"Chicago - I was surprised a ..." a Chicago Travel Page by Bwana_Brown

I had been to Chicago a few times before on business, but never managed to get beyond its O'Hare Airport on any of those trips. Finally, in late April, 2008 the company I work for in Regina, Saskatchewan decided that I should attend a week long Electrical Engineering exposition and convention that was being held there. After four months of Canadian winter on the Prairies, I was eager for some warmer temperatures and a chance to see what Chicago really had to offer.

As a bit of short-notice preparation, I checked out the VT-pages of 'Deecat' and 'Dabs', two long-time residents of the city who espouse its many high points whenever they get the chance - they even managed to meet me over lunch on my one free day in the city. For an outsider's point of view, I was also impressed by the reactions 'Antistar' put forward in his page - now I was really looking forward to the trip!

In the end, the city far exceeded my expectations as I took in its many interesting architectural delights in the warm and sunny weather I was blessed with all week long. Somehow, Chicago seems to run at a slower pace than New York or Boston and I also loved the way it has developed the waterfront along the western shore of Lake Michigan. I even managed to squeeze in a blues band and a ball-game one evening! To top it all off, the conference itself was an experience to remember as they pulled out all the stops - even holding an informal opening session in the privately booked Museum of Science and Industry! This Intro photo shows something else that really bowled me over - now anchored along the lakeshore is this old retired Canadian ice-breaking ferry that I took a few voyages on as a child as it plied the Northumberland Strait between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island!

I'd return for more anytime - the Aquarium, Planetarium, Field Museum, a Chicago River cruise, Navy Pier, inside some of the buildings....!