Chicago, Part II

Sorry for such a delay in posting the second part of our Chicago trip.  It is hard to narrow down 1600 pics to your favorites.  Without further adieu...


Monday:  We ventured out on our own.  Jessica had to go to work, so Brian and I hit up the "L" all by ourselves.  Let me tell ya, public transportation there works well, really well.  Besides some dirtiness and a few "crazies", the train system will get you within a few blocks of where you need to go.  I'll say it was definitely worth the $23 per person for a week for the amount we used the trains and buses.  One of the best deals we got while we were there.

Monday, the weather was beautiful.  Still bundled up cuz I can't stand being cold, Brian and I had scheduled a SEGWAY TOUR.  Awesome, I know.  Check out how cool I looked.

So we zipped all around Chicago... from Grant Park to Buckingham Fountain, by all of the museums to a beach, circled Soldier Field (where da Bears play), saw some statues... and all at about 12 miles per hour.  It was AWESOME!  I was so dissapointed when it was over and I actually had to use my legs to ambulate.  I wish I had a segway at all times.

Infront of Buckingham Fountain.

We look so good on Segways :)

We then headed to see Cloud Gate, AKA the silver bean. 

You may have seen it on tourism ads.

Seeing Double Me :)

From here we headed over to the John Hancock Observatory...

Waaaayyyy up there.

We saw beautiful views

Brian may have found a new hobby.

 Navy Pier

Downtown Chicago... you can see Trump and Willis Towers.

Tuesday:  We went to the Shedd Aquarium.  We saw lots of awesome fish... like these.

Our traditional 3D Glasses picture

 

 

The Jellies Exhibit made for some great pictures.

 

From the Shedd Aquarium we headed to Willis Tower... formerly known as Sears Tower.  On the top floor we were able to see some amazing views of the city.

 

The best views are from upside down.

Skydeck at Willis Tower

 

 

For dinner that night we met up with Jessica again for dinner at O'Brien's

 and then off to Second City...

an awesome improve comedy club that is famous in Chicago for a lot of

Saturday Night Live stars.

We are classy... I know :)

This sign was right at the train stop for our hotel.

Wednesday: Field Museum, Art Institute, Socca for dinner, and Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theater

 Meet Sue

He (yes, Sue is a He) is the most complete T-Rex ever discovered so far.

Watch Out Brian!  T-Rex's bite!

Another 3D movie

 We met this little guy waiting for the bus to head to the Art Institute.

Art Institute

These may look familiar...

They call this art???

We don't get it... metal pipe with a cord attached, stick in a corner,

and material tacked to the wall...

is all supposed to be art????

That night Brian and I had date night at Socca for dinner and then the Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theater.  This guy left a blue hand print on the back of my jacket... not cool.  (But it did wash out)

Thursday: Lincoln Park Zoo, Pizano's Pizza and Pasta for lunch, Navy Pier,

Frasca for dinner

This Polar Bear was our favorite thing of the entire trip so he (or she) deserves

his own post soon to follow.

Check out those claws...

Yes, that giraffe is licking the tree.  It is true... they have black tongues.

Don't worry, this pigeon isn't injured... he is called a bleeding heart pigeon hence the red coloring on his chest.

This is only the fastest mammal on earth.

Shout out to my Cougar friends and fam!

 Strolling around Lincoln Park on a Beautiful Day :)

We had dinner that night at Frasca with Reina and her fiance, Calvin. 

It was so fun to see them!



To wrap things up: Pictures of our hotel... Hotel 71 right on the Chicago River

with great views.

We heard the top floor is where Dark Knight was filmed (Batman's loft).

The view from our room.

Back on the train again headed to the airport.  We had such a wonderful time in Chicago.  It was awesome to see old friends and learn all about the wonderful city.  I knew nothing about Chicago before we planned this trip and I am so fortunate to have visited.  The city is so full of culture, interesting people, and authenticity that makes it so unique.
 

Did someone say Deep Dish Pizza?

I just cannot stop thinking about me some Chicago deep dish pizza. We just got back from Chicago two weeks ago and we had such a great time. First of all we got to visit this chick.
 

Jessica...

One of my bestest friends. 

We've known each other for more than 20 years! Well, she moved to Chicago last August and we have been wanting to visit her... So to Illinois we went... For an entire week.

We stayed with Jess for the first three nights and then in downtown for the last four.

My first thoughts about being there a week were,

"We are going to run out of things to do for an entire week"...

Boy, was I wrong. I did what I always do and invest in a travel book and found that Chicago has so much to offer.  I set up tours and researched things to do and see. 

So we were off to Chicago... the Windy City.

On our first day there, we didn't waste any time getting to Wrigley Field for a Cubs vs Reds game.  It was awesome to be in a place that people were in over 100 YEARS ago doing the same ol' thing I was doing... watching the great American sport of baseball. 

(PS. I LOVE Instagram)

Being Chicago in April... we Texans were FREEZING, so we made it through about 5 innings at our seats and then wandered the stadium until the 7th inning stretch.  After that, we headed to a nearby bar to watch the ending of the game.  Cubs won if you're wondering.

 

 

Day 2 was spent on a boat.

We did the architecture boat tour that went up and down the Chicago River.  Which (history lesson real quick) was changed to flow backwards in the 19th century towards the Mississippi River.

Trump International Tower

Willis (Formerly Sears) Tower

Panaromic view of downtown from where the Chicago River and Lake Michigan meet

And of course, something had to remind us of our puppy dog back home.  We missed ya, Ryley :)

For dinner... Deep Dish Pizza, yum yum.  Jess took us to Pequod's, a local place for pizza and boy was it delish!

The pizza was sooo good and filling.  I could only eat one piece.

I'm outta time, but I'll definitely finish the week long trip to Chi-town...soon.  Tootaloo!!

Why Hello There!

My First Post

(Virgin blogger here)

Hey there!

Let me introduce myself...

I am Julie and I would like to welcome you to my blog and my very first blog post.

This is Me :)

I'm pretty excited to be writing my very own blog. I feel so grown up.

Now, where to begin... 

I guess I'll spend today telling you a few important things about myself. I'm 28 (for another month) and I live in the great state of Texas...

Houston to be exact. 

I do have a small place in heart for Louisiana since I went to college at LSU (I bleed purple and gold) and I absolutely love LSU football.

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

I also met my amazing husband, Brian, while we were in college. We got married in Houston 4 years ago. Every day I love him even more.

About 2 years ago we took the big step... And got a PUPPY!

Ryley brings so much joy to our lives. She is a 2 year old yellow labrador retriever with a love for the water. 

So that is the super fast summary of my life. 

I plan to expand on all of the aspects of my life... my job, our travels,

funny day to day stories, and major events...

past, present, and future. 

I hope you enjoy learning about my life.

Luv ya!

Julie :)

PS. Shout out to Kristen from All In My Twenties for designing my blog. 

She did an AMAZING job!

Oohhh, and one more thing...

My favorite color is lime green if you didn't get that already ;)