From Michigan to Mississippi

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Dear dreamers !
Its been so long since we chatted! I know this happens every year, that I start on a good blogging score for the first half of the year, then fall off the wagon. Lets hope this year, I sign off in time and start the next year with some great blogs!
This year we put travelling high on the list of priorities and saw places and cultures I had never seen before. Between London in May ( I have talked about this endlessly), San Diego/ San Fran in September ( I’ll talk about this later), Chicago in November and New Orleans in December,
This thanksgiving I headed over to Chicago to see a city that’s been on my bucket list for 7 years.



Sudha, my partner in crime for most of my travel adventures met me there. I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t expect a major city like Chicago to be so shut down on thanksgiving day. I got there in the middle of a chilly, rainy day prepared with my best gear to brave the windy city and found the one Indian restaurant that was actually open for lunch. After reuniting with each other and scarfing down a buffet, we headed to our airbnb to freshen up and recharge for the night. While we settled down, we mapped out our plan for the next fours days and figured out how to find our way around the train and bus lines. One of my favourite things about the city though was how friendly people were- Everyone of them, every single one. Even when it was rainy , they went of their way to show us to our bus stop, even when they were late and rushing, they brought their maps and gave us directions. Bad weather and busy city have always been Boston’s excuse for snobbish, rude behavior. I promise we are the friendliest lot on the odd 90 degree day in March. So what explains Chicago’s friendliness? Was this the Mid west way of life? Is everyone always so nice to each other, always?
The next couple of days took us through the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, the Bean, Sky Deck ( Sears Tower), Chicago 360, Magnificent Mile, German Christmas Market, Art Institute of Chicago and the Andy’s Jazz Club.
The key take-aways on tour- Saw a 4D movie for Polar Express ( it was awesome!!) and a very informative movie about Galapagos Islands ( so many things I had no idea about!). Art Institute of Chicago is one of the most interesting, well stocked museums- plus I got to see ‘Two Sisters’ by Renoir- a picture that has been hanging in my childhood bedroom that I shared with my sister.

More later…

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