Last Day of Vacation

Kathy Here:  On July 2nd, we woke up at The Willows and I was pretty much done with traveling and ready to go home.  But our plane didn't leave until almost 9 pm. and we were meeting Max at 3:30 for a farewell hug.  What to do?  We decided on more "culture"--a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the premier art museums in the US.  After breakfast, we had a choice to make.  How to get downtown.  Do we ride the bus and have to come all the way back to the hotel or drive the car downtown and pay the price for parking and driving chaos.  A flip of the coin decided that we would drive downtown......an expensive and psychologically risky endeavor.  It took us 3 times around Millennium Park to finally find the entrance to the parking garage UNDER the street and accessed from the MIDDLE of Michigan Ave. (excuse the caps, but if you ever have to do it, you will appreciate the handy driving tips!).  By the time we parked, gasped at the fee, parked and found our way out of the huge garage, we were starving, but not for Starbucks or McDonalds.  We found our way to a true Chicago Hot Dog place and stuffed our mouths with deliciousness.

Fast and efficient

And Delicious

After that, we were ready for the Art Institute.  The line for tickets ran out the door and past the huge lions on either side of the steps.  The lions looked a little ridiculous with Chicago Blackhawk helmets on them.   We finally got inside and realized the immensity of the place.  We quickly decided to limit our exhaustion by choosing carefully what to see.  So we focused on the impressionists and American artists.  Good choice!

They love their Blackhawks

The Grand Staircase.....looks kinda like an MC Escher drawing.

After exhausting ourselves with culture and enjoying ourselves completely, we went for a long sit down and a big cup of coffee and then to Daly Plaza one more time to meet Max.  We had a drink and said our goodbyes until August.  Then hot footed back to the underground garage, managed to find our car and headed into the wilds of Chicago traffic.  It's a jungle out there....a good reason to never drive a car in Chicago ever again....and I mean never!  Thank goodness for Neara and her calm, direction giving voice.  She helped us find a gas station and the Rental Car return place where we got on the shuttle bus to the airport.  But truly, I credit my survival to the amazing driving skills of my husband. He did confess to turning on the turn signal, closing his eyes, and changing lanes more than once, but I never knew.

Watching take offs and landings at O'hare

We had a couple of hours to wait at O'Hare, but filled them with people and plane watching and eating and reading.  Soon we were back in the friendly skies and then walking in the door at home at about 3 am local time.  Fred and Emily and Ruben had done a great job taking care of house and pets, as we discovered over coffee and conversation on the morning of the third.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful family.  Thanks again for all you did.

Meanwhile, all of this is becoming just a memory.  We have been spending a lot of time in the bouncy chairs on the lanai and Freddy and I have been to the lake just about every day to swim. We are catching up on bills and mowing and watering and all that stuff.  And, of course, we are planning our next adventure!

Kathy Highlights:  There were so many things I enjoyed on this trip.  I have to start with the city of Chicago.  I really loved it.  So beautiful with it's setting on the lake and all those distinctive skyscapers.  And so easy to get around in and so much to see.  That dinner with Max in the sky above Lake Michigan is a happy memory.  Next I have to say, Bayfield!  I was grateful to have some quiet time at the cottage and be with Dennis and Laurie. I'll never forget that swim in the moonlight. In Cleveland, I loved seeing all Jeff's family again and staying at Amy and Sheldon's.  Their house is so comfortable and homey.  I loved driving around in the country east of Cleveland.  It was so much fun hanging out with everyone at the Bat Mitzvah and watching Maia dance around us in various blinking costumes. 

Kathy lowlights:  I really hated being in the middle of one of those midwestern thunder storms again.  It was so frightening I just about peed my pants.  Thank goodness for Amy and her skilled driving through the storm.  And that long drive from Cleveland to Chicago on the Ohio Turnpike was boooorrriiinnng!  Other than that it was a great trip!

Jeff highlights - A lot to choose from but I guess my favorite moment was floating in Den's kayak on Lake Huron - a total sense of serenity and peace.  This is followed closely by the dinner at my Aunt Jan's home, surrounded by people I dearly love and laughter, lots of laughter.

Jeff''s lowlights: Driving to the O'Hare airport and realizing we were running out of gas.  We had to fill the tank anyhow before returning the car but there were absolutely no stations anywhere.  Cars darting in and out trying to kill us.  Blood thirsty, heartless souls zipping by as I white knuckled it and tried to appear outwardly calm to Kathy.  We had to map quest a station and made it with 4 miles to spare, whew!