Everything Chicago

Where to begin?! I LOVE Chicago!

It began this past summer. Three of my sisters and I began to toss around the idea of going to Chicago. To see Wicked, go on a haunted ghost tour and for stylish Cynthia, shopping. Ugh was my first thought at that (first thought, remember that). But ya know, when you go on a trip you compromise with your travel buddies. Well, we never actually got around to planning it...weddings have a way of getting in the way of things;) 5 months later we finally committed, we were buying tickets. We'd be leaving in three weeks. Bad news, I chickened out. Being newlyweds, Ben and I didn't have the money. sigh. I was upset. Which was ridiculous, who was I to use quite a bit of our small savings and splurge it all on my own in Chicago? Yet I couldn't just drop it. I honestly felt like I needed to go. It sounds absurd, believe me, I know. Try explaining that with a straight face to your hubby that you "feel" like you "need" to go on this amazingly enjoyable trip with your sisters. Ya. It was quite an interesting discussion. But Ben is amazing. He agreed. I bought my ticket.

Our plane left Wednesday evening. The flight left Salt Lake at 6:35PM and right before take off they unexpectedly called my name over the intercom on the plane. I cautiously stood up in front of countless staring eyes. A thought hit me, maybe Ben had sent me flowers! How sweet!! ....nope. I had given the attendent both my boarding passes. How embarrassing! Good thing I never blush. Geez.

Because of Martha's ridiculous obsession with seeing other airports we had a layover in Denver. Ya, she's a bit of a wierdo:) We landed in Chicago at about midnight. We found the subway...I've never felt so white in my whole life. We were the only white people on the train. After riding it all the way to the end before realizing it was going in the opposite direction of our hotel we hoped on the one going the correct way. We got to our hotel at about 3am. Not being tired at all from the excitement of the train and just being in Chicago, we turned on the tv and watched a scary movie til 5am. Great way to start off a 4 day vacation, I know:)

Chicago is the most haunted city in the world, according to paranormal specialists. So what better place to go on a ghost tour than there?

It was so fascinating! Beth, our guide, told us countless stories of chicago history. The "white city," the devil baby, a ship that capsized while still docked - resulting in the deaths of over 845 people (Eastland), and the terrifying Iroquois Theater fire (Iroquois). Feel free to follow these links to read a brief summary of what happened at these places. It even interested me after weeks of being in school, that's gotta say something:) If any of you go to Chicago, I strongly recommend going on this tour, it's definitely something you'll never forget.

...And for an extra perk, go with someone who gets scared easily....you know who you are;)