Day 5 - Chicago!

Today was much more interesting! We headed towards Chicago, which is about 60 miles from our hotel. We don't know Chicago at all, so we were going off of a generic map. Things began getting exciting when we missed the exit that we didn't know we were supposed to take (it wasn't a very accurate map...) and ended up in south Chicago. Which is the region of Chicago where it's highly likely that you won't make it out alive. It's always comforting when 2 undercover cop cars go flying by with lights and sirens, and another cop standing on the corner goes to his car and puts on another bullet proof vest over his uniform. It's even more fun when you are observing that... and are totally lost, and have no idea how to escape. Anywho, we eventually made it to the much safer Chicago waterfront, where all of the museums are.

First, we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I've never heard of it, but supposedly it's a famous kind of place. It was really cool! We went and got a tour of the U-505, which was the only German sub captured at sea during WWII. It was crazy to walk through it. They also had really good displays about WWII, especially relating to the Navy, which was really interesting.

While we were there, we also saw a baby chick hatch, cloned mice (slightly creepy), planes and jets (full size, real ones) suspended from the ceiling as if flying/dog fighting, and much more. I can't think of what else right now. And then we went through a Navy aircraft carrier exhibit, and then flew in a flight simulator! It's like a video game, but the whole thing moves and rolls while you're harnessed in. It was a ton of fun! Unfortunately I allowed Jimmy to fly, and I was the gunner. So Jimmy did barrel rolls the WHOLE TIME. It was fun the first, second, and maybe third time. But by the 5th or 6th, I was ready to spew. Actually, in all honesty, I'm still nauseated. 8-ish hours later. So much for my dream of being a fighter pilot! Fortunately, I've never seen a medical helicopter do barrel rolls, so I should still be fine with that goal! They had working periscopes, which went through the roof of the building. It was cool to actually be able to use one, and see how they work. It was a little too high for me. And a little too low for Jimmy.

After that, we headed down the street to the Art Institute of Chicago. We searched for parking for quite a while. And then we came to the realization that our car, with the luggage carrier on top, does not fit into any parking garages in the city of Chicago. So it's a good thing that my dad and brothers didn't really want to see the museum, because they just dropped my mom and me off out front. We figured we wouldn't take too long, since we only wanted to see the impressionism. The museum building itself is beautiful. I really like some of the architecture in Chicago.
Anyway, we made our way inside, and were SO EXCITED to see the impressionism section. And then, when we got our museum map, a bomb was dropped... the impressionism area was closed for renovation. Luckily, we found out that the map (and the information desk person) weren't exactly correct, and they actually had most of the impressionism still there. The only thing missing was Van Gogh, but I'm not a huge fan of one-earred painters anyway. The art was AMAZING! I lovelovelove art, especially impressionism.
We saw Monet, Renoir, Degas, and many many more. Degas is my FAVORITE of all time! I don't know if I have ever seen his work in person, so it was amazing. Quite possibly a highlight of my life! We located a couple of Mary Cassatt's also, which my mom loves. And that one famous farmer and his daughter one. Called American Gothic maybe? I don't remember. The museum was beautiful, and a lot of fun! I love art.

On our way home, we chose a better route. We wanted to increase our chances of leaving the city alive. As we pulled away from the museum, which is not in a bad area, I saw something very interesting and educational. As I looked into the car driving next to us, I saw something that I had never seen before. The occupants of the car were shooting up on heroin. I don't know what cool name for heroin is that kids these days are using, so hopefully you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, there they were, melting it in a spoon and drawing it up into a syringe. I've always heard that's how they did it, but never actually witnessed it. The things you learn in Chicago!

So we came back to beautiful Sycamore, Illinois, and had suprisingly good mexican food down the street from our hotel. My mom's friend Flo and her son joined us again, which was fun. Who would've guessed that there are mexicans in Illinois... and that they make good food.

Miss you all!!!
~Jenn