Birthday in the Windy City

Birthday Dinner at Nando Milano Trattoria

Ever since my 18th birthday, I've decided to spend my birthday in a new city every year.

Last year it was Brussels, Belgium. This year it was Chicago, Illinois. Next year? Maybe some country in Europe, Asia, Australia, or maybe New York? We'll see.

I love the thought of spending my birthday exploring somewhere new. What better way to spend my birthday than to do what I love doing most---traveling.

I've spent the last 5 days in Chicago, the windy city, with a friend. The trip there was exhausting as it took 15 hours to drive from Oklahoma to Chicago (with stops in between). I actually had round trip tickets to Chicago booked ...but my traveling companion decided to cancel them a few weeks before the trip in favor of driving. So I had to suck it up and embark on this road adventure. Although tiring, the drive from Oklahoma to Chicago was surprisingly easy. I didn't realize that all we had to do was head north on Route 66 for a little over half a day. 

Driving IN Chicago was not the greatest idea. Why? Parking in downtown Chicago was hell. Free parking was almost nonexistent. Parking garages and meters will basically rob your bank account. Halfway through our Chicago trip, we decided to just park our car at the airport for $5 and take the CTA (public transportation) around downtown. Life was sooo much easier doing so. We managed to see so much more because we didn't waste so much time looping around places trying to find parking. It also came out to be so much cheaper with a $10 CTA pass which allowed us to take unlimited trains and buses. 

Our last day in Chicago really made us regret driving. Since we weren't planning on staying in downtown Chicago all day, we decided to take our car instead of the CTA. We headed out to the Chicago beach that afternoon. So at about half past noon, we pulled against a curb and parked. I went to the pay box and paid $8 for two hours of parking. Fast forward 2 hours later...we headed towards the car and ...well it was gone.

"Dude, where's my car?!" was basically what ran through our minds. Finally found out that our car got towed, as well as all the other cars that parked where we parked, because parking there was only allowed AFTER 1pm. We spent the rest of the day at the Central Auto Pound trying to get our car, which was a rental that was under my brother's name who was in Oklahoma...so we never were able to get back that car. 

Moral of the story: Don't drive in Chicago, just don't. Take the public transportation because it will make your life soo much easier AND your wallet will thank you. BUT if you do drive, make sure you read the signs carefully or you might be out $320 and be left with no car. 

I flew back to Oklahoma this morning, and honestly, I was quite excited to head home. Chicago was fun, but after spending the last day breaking down emotionally at the Central Auto Pound, I was exhausted and ready  to get the hell out of Chicago. I made it home in 2 hours with the plane which was nice because the last thing I wanted to do was face another 15 hours on the road. 

My Chicago birthday trip was definitely memorable.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I probably gained a couple of pounds stuffing my face with all the deliciously fattening food there. No regrets. YOLO.

We ate all this food...in one day.

Willis Tower: Just staring down 1,353 feet...

The Bean

Chinatown

French Market

In front of Buckingham Fountain

Outside the Shedd Aquarium

Navy Pier

Grant Park

Oak Street Beach