mans’ job is to monitor the printer on the stool, on the sidewalk.  Whatever you say boss.

 Tons of Navy types running around the city, must have the weekend off.  Chicks dig uniforms I’ve heard.  Remember this if absolutely everything else fails.

 All the tall buildings reflect light onto each other throughout the day.

Why yes I am taking pictures of the back of your head.

Being the rebels we are, we crossed the street while the no crossing symbol was lit… after checking around for any signs of the FBI or CIA.

These two got on our Metra train at Itasca and got off at Union Station as we did.  I realize that larger more trendy cities have seen a revival in funky 80’s styles.  Regardless of where his inspiration comes, he looks like an absolute dork.  Are you going to the beach or a meeting at the office?  It’s the full body mullet.

 The Berghoff