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Wrigley Building (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Civic Opera Building (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Trump Tower (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Marina City (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Chicago Vignette no.1
In retrospect, it may have been a bit later than we should have been out. At least in that part of town. However, I was consumed with other priorities during the day and the only time I could show my friend the windy city's architectural wonders was after dark. We made our way through the seemingly deserted streets where occupants seemed to exist solely in the shadows of night. Naïveté was our virtue.
"Look over there!" I exclaimed, pointing at a rat scurrying across the sidewalk just in front of us. "There's your big city experience right there."
We walked another block to South State Street when a man on a bicycle bumped into us. Deliberately and with force. He then shouted obscenities and proceeded to accuse us of being on hard drugs. Crack, in particular. An audience of souls blithely waiting at a bus stop nearby continued to be transfixed by their smartphones, clearly avoiding any acknowledgement of the conflict brewing in their midst. Perhaps they had seen it all before...
"Well, this will be interesting" I thought to myself.
Sure enough.
The man, clearly looking to provoke anyone or anything, dismounted his bike and threw it violently to the ground in front of us. The wheels continued to spin as he then paced back-and-forth pounding on his chest with all the bravado he could muster. I knew my friend had taken wen-do but I had no self-defence training. I scanned the area for a storefront that might be open. Perhaps a bodybuilder or two would conveniently be shopping there at this hour.
We continued to ignore him and the man lost interest as quickly as he started antagonizing us. "There's your big city experience right there" I thought to myself.
Chicago Board of Trade building (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Chicago Board of Trade
Chicago Board of Trade building (©Deborah Clague/Oblada.com)
Chicago Board of Trade Building
One of my favourite buildings in Chicago is the Board of Trade. Located at the end of South La Salle Street, the structures leading up to it appear to frame its bulk with an acquiesced perspective, allowing it to cast a formidable presence over the downtown area known as "The Loop". The highlight of it for me is the figure perched on its roof – I originally mistook this for a sculpture of an angel, but it is, in fact, the Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility, Ceres.
Walking through downtown Chicago feels like exploring the panels of a comic book. Everything is so bold, dynamic and larger than life. Hollywood thinks so too, as I just realized while Googling pictures of this building that it was featured in a pivotal scene in Batman: The Dark Knight.
Chi-Town
We awoke early on very, very little sleep. Our flight would leave at 5:30am, Toronto-bound, before we transferred to our final destination – my favourite city in North America, Chicago.
I previously visited Chi-Town in 2011 and was completely mesmerized by the architecture. My hometown, Winnipeg, is often referred to as "Chicago of the North" for its turn-of-the-century Exchange District (which is beautiful and led to my appreciation for preserving historically relevant structures). But the buildings in Chicago are beyond that. They are larger than life in scale, detail and opulence. It is impossible to not be awestruck by their majesty. This would be my best friend's first time in the city. At the airport, we both buzzed with excitement.
Until the first delay was announced.
Then the second.
There was a fuel leak and we wouldn't be leaving for at least seven hours, missing our T.O. connection. The crowd was getting antsy. I predicted it would be a stampede when re-ticketing was announced and, sure enough, it was. At that moment I realized I seriously needed to apply for 'The Amazing Race Canada' as I would totally kick ass. Navigating through the cranky horde, my fine foot work and agility got me to the head of the line. We were going to be re-routed through Calgary and arrive in Chicago a few hours later than previously scheduled. Awesome. I managed to score a food voucher as apology for the delay and could maintain my chill.
Until that flight was also delayed.
Because of snow.
On October 3.
F-U-C-K.
When we finally got on the hour-long flight to Calgary, I compared our landing time to the departure of the flight to Chicago. We had 10 minutes to land, disembark, go through customs, go through security and then make it to the gate. My friend assured me we could do it; I, however, have always been more of a realist. I wasn't sure my fine footwork or complete willingness to take out strangers like a linebacker would suffice. When we got off the plane though, I hit the ground running to at least TRY.
Calgary International (YYC) is one of my most hated airports. The signage is pathetic. The layout is unnecessarily confusing. I had a vague idea as to where to go though and I flew. I kept looking back at my friend as she kept trailing further and further behind. Sidenote: one should never wear heels for air travel. The fiercely competitive part of me needed to keep going. To feel the rush of jubilation as we successfully boarded the plane. The loyal part of me though needed to stop. Chicago just wouldn't be as fun without the Louise to my Thelma. We took a breather by the luggage carousal and then carried on at a much more practical pace.
Despite being fifteen minutes late, we made the flight. Amazingly, the airline held it. The look of annoyance on everyone's face as we boarded was harsh but I had effectively achieved the goal I set out for myself AND my friend made it too, slightly disheveled but still looking fabulous.
I am SO applying for 'The Amazing Race Canada'.
Chicago
They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this, my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness.
A poetry excerpt written by Carl Sandburg about the great city of Chicago.
Chicago Theatre (2011) ©Deborah Clague.
We Go Forward
The story contained within the 2 minutes and 23 seconds of this video is absolutely beautiful and poignant:
Thirty Something Vignette: no.4
It was late. The time of night where things are said that wouldn't – couldn't – be uttered in the harsh glare of daylight. She used the opportunity to obtain clarity.
"What do you want in the future?" she inquired.
At first he waffled, misunderstanding the question. Perhaps it was intentional. Earlier proclamations of love and marriage belied the truth; his response began with "I like you but …".
She looked at him as he sat basking in ego and felt a pang of sympathy. Despite being in love with him, she didn't initiate this conversation to ask for something more serious.
It was because she had met someone else.
Roar!
Been doing some research for my upcoming trip to Dubai. Pets there sure don't look like Monty:
Bang!
On New Year's Eve, 2014, I made the decision to boldly live the upcoming year by challenging myself to do things I normally wouldn't. Or couldn't. I dubbed it my "year of adventure" and it has been such. I visited the most heavily militarized border in the world. I climbed a mountain. I've been an active student in learning the ways of the world through my heart, mind and soul. And so, I now feel it needs to end with a bang.
I often visit aircanada.com to research fares, even if I'm not planning on going anywhere. It's a great distraction; for someone who daydreams as much as I do, this habit offers plenty of inspiration. This particular day, I decided to look into a place that has intrigued me for years but which I've never actively considered because of the astronomical VISA fees associated with visiting it. It was always financially out-of-reach.
But VISA fees for Canadians were recently lifted.
And holy shit - there was a fare the week of my birthday (convenient) that wasn't much more than traveling to Eastern Canada. I bought it on the spot and would sort out the details later. Spontaneity is also a trait I've developed and embraced over the past year. Keeps life exciting.
My best friend visited that evening. As usual, wine flowed as we discussed our careers, men and other nonsense. I told her about my news. About my final destination. She went wide-eyed and instantly proclaimed "Ive always wanted to go there. I'm coming with you!".
And with that, two BFFs are now preparing for the vacation of a lifetime in Dubai.
Bang!
