So long, Chicago

I’m back in Toronto this morning and that means back to work. But I have one post left of my Chicago adventures. So here goes…

The last morning in Chicago my Mum, her friend Ollie (both bridge teachers) and I visited the Art Institute of Chicago. We only had a few hours and there was so much to look at. The Institute has one of the largest permanent collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, so we focussed our efforts there. Walking in, the first painting we saw was A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, very cool to see in person, particularly to observe the pointillist technique up close.

There was also a room dedicated to Degas and his ballerinas, as part of a special exhibit. More than half of Degas’ paintings are dedicated to this subject. I didn’t know that a lot of his other work depicted horses and racing, many of which were also on display. My favourite Degas was his sculpture Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.

If I’d stayed longer I would have visited the American art wing as there are many famous paintings I’d like to see there. But two hours is about my limit in an art gallery, my feet especially were protesting! And I had a plane to catch home. Next time.

One last visit to Millenium Park and some better photos of me in front of the cloud gate. It was not as sunny a day so it was easier to photograph a giant mirror-like structure, ha!

Then, (okay, after ONE last trip to Target) I made my way back to the hotel, packed up, checked out and got in a taxi to the airport. A rather interesting ride, as the driver showed me how to get there fast without letting other cars get in your way. I was surprised at how forgiving Chicago drivers seemed in comparison to Toronto drivers… we were only honked at once! A new technique I learned: if there’s too long a line-up of cars in the left-hand turning lane, and you need to turn left, just drive up the straight-on lane and turn left in front of them all. Easy!

Then, in the air to say au revoir Chicago…

And hello Toronto!

It’s nice to be home, but it was an awesome trip. I feel some good connections were made, and I hope some of the people I met will contact me. If you are one of them, please leave me a comment!