The first working day of 2016.

Actual title: In the roads of Chicago. Date: First working day of 2016. January 4th.

It's been a year and a half since I'm away from my country now. Haven't met many, even some of  my relatives since then. It is pretty normal since I also lived in a city where there were only a hand few of Indians. I was surrounded by friends from different parts of the world and hence time went by without realizing a thing. Now that I've moved to "America" I am quite acquainted to family people living in different states. And that is how I reached Chicago. I started off my new year there.

Amidst all the love from my relatives and having a great time with them, I managed to have a day for myself before leaving the magnificent city. Was the weather my friend that day? No. It was snowing intermittently. My immediate thought was to sit inside a restaurant for the rest of the morning and head to the airport. Did I do just that? No. Because first, I was in a new/big city and second, I had the entire downtown memorised from Google Maps. Yes, I have recently acquired the capability of over preparing for travel trips. This one was by myself and so everything was on me, even getting lost. I did get lost even with navigation, but my friends know it is a usual story. Moving on.

I took the Metra rail from the suburbs to reach downtown Chicago. I was to fly later that day. So there was a cabin trolley in my hand that I had to drag along with me through the entire city (not preferred but no option). The moment I stepped out of the station it started snowing. I had expected this based on the weather predictions. But not this early. Trusting my sense in Google maps I walked down straight up Washington St. After 20 minutes of brisk walking, snow and trolley hiking I realised to have walked up the wrong direction. So I took the next 20 minutes and a ten more to reach a junction at Madison street where Lake Michigan flows in between the buildings. The architectural tour is more sort after but since it was winter I missed it. However, managed to get a glimpse of it myself.

By now there was no snow and the clouds had cleared up. In the morning I had given up the plan of going up the famous Willis tower to see the bird's eye view of Chicago because of the weather. But suddenly the clear sky gave me some hope and I decided to walk up a few blocks left to see the building, It was standing there. Tall and black with a huge entrance. I was standing there in front of it, like an ant with a trolley.

The place was not crowded since it was a Monday morning, not to forget the first working day of the year. There were still couples and of course some family crowd. Couples or in general twos namely. I felt a bit odd. But my state of mind proved I'm far from feeling that way, not for long until the camera lady at the entrance wanted a picture and said, "Just you, ma'am?" "Just me" I said. After a quick click with a fake smile and starting putting together my luggage for the security check (not airport, still in Willis tower). Behind me was a tall, blonde guy with a back-pack. He seemed to have come there alone, I felt like I had company. Soon I hurried to watch a movie explaining the architecture and history of the tower and later went by long stretches of passages to finally wait for the lift that will takes us to the 103 rd floor. Before me was the blonde guy. Again.

Blonde guy moments: It took about 30 seconds for the lift to go up to the skydeck. I took that opportunity to put all my winter gloves and scarfs into my trolley that was already stuffed. "Quite some shopping, I see" he said. We were the only two on that lift. Two lone travelers (there is absolutely nothing dramatic here. Just saying.) My mind just needed a fraction of a second to first process that he is talking to me and later to get annoyed about why would he assume that about a girl with a trolley (not even a shopping bag). I felt judged. But of course, "Nope, flying right after!" I said. By now only 10 seconds has passed. He continued, "Where are you flying to?""Boston" I said thought it took a while for me to realise it was my current home. He seemed amused and asked if I was studying there. Then I had to throw in my usual complexed tantrum about working but still studying. At least I didn't have to get into the location complexities, at least that's what I thought. He told me that he was in Chicago from Poland! I had a sudden glee on my face. Someone from Europe, I thought. And then my location complexities and moving here and there came up. Good solid 30 seconds. And finally we were there at the 103 rd floor, called the skydeck on top of Willis Tower. We both parted ways to take pictures of the surrounding. I was hovering around here and there and asked a couple of random people to click pictures of me from the deck since I had no choice. Just as I was admiring the view of snow top roofs and skyscrapers of Chicago from one of the many glass windows my rear vision caught the view of him leaving. As soon as I turned he came over and we discussed about our plans later for the day, when we were flying back etc. He was going to sleep and I was going to continue my trip around downtown. He was flying back to Poland and I was going back to Boston. We bid a very cheerful goodbye. It felt nice. Remember I said don't assume anything dramatic? Because the point I wanted to make from the whole blonde guy moments was when we were up on that elevator, it could have been possible that I was touring with a bunch of friends and we were yapping about what we usually yap about. I would have hardly noticed anyone around me. But this acquaintance was nice. Spontaneity. It can make any part of your life feel real.

After the trip, I continued to pull my trolley through the streets directly to Grant Park. It was completely covered with snow. So I could not distinguish the pattern of the garden. But I could tell it was beautiful. There were tall pillars and steps leading to the main area of the park. There was no one around in the vast area so I could easily snap a few pictures here and there. It is surrounded by the busy Michigan Ave on one side. However the opposite end is surrounded by Lake Michigan which was quite and serene. It started snowing again by the time I walked past Mr. Lincoln's statue. I left my trolley in the middle of the path and walk around a bit by myself admiring the area. There I was standing in between a large ground covered with snow on both sides, with my camera, freezing as the snow also covered my shoulders. I felt like a lone traveler. I didn't want to continue with my trolley, but I had to.

Slowly paced by now (almost 3 hours of walking done) I reached an entrance to the famous 'Millenium Park'. I found no one around, apparently it was the wrong entrance. But in a way I got a view of the buildings in a way that I couldn't have seen from the other side. Getting lost has its own perks. I clicked a couple of pictures and so wanted someone to take one for me. But there was no one around and it had started to snow heavily by then. I put my cape (in this case my winter jacket) on and started moving towards to the 'Cloud Gate'.

This place had a great view as well. But by now I was used to seeing views. The glass structure was amazing indeed, bent in a way to get a panoramic view of the entire row of buildings. Since this spot was officially on everyone's tour guide I saw more people. Clicking weird pictures before it was a thing, just like any other place (Eiffel tower had a lot as well, obviously). I stood close to the railing facing the Cloud with the "Chicago buildings" as my drop back. It was a wonderful view. From there I could see kids ice-skating. The city was so lively on a Monday morning.

The plan was to go to Navy Pier for lunch. But that did not work out since I was on foot and it tool about 45 min to walk there as predicted by GMaps. So I gave up on that and started to head back to the metro station. (The view from Navy Pier is indeed very beautiful and I was there with family on New years eve'. The fireworks and all that. It was amazing!). In the 40 min ride to the airport my body told me about the tiredness it felt. I dozed off for a quick 10 min nap unexpectedly which doesn't normally happen after which I had to check if all my belongings were still intact. (After 5.5 hours of walking). My knees had started to hurt by now. My trolley seemed to like the smooth airport floors in contrary to the roads of Chicago. I reached the gate exactly as planned, an hour before boarding. That gave me some time to charge my phone and load the pictures from my camera to my tab.

I relived the entire trip through pictures once more before I boarded a flight to Boston. Holidays was good!

Happy 2016, Swetha