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Hi all,
Well, I started off earlier this morning, and it really helped the whole day flow better. I took the 8:12am (yep, MORNING) Metra train downtown to Union Station. Made my way through the station and took a cab to the Shedd Aquarium. Now, I might have been better off taking the CTA buses today - because it would have been a shorter ride, plus there were extra buses on because of 'da Bears game -- but I didn't *know* that would happen. And I did get to the museum a lot faster, about half an hour (an hour tops), after they opened. But the cab cost me $10.00. And the cab was more relaxing.
And I actually got to see the entire aquarium, including the dolphins, sea otters, and the Begula Whales. When my cab dropped me off I actually went in the handicaped entrance by mistake. But I got in right away because I already had my CityPass (I highly, highly recommend getting one if you go to Chicago). When I entered I was right near the Amazon Rising exhibit - so I spent a lot of time in there, reading the cards and looking at the various fish. I also saw some amazing bright blue poisonous frogs! They were like electric blue, amazing! And I went through the Local Waters/Great Lakes exhibit (very cool - to see swimming, fish I'd only heard of or seen on menus). They also had some amazing sturgeon, which went well with the Omnimax movie I'd seen yesterday at the Museum of Science and Industry. I saw the Oceans exhibit, the rivers exhibit, and the Wild Reaf Exhibit which was very cool -- they had a big round tank, and it was filled with all sorts of fish, sharks, and rays, and I got some great shots with my cameraphone (or I least I hope so if they come out). I also saw the Carribean Reaf exhibit. And I saw the other fish and sea anomes and such in their smaller exhibits. (Yes, basically I looked at fish all day). Pretty much saw the entire aquarium. I also walked down the Sea Otter Trail - saw the sea otters, the dolphins, and the Begula whales -- who were being fed. Later in the day, I happened across their animal show about how they train the animals - and saw flights of a male and female Red Tail Hawk, the Begulas exhibiting cool behaviors (like floating on their backs and spitting water on command - actually a food technique in the wild. And spinning, and showing their side fin (waving)). And very cool dolphin stuff. I didn't really get any pictures of the show tho' 'cause I was very high up and in the back. Just before leaving, when I was actually ready to walk out I found the "4-D" theatre. And remembering that my CityPass ticket included one show - I went to see "Pole to Pole" a shortened "4-D" version - from the BBC Series Planet Earth. 4-D had you wearing special glasses (which did fit over my glasses), and sprayed a small amount of water on you, and you felt wind, the seat shook and they even had the seat poke you in the back (that part I didn't like, since I woke up this morning with a sore back). The experience started with a short film/advertisement of the 4-D experience that was awesome! The stuff on the screen really did leap out at you and hover in mid-air, and they had lava and water spray and a stick coming at you - all sorts of stuff. The "Pole to Pole", mostly about Emperor Penguins (remember Happy Feet?), and polor bears, tho' they also got into elephant and water buffalo migrations in Africa. At times tho', as stuff happened on the screen you felt wind on you face or a light spray of water -- just the thing at the end of a long day in a museum. The only problem was the film was very short! But it was fun. I also really enjoyed the Shedd - it was pretty quiet most of the time I was there, and I find looking at fish to be relaxing (plus marine mammals of course). Oh, I also got into "Deep Ocean", where you can look at the dolphins and sea otters from an underwater pespective. Saw penguins too -- then discovered I was in a "closed for renovations" section (opps) and apologised profusely to an employee. I was embarrassed. First I said, "opps, I think I've wandered someplace I'm not supposed to be - I got lost." And I did explain I took the elevator. All I had been looking for at that point was the food court. BTW - nice restaurant in the Shedd, overlooks Lake Michigan so you can watch the sail and power boats and the joggers and bikers on the trail along the Lake -- but their hours for serving food were NOT good. (And the food court was closed for some reason).
