Chicago: day 2

Today has been a great day. After a leisurely - and healthy - breakfast we got ready to go and get the train to downtown Chicago. We arrived at the train station and after a short wait, got on a doubledecker train that took us to union Station at the centre of Chicago.

We grabbed lunch in Starbucks (where else??!) and then walked for miles along Michigan Avenue to Fourth Presbyterian where we were due to meet up with JC - a very good friend of mine - who is the Assistant minister there. We went to a next door pub with her and a few other people she works with for a St Pat's Day pint of Guinness and a good old chat. I haven't seen JC for about 3 1/2 years so it was great to actually see her and we kept looking at each other and being surprised that we were actually together!

Barbara and I then left and went to the 96th floor of the Hancock Building where apparently you get the best view of Chicago - according to all the people at 4th and David Schwimmer who had recorded the audio tour thing we used when we got up there! Anyway I don't have anything to compare it to but here are some photos and I think the view was pretty good!

Photos won't upload so I'll post them tomorrow!

We then went and met JC, Brent (who also used to live in NI) and their friend Paige and we all had dinner before Barbara and I walked back through the city to the train station to begin the hour long trek back to the hotel. It was great because the city felt really safe in the dark walking back to the station even though there were not that many people around and it was still really quite warm.

Now we are back at the hotel, shattered and with sore feet but a really good day and I can think of few St Pat's Days that have been more fun!