Agora & Union Station

So, another day dawns, so to speak, even though we didn't exactly set off at the crack of dawn! But what a beautiful day it was shaping up to be. For today, we decided to take the Red Line train from near the hotel straight down into The Loop. From there, the plan was to cut through Macy's and grab an early lunch at Popeye's Chicken shop.

Lunch In The Loop

I'd heard some good things about the Popeye's chain, but it seems they're run on a franchise model, so I figured they could vary quite a bit. Still, we thought, 'What the heck!' Trying to find this particular place took a little bit of doing, though. For starters, none of the shops seem to have numbers, and this place is located almost right on the edge between North and South State Street, which didn't exactly help matters.

L Train In The Loop

A couple more things that made it tricky were the construction work for a new L train station nearby, which meant you couldn't just cross the road where you normally would, and the fact that it's actually just a food court located in the lobby of a building that looks like it's straight out of the 1950s, with absolutely no signs outside pointing you in the right direction.

Inside wasn't exactly the most inviting place either. There were multiple different vendors selling all sorts of food, and you just had to grab a seat somewhere in the middle of the general eating area once you had your food. It was also absolutely boiling hot inside, as there seemed to be no air-conditioning, just big fans blowing the warm air around. You did get used to the heat fairly quickly though, I suppose. 

Not The Best popeye's we've had

We both got chicken dinners, and while they were perfectly nice, we'd probably only rate them as average overall. The thing that really got me the most was how incredibly red-hot the food was; it must have taken a good twenty minutes or so for it to cool down enough that you could actually eat it without burning your mouth! You also got what they call a 'biscuit' with it, but I think we Brits would definitely call it a scone. I'm honestly still not sure what the idea behind serving that was, but you just go with the flow, I suppose. These 'biscuits' were actually very nice, though.

To tell you the truth, this was genuinely the only building we came out of during our whole trip where it felt significantly cooler outside than it did inside! By the time we left, the outside temperature was a staggering 37°C with 81% humidity. God knows what it must have been like inside that food court later in the day, or how the people working there could possibly stand that heat all day long. 

Icons And Art

The Start Of Route 66

After we’d had something to eat, it was only a short walk down the road to one of those really iconic places you see in American road movies: the start of Route 66. It's actually amazingly underwhelming in person, just a sign at the side of the road! Still, it was the first proper long-distance road in the US and is apparently still travelled by thousands of people every year starting from here, even though a lot of the modern road no longer follows the original route on its roughly 3,000-mile journey all the way across the country to Los Angeles. Fun fact: it originally started a block or two away, but they moved the starting point because the traffic flow changed due to one-way streets.

Creepy Legs Surround Me

From there, we headed out onto South Michigan Avenue and caught the number 4 bus down to the very bottom of Grant and Millennium Park. We were heading for a place called Agora. Judging by the distinct lack of people down there, I get the feeling it's perhaps not one of the most visited spots in Chicago, but honestly, how can you resist going to see a place where 106 pairs of nine-foot-tall bronze legs are just randomly stood close together on the corner of the park?

Show Some Leg!

Apparently, this is what counts as modern art these days, but I just found it a bit freaky, to be honest. It sort of gives you the feeling from one of those old 50s B-movies where alien things just suddenly appear, come to life, and then start chasing you!

Couple that with the big head statue nearby – the one apparently called 'Look into my Dreams, Awilda', although I reckon 'big creepy head statue' captures the initial impression a whole lot better! It really does look like it's going to open its eyes and start talking any minute, and honestly, between that and the legs, you feel like this part of the park is probably going to give you nightmares for weeks. Despite the slight creepiness, though, it's still a really fantastic, unique thing to see and walk around.

TV Locations

Next, we headed across the junction onto East Roosevelt Street and popped into Trader Joe's to get an ice-cold bottle of drink. We then found a spot in the shade under a tree to stand while we waited for the number 130 bus. This was due to take us around the corner and up North State Street to a place we'd seen featured on TV.

That TV place was the Royal Pawn Shop. It sells all sorts of second-hand goods, just like you'd expect in a pawnbroker's. However, we pretty quickly realised that this wasn't exactly the best of neighbourhoods in Chicago, so we decided it would be a good idea to move on fairly quickly.

Union Station Lobby

We caught the number 7 bus north from there, heading towards Union Station. This station has appeared in loads of films over the years, with the most famous one probably being the pram scene from The Untouchables movie. Unfortunately, the actual stairway where they filmed that iconic part was closed off for restoration work, which was a bit of a shame. Still, it really is an exceptional place inside; just a genuinely grand building to walk through.

Willis Tower

From Union Station, we exited from the far side, which brings you out onto the opposite bank of the Chicago River, right across from the Willis Tower. You get a really good view from here, and it gives you a great perspective on just how high up we were the other day when we went to the top! After that, we grabbed an ice cream from McDonald's before starting a walk along Wacker Drive.