After leaving the Shedd, I wanted to take a taxi to the Hancock Building (I did not feel like negotiating the buses again after the previous day - plus I didn't buy a CTA pass that day). But, the Bears were playing at Soldier Field -- so they weren't allowing taxis down to the stand in front of the Shedd. I ended-up walking to the Field Museum and then Soldier Field, which granted wasn't that far, but still - it felt far when I'd been walking all day. When I got to Soldier field there were people all OVER the place, and three Chicago police officers on horses (Yep, in uniforms, on *horses*) for crowd control. Now, I have seen cops on horses before - the city of Milwaukee had "mounties" on a regular route in downtown - for urban safety and crowd control. And, believe me, a 6-foot cop on a 16-hand horse is definitely intimidating! And I saw this guy asking the cops for directions. A also saw a foreign family taking pictures of the cops (and horses) and one even petting one of the horses's nose. (I couldn't BELIEVE that!) Anyway, since the other guy had asked for directions, I figured it would be OK for me to ask where to get a cab. The cop pointed just down the way a bit and told me that if the cab driver allowed me to I could get in when someone else got out. But she was nice about it. I just hadn't looked down enough or I would have spotted the loop of taxis myself. My taxi ride went right along Lake Shore Blvd -- very pretty. It was a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. I also went right past Buckingham Fountain while it was in full flow mode - beautiful! The Hancock, while not as tall as the Sear Tower Building, was nice -- great views (absolutely GREAT views - I recommend it), and had a nice little guided tour on a Ipod-like device narrated by David Schwimmer (Chicago native who was in Friends). The only problem was mine, which conveniently hung on a lanyard, kept skipping, which wasn't convenient. My citypass allowed me fast pass access (no waiting in line) the audio guide and a free coffee. While I was there (fortunately after I'd walked around the entire building, looking out the windows and listening to the audio tour) the mist rolled in. It was like this white mist was eating the city, as the view slowly disappeared. Finally, the Sears Tower disappeared. It rained, then it cleared up. I walked through the open-air skywalk (very cool and damp tho'), then left. I ended-up paying cash for a bus to Union Station (straight shot, which was nice), and that went past some great Chicago landmarks -- the water pumping station (one of the few buildings to survive the fire), the Chicago Tribune Building (which looks like a castle on top), the stores of the Magnificent Mile, the Art Institute of Chicago, a huge Whistler Statute (you know that really dour painting of the farmer with pitchfork and his wife -- life size, color, statute), a Calder sculpture, a fountain that looks like a square silver thing with water falling down it in sheets. It was cool -- almost like being on a tour bus. Because of the rain and fog I didn't do the Sears Tower - cause I knew I wouldn't be able to see anything.
I did miss the 4:30pm train back -- and there was no 5:30pm train, so I had dinner at Union Station, in the food court and then had to sit and wait around for awhile for my train. Fortunately, I had a book in my purse to read. When I arrived in Schaumburg -- not only did I have to wait for the taxi I'd called from the train, but the driver couldn't figure out where he was going so I ended-up having to pay twice the fare I should have.
I finally arrived back at my hotel about 8pm. But it was a great day! I enjoyed it. And the Shedd is great - I always find it relaxing and cool to look at the fish. The new Oceanarium is also gorgeous!
--Olivia
Well, I started off earlier this morning, and it really helped the whole day flow better. I took the 8:12am (yep, MORNING) Metra train downtown to Union Station. Made my way through the station and took a cab to the Shedd Aquarium. Now, I might have been better off taking the CTA buses today - because it would have been a shorter ride, plus there were extra buses on because of 'da Bears game -- but I didn't *know* that would happen. And I did get to the museum a lot faster, about half an hour (an hour tops), after they opened. But the cab cost me $10.00. And the cab was more relaxing.
And I actually got to see the entire aquarium, including the dolphins, sea otters, and the Begula Whales. When my cab dropped me off I actually went in the handicaped entrance by mistake. But I got in right away because I already had my CityPass (I highly, highly recommend getting one if you go to Chicago). When I entered I was right near the Amazon Rising exhibit - so I spent a lot of time in there, reading the cards and looking at the various fish. I also saw some amazing bright blue poisonous frogs! They were like electric blue, amazing! And I went through the Local Waters/Great Lakes exhibit (very cool - to see swimming, fish I'd only heard of or seen on menus). They also had some amazing sturgeon, which went well with the Omnimax movie I'd seen yesterday at the Museum of Science and Industry. I saw the Oceans exhibit, the rivers exhibit, and the Wild Reaf Exhibit which was very cool -- they had a big round tank, and it was filled with all sorts of fish, sharks, and rays, and I got some great shots with my cameraphone (or I least I hope so if they come out). I also saw the Carribean Reaf exhibit. And I saw the other fish and sea anomes and such in their smaller exhibits. (Yes, basically I looked at fish all day). Pretty much saw the entire aquarium. I also walked down the Sea Otter Trail - saw the sea otters, the dolphins, and the Begula whales -- who were being fed. Later in the day, I happened across their animal show about how they train the animals - and saw flights of a male and female Red Tail Hawk, the Begulas exhibiting cool behaviors (like floating on their backs and spitting water on command - actually a food technique in the wild. And spinning, and showing their side fin (waving)). And very cool dolphin stuff. I didn't really get any pictures of the show tho' 'cause I was very high up and in the back. Just before leaving, when I was actually ready to walk out I found the "4-D" theatre. And remembering that my CityPass ticket included one show - I went to see "Pole to Pole" a shortened "4-D" version - from the BBC Series Planet Earth. 