We didn't head out until lunchtime this morning as we were going to watch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field so set off about 11.15 and went to Dunkin Donuts for some breakfast then got the northbound Red Line which starts off in a subway then ends up on the elevated track to Addison Station after about a 15 minute ride, I thought this train would be packed but it wasn't too bad. It was at when we got off the train that heat met you.
The gate we needed to go to was on the far side of the ground but a very kind member of staff came over to us and said we could go in the gate that we were at and not have to go round so after a quick bag check he got somebody with a wheelchair to push Jane round to the far side so we weren't in the heat and the sun too long. It was a bit of a struggle to get up the steps for her but she got there in the end plus the sun had moved around by now so we were sat in the shade for the game.
We were in our seats by about 12.45 and their game started at 1.20 they typically last about 3 hours so it's best to get comfy and make sure you don't want a pee because it's a pain getting passed other people. They come round selling hot dogs and beer so there really isn't any reason to move. It's wasn't a full house with only 31,165 people in there today but it was a Wednesday lunchtime and most people don't travel too far to go to away games and as they playing Cincinnati I can only assume that most people there were local and couldn't be bothered going to work today
in the end, the game lasted 4 and a half hours so by now it was 5 pm but as soon as we come out and took one look at the train station which is elevated next to the stadium you could see that there were hundreds of people waiting so we went into the sports shop that sells all things Cubs related. After buying myself a new hat, we fought our way through what was left off the crowds and up onto the station for the 20-minute ride back to the hotel to get out of the heat for a while and have a beer.
There was also another good reason to come back early as we had planned on going out tonight, by 8 o'clock it was time to set off again on the bus down to Grant Park to see Buckingham Fountain.
This fountain is one of the largest fountains in the world and opened in 1927, the main central jet can shoot water 150 feet into the air and in the winter when the water is drained out the fountain is decorated in thousands of lights.
I already have photos of this place in the daytime but we had to come back at night to see it all lighted up, it also changes colour to music that plays while you are sat in the open air café and bar next it so it was time for a beer and watch the water show that starts on the hour and lasts 20 minutes.
Then at 9.30, they have a firework display over on Navy Pier that you can see from here if you head over to the far side, you're just far enough away to get a good view.
It would also be rude not to have our photo taken whilst we were here so I used my tripod as a selfie stick, given that this is just a normal camera on it and I was only guessing what I would get in the dark it came out OK I think.
Even though you are in a very big park it still feels safer than some parts of the city as we found out.
After leaving there we had walk back into the loop and the plan was to catch the bus but this area feels so unsafe to be in, with hardly anyone around its almost like there are eyes watching you. There is around 600 murder's in Chicago each year and countless street robberies so you do need to be careful where you go. In the end, we dropped into a shop to get a drink so this would give me time to use my phone to find a better way back to the hotel. Ironically this would be on a subway train but felt so much safer than the street.
By now it was nearly 11 pm and we needed to get something to eat so opted to get a couple of cheeseburgers when we got off, your not short of places to eat around here as most places are open into the early hours of the morning and at $8 for two it was money well spent.