L Train Crossing The Chicago River

Walking this route gives you a fantastic view of the really old, grand buildings and the different bridges that cross the river. Plus, you get to watch the L trains running right up the centre of the road on their elevated tracks. What really surprised me, though, was just how much noise these things make when they go past! And when you think about it, they run in both directions every two or three minutes, constantly throughout the day – it's non-stop rumbling.

By now, we were definitely starting to flag a bit, and the heat and humidity were really starting to feel oppressive again. Every time you moved, everything seemed to stick to you, so we decided it was definitely time to head back to the comfort of the air conditioning of the hotel. It had been a really good day, and we had managed to do everything that we had planned, so there didn't seem much point in trying to keep going and just suffering in that heat.

To Hot To Handle

I would have quite liked to have gone for a nice cold beer down on the riverbank at Lizzy McGuire's, but honestly, I really couldn't be bothered to walk the ten minutes or so from the bus stop we were waiting at. Anyway, after the train was so ridiculously packed the other day, I figured the bus would be a better bet this time for getting back. So, we hopped on the number 151, which takes you up towards Oak Street Beach, and from there, it's just a short walk through the side streets to the hotel.

The traffic, however, was mostly at a complete standstill the whole way, so you could sort of see why people cram onto the train like sardines as they do! But for us, with the wheelchair, the bus was definitely the better option; at least you know you can actually get off at the stop you need without having to fight your way through a crowd. It was absolutely lovely to get back into the cool of the room and immediately have a shower after that sticky heat.

Pizza Time

By about 7 pm, we were both starting to feel peckish again after having a nap. The other day, we'd passed a Domino's Pizza place near the station, and this week they seemed to be doing various offers, so we thought we'd give that a go. I'm not usually a huge fan of the big pizza chains, but when you're in a city as renowned for its pizza as Chicago is, you figure even a chain is probably going to be pretty decent. I'm not even sure what size it was supposed to be, but for just $8, it was absolutely massive! I'd guess it was around fourteen inches, and there was just no way we were going to manage to eat all of it between us, although we gave it a jolly good try!

The one thing I found quite funny was that there seemed to be a bulletproof screen up, just like you'd see in a bank, presumably to stop them from being robbed. But then again, you do sometimes feel that pizza places tend to attract the worst sort of clientele, especially late at night!

So, there we were, back in the hotel, sitting on the 12th floor, absolutely stuffing ourselves with pizza. After that, it was just a case of watching some TV for a bit before completely crashing out. What a day it had been!

Reflections On The Day: Heatwaves, Headless Legs & Hidden TV Landmarks

Tuesday was one of those days that felt wonderfully varied — a mix of classic sightseeing, oddball art, TV nostalgia, and the kind of oppressive heat that makes you question every life choice involving outdoor movement. Even though you didn’t set off early, the day still managed to feel full from the moment you stepped onto the Red Line.

Lunch at Popeye’s was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Between the 1950s‑looking lobby, the lack of signage, the construction chaos outside, and the interior temperature that could have slow‑roasted a turkey, it was an experience in itself. The food was fine — not terrible, not amazing — but the fact that it was cooler outside in 37°C heat says everything. Still, the biscuits‑that‑are‑actually‑scones were a pleasant surprise.

Route 66 was a fun little stop, even if the “iconic starting point” turned out to be just a sign on a pole. But that’s part of the charm — America loves its symbols, even when they’re understated. From there, the day took a turn into the surreal with Agora: 106 pairs of giant bronze legs standing in a field like they’d wandered off from a sci‑fi film set. Add in the giant head statue nearby, and the whole area felt like a cross between modern art and a fever dream. Creepy? A bit. Fascinating? Absolutely.

The TV‑themed stops added a fun twist. The Royal Pawn Shop was interesting to see in person, even if the neighbourhood made you want to keep your wallet firmly zipped away. Union Station, on the other hand, was every bit as grand as it looks on screen — even if the famous Untouchables staircase was closed for restoration. Walking out onto the riverbank afterwards gave you one of those classic Chicago views: the Willis Tower looming overhead, the river glinting in the sun, and the L trains rattling past with enough noise to wake the dead.

By mid‑afternoon, the heat and humidity were back with a vengeance. Everything sticking to you the moment you moved is never a good sign, and heading back to the hotel was definitely the right call. The bus may have crawled through traffic, but at least you weren’t trapped in another sardine‑can train.

The evening rounded things off perfectly: a massive Domino’s pizza deal, eaten in the comfort of your air‑conditioned 12th‑floor room, complete with a bulletproof screen at the counter that made you wonder what kind of late‑night pizza drama Chicago usually sees. A bit of TV, a lot of pizza, and then crashing out — the ideal end to a hot, busy, slightly bizarre, thoroughly enjoyable day.

Tuesday had everything: iconic signs, creepy art, film locations, overheated food courts, and the simple joy of returning to a cool room after battling the Chicago sun. A day full of character, quirks, and stories you’ll be laughing about for years.