Why am I suddenly off the ski hill and in Chicago?
Good questions always deserve good answers. So I shall try to answer these in thoughtful and informative ways.

This will be an epistle with a number of parts to it. I will try to restrict myself to a single theme within each part. This first one is really about the city itself. I’m not sure exactly why I am drawn to the city in the first place. I can’t remember when I first flew through O’Hare airport; it was doubtless a long time ago. But maybe not before the eighties, as I can’t recall any major trip in the seventies that would have required me to use this huge American air-hub. The airport itself is massive and yet it is not all that intimidating. Just make sure that you know at what terminal you have landed, and then determine where your next flght is intending to depart. And the rest, as they say, will fall into place reasonably quickly and easily.

I must admit, after almost forty years, I still like tis airport. It is relatively well organized and it is generally quite clean. As I am a Gold Star Alliance flier with the tag of a “million mile” Air Canada traveller, I am usually only on either Air Canada or United when flying within North America. For this preference, O’Hare is good — it is easy to navigate and it is friendly and it is relatively clean. I have never gotten lost here and whenever I have had to stay overnight, it has been relatively inexpensive, and very comfortable.

Once again I am staying at the Airport Hilton — this place is almost on the tarmac. Once one has finished gathering the luggage together, it is but a few minutes to walk underground to the hotel. The hotel is a very nice Hilton designed rest spot. Good restaurants with good wine menu’s and appropriate interior ambiance. The walk here is not lengthy and it always clean. It makes one realize that this hotel is as good as it generally gets to be a home away from home. I had a work-out when I came through last week and the gym is very good. Lot’s of diverse options for exercise and muscle toning. As well it is big enough that it can take a goodly number of people without anyone feeling crowded.

I like it at O’Hare, much like I like it in Chicago. Even the “el train” (the psuedo-subway CTA “blue line”) is an exceptional transportation option by which to get to downtown Chicago. I used it to travel into the city and I did the same coming back tonight. It has a mosaic of ridership, but everyone is polite and even friendly and helpful if you have extra luggage. People are focused when they get on, so they don’t pry or even stare. At the same time, if you need a seat or some space, they are very quick to offer a seat, or at least a space for luggage.

So spread the word, share the story. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is a preferred transit point. The city itself is energetic, and the architecture is incredible. Generally I walked from my hotel to the conference as well as to the church (that I attended today — more on these in other parts of the Epistle!!) and it was always a delightful walk. Lots of stores to gaze in, and sidewalks only busy in the evening either because of commuters trying to get to their trasit ride or shoppers clogging up the pathways. Of course there are lots of shopping options if that is your forte, but the real treat is the informative knowledge-based boat ride on the Chicago river to examine the various Chicago architectural options (I didn’t have time to do this during this visit — but I did it last time and it is amazing). One thing I’ve noticed about my twice a decade visit, there is always a changing skyline — and this year a concominant collection of new apartment towers, some of them very narrow, filling almost every open/vacant lot.

There is urban renewal going on in Chicago and so there are a number of classy high-rises being built where once there were closed factories or mediocre walk-up apartments. The lakeshore still has lots of walking trails. And there are numerous small parks in the middle of downtown. In fact, anyone hoping to build now has to ensure there is adequate green space once their building is finished, whether this be on the grounds or up on a ledge and countrary to what you may think, builders are finding innovative ways to add green space — some use every tenants’ balconies and building rooftops to add to the potential establishment of solar panels, evergreen trees, etc.

I like the feel of Chicago as a city — not crowded like New York, not smog-filled like LA, not bland like Dallas. And there are moments when I am in this city that I just want to celebrate. This was a good place to relax. It is possible to meet total strangers (even when you are in a hurry), and thus to have a quick exchange with a person who may add much to your day, just by advising on a museum to visit or recommending what boat ride to take, or where to find a neat place to eat or have a drink. Hotels, restaurants, churches, fitness centres, shops all seem to want you to really like the city and when they find you are from another country, they become very persistant that you need to return to visit Chicago and see more of the place (it seems the favourite question is: “have you seen X?” “Well then, you have to come back…”.

The only thing that stands out that is a bit negative — there are a lot of horns being used by vehicles… but after you relax a bit, you don’t hear them as much — they are just more prevalent than say, Okanagan Falls BC or Bassano AB or Madoc ON or Souris PEI!!

I’ll talk more about the actual things that I did while in the city. For now, rest assured that it was good to be back in the “windy city” (that was really only windy for two of the six days).

g.w.