CHICAGO
ILLINOIS
City trip
November 2019
Last week of work, last rest. An early morning flight, and hop, two days away from the heat of Orlando while you explore Chicago, apparently a must-see...
From the moment we arrived and took our first steps down the street, we fell in love with the city. It's like the Big Apple, but smaller... Normally, "cold" cities aren't what I prefer, but like New York, there's an atmosphere, something special that makes you feel immediately at ease!
(and then the city's specialty is pizza, the dip dish, it was bound to match).
ACCOMMODATION
We chose the Freehand Hotel in Chicago, located right in the center of the city, it was great to make the most of these 2 intense days!
Go see the Bean
Le bean, le haricot, mais oui vous savez LE truc qu'on voit tout le temps dans les films à Chicago, (autre que les Chicago Bulls).. et oui c'est lui-même, de son vrai nom le Cloud Gate (porte des nuages, si c'est pas mims ça).
L'oeuvre se trouve dans le Millenium Park dans le quartier du Loop, c'est l'occasion de faire des photos sympas et de découvrir l'architecture des bâtiments environnants différemment, dans le reflet direct du haricot.
Vous pourrez aussi vous admirer à travers un reflet (un peu) distordu, en vous sentant quand même tout petit à côté de cette création.
En fonction du moment de la journée où vous y allez (et de la météo) vous n'aurez pas la même vision, vous pourrez donc le découvrir et redécouvrir.
Il serait dommage d'aller à Chicago sans passer le voir, comment justifier ensuite les portes clés ramenés à vos proches car oui le Bean est partout..
Willis Tower (Skydeck)
Willis Tower, the building you'll have to enter and climb to enjoy an impressive view of the city, with your own eyes but also under your own feet! And yes, even the floor is made of glass! The impression of having the world at your feet 😉
Once again, the weather will play a role in your visit. Before purchasing your ticket, you will be informed of this in the building. the clearing of clouds. For example, when we went there, there were a lot of clouds and we clearly wouldn't have been able to see anything. Thanks to their estimates, they advised us to come back at a specific time to make the most of our visit!
Before the construction of One World Trade Center in New York, the Willis Tower was the tallest tower in the world, no less.
You can purchase admission directly at the Skydeck, but access is also included in the Chicago City Pass.
Chicago Public Library
Near the Willis Tower is the beautiful Chicago Library in a period building.
Spread over several floors, it will already give you the opportunity to gain some height and take a look at the buildings around you.
The architecture is just as interesting, with for example a large glass roof in which you can sit down to work or just read, or just imagine yourself for 2 minutes as a young American student full of ambition ready to dethrone Trump.
The mini detour is worth it, it's a free discovery too!
Navy Pier
Located just across from Nassau, it is very easy to get from one island to another . The crossing is quick by boat and cost us less than $10 round trip. It is an all-day ferry system, with a last schedule to reach Nassau around 6-6:30 p.m. in the evening. You are free to show up at the time you want to board to return, but be careful, some times are more popular than others, so potentially more or less places still available for you or not. If you have a rental car, there is also a bridge connecting the two islands.
In any case, here we are, no more than 10-15 minutes to go from the rather traditional side of Nassau to the luxury side of Paradise Island. Everything is neat, pretty, perfect.
As soon as you disembark, you can stroll around the marina , pleasantly decorated with buildings style traditional huts of all colors .
Taking a stroll to Navy Pier will give you a chance to step back and admire the city from the shore, allowing you to discover it from a new perspective.
It is possible to embark on cruises on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, but not only... On the pier there are also several restaurants, bars and shops as well as the Ferris wheel.
The little extra: when night begins to fall, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the city which lights up, as well as the Ferris wheel of the Navy Pier which also takes on its most beautiful colors.
FOOD
FOOD
DIP DISH PIZZA
For me, discovering a city/or a country is not complete until you try the culinary specialties, that's my gourmet side speaking but it's still important!
C'est la spécialité ! Une pizza oui, mais pas la classique que l'on connait. Celle là est épaisse, presque plus comme une tarte à la tomate mais garnie au max ! A l'inverse de nos habitudes, le fromage ici se trouve au fond et la tomate au dessus. Bref c'est délicieux, vous pourrez en gouter dans une multitude d'endroits en ville.
Souvent plus copieuses que les pizzas traditionnelles, les Dip Dish de Chicago invitent au partage et à la convivialité ! 😋
NUTELLA COFFEE
A little less typical, but you still have to enjoy it.
Real coffee shops with 100% Nutella products created by the brand have opened in the USA, like in New York and Chicago. From crepes, waffles, Nutella-filled croissants to Nutella banana verrines, there's something for everyone. We have to admit, as a Frenchman, a good Nutella croissant is hard to resist.
PS: You have to eat well to face the cold and wind of Chicago, the city is often called "The Windy City". Yes, I admit, any excuse is good. 😇
