Chi-caga Day 1

After we left the awesome hotel yesterday we were going to head north and explore a little bit but Linc was starving so we bee lined over to the lake, took a pedestrian tunnel under the big road and walked along the coast.

Pics below the cut...

We didn't really have any plans so when we came across the Beaschstro, Linc decided we were eating dinner. It was a fun little outdoor restaurant right on Lake Michigan. And for all you Chicago natives, the Beachstro really does look like Key West in Chicago. We had blue chips with black bean and corn salsa. Linc had pizza (the best so far he said) and I had quesadillas. The food was really good. Our waitress was from Ireland and had the most beautiful brogue...After dinner we continued walking up to Navy Pier. We walked along this very busy concrete biking/jogging path while watching the swimmers in the lake.

And then we arrived at Navy Pier. We ended up at the Beer Garden where we watched the boats going out while the sky changed the prettiest pink and blue and listened to a band playing on stage.
And then after the sun set and the city started to turn on we headed back to the hotel via Grand station. The walk into the city felt surprisingly safe. The L station was awful. We were trying to catch the red line and it was coming from 95. Every single train was packed. So far, not much to recommend Chicago's public transportation. I think we're going to stick with the busses for the rest of the trip.
...Fiona...