4-D had you wearing special glasses (which did fit over my glasses), and sprayed a small amount of water on you, and you felt wind, the seat shook and they even had the seat poke you in the back (that part I didn't like, since I woke up this morning with a sore back). The experience started with a short film/advertisement of the 4-D experience that was awesome! The stuff on the screen really did leap out at you and hover in mid-air, and they had lava and water spray and a stick coming at you - all sorts of stuff. The "Pole to Pole", mostly about Emperor Penguins (remember Happy Feet?), and polor bears, tho' they also got into elephant and water buffalo migrations in Africa. At times tho', as stuff happened on the screen you felt wind on you face or a light spray of water -- just the thing at the end of a long day in a museum. The only problem was the film was very short! But it was fun. I also really enjoyed the Shedd - it was pretty quiet most of the time I was there, and I find looking at fish to be relaxing (plus marine mammals of course). Oh, I also got into "Deep Ocean", where you can look at the dolphins and sea otters from an underwater pespective. Saw penguins too -- then discovered I was in a "closed for renovations" section (opps) and apologised profusely to an employee. I was embarrassed. First I said, "opps, I think I've wandered someplace I'm not supposed to be - I got lost." And I did explain I took the elevator. All I had been looking for at that point was the food court. BTW - nice restaurant in the Shedd, overlooks Lake Michigan so you can watch the sail and power boats and the joggers and bikers on the trail along the Lake -- but their hours for serving food were NOT good. (And the food court was closed for some reason).
After leaving the Shedd, I wanted to take a taxi to the Hancock Building (I did not feel like negotiating the buses again after the previous day - plus I didn't buy a CTA pass that day). But, the Bears were playing at Soldier Field -- so they weren't allowing taxis down to the stand in front of the Shedd. I ended-up walking to the Field Museum and then Soldier Field, which granted wasn't that far, but still - it felt far when I'd been walking all day. When I got to Soldier field there were people all OVER the place, and three Chicago police officers on horses (Yep, in uniforms, on *horses*) for crowd control. Now, I have seen cops on horses before - the city of Milwaukee had "mounties" on a regular route in downtown - for urban safety and crowd control. And, believe me, a 6-foot cop on a 16-hand horse is definitely intimidating! And I saw this guy asking the cops for directions. A also saw a foreign family taking pictures of the cops (and horses) and one even petting one of the horses's nose. (I couldn't BELIEVE that!) Anyway, since the other guy had asked for directions, I figured it would be OK for me to ask where to get a cab. The cop pointed just down the way a bit and told me that if the cab driver allowed me to I could get in when someone else got out. But she was nice about it. I just hadn't looked down enough or I would have spotted the loop of taxis myself. My taxi ride went right along Lake Shore Blvd -- very pretty. It was a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. I also went right past Buckingham Fountain while it was in full flow mode - beautiful! The Hancock, while not as tall as the Sear Tower Building, was nice -- great views (absolutely GREAT views - I recommend it), and had a nice little guided tour on a Ipod-like device narrated by David Schwimmer (Chicago native who was in Friends). The only problem was mine, which conveniently hung on a lanyard, kept skipping, which wasn't convenient. My citypass allowed me fast pass access (no waiting in line) the audio guide and a free coffee. While I was there (fortunately after I'd walked around the entire building, looking out the windows and listening to the audio tour) the mist rolled in. It was like this white mist was eating the city, as the view slowly disappeared. Finally, the Sears Tower disappeared. It rained, then it cleared up. I walked through the open-air skywalk (very cool and damp tho'), then left. I ended-up paying cash for a bus to Union Station (straight shot, which was nice), and that went past some great Chicago landmarks -- the water pumping station (one of the few buildings to survive the fire), the Chicago Tribune Building (which looks like a castle on top), the stores of the Magnificent Mile, the Art Institute of Chicago, a huge Whistler Statute (you know that really dour painting of the farmer with pitchfork and his wife -- life size, color, statute), a Calder sculpture, a fountain that looks like a square silver thing with water falling down it in sheets. It was cool -- almost like being on a tour bus. Because of the rain and fog I didn't do the Sears Tower - cause I knew I wouldn't be able to see anything.
I did miss the 4:30pm train back -- and there was no 5:30pm train, so I had dinner at Union Station, in the food court and then had to sit and wait around for awhile for my train. Fortunately, I had a book in my purse to read. When I arrived in Schaumburg -- not only did I have to wait for the taxi I'd called from the train, but the driver couldn't figure out where he was going so I ended-up having to pay twice the fare I should have.
I finally arrived back at my hotel about 8pm. But it was a great day! I enjoyed it. And the Shedd is great - I always find it relaxing and cool to look at the fish. The new Oceanarium is also gorgeous!
--Olivia
