The Lake Shore Limited and the Southwest Chief both have termini at Chicago's Union Station, so both coming and going we had some hours to explore the downtown area while we waited for the latter train to board.
There's a lot to see in downtown Chicago. To start with, Union Station is a big, bustling place for people watching (on the return trip we chatted with some zombies from a 5000-zombie flash mob that had just finished) and some fine Art Deco architecture. Just outside the door you can strain your neck looking up at the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) just across the canal. And about a 15 minute walk to the east is a string of parks and museums along the shore of Lake Michigan.
After a brisk walk to stretch our legs and work up an appetite, we had a very nice lunch at Russian Tea Time - a fancy establishment with a beautiful collection of samovars and an extensive bar. I could not resist trying the trio of house-infused vodkas (coriander, black currant, and lime) with a dish of pickled herring and some black bread.
Lorna was able to resist that gustatory delight and contented herself with a stuffed chicken breast and a Coke.
After lunch we still had time to explore the Loop area of the city. Chicago is justly famous for its architecture, but it was not a beautiful day. I took some photos, which you can see in this Facebook album.
On the return trip we had less time and it was later in the day, and we had spent our budget, so we went to the Italian Village. That is a trio of old-style Italian restaurants in one building. The downstairs restaurant, La Cantina, is where I had a pedestrian Lasagna and Lorna had a Chicken Piccatta. We washed it down with an unexceptional Chianti and headed back to the train.
We had less time because on the walk along Monroe Street looking for food, we stumbled into a car ad being made! Everyone had to wait for a little while as the car being advertised made a couple of passes down an empty street with a handful of camera crews and a few curious onlookers.
When dinner was over, we took a somewhat circuitous route back to the Union Station. This gave us the chance to see more of the architecture, like this one with the spooky accessories - the Chicago Public Library!
On other trips we have explored west of the Union Station, especially into Greek Town, where we like the Artopolis restaurant for Sunday brunch (the timing is perfect if you leave Boston on Saturday).
The people of Chicago, as in Boston, were busy about their business, but they were plenty friendly if we needed to ask directions. Just to be sure, though, on the return trip I asked with my rather neutral accent rather than risk some trickery incurred by Lorna's unmistakable Boston accent while the Bruins and the Blackhawks are fighting for the Stanley Cup!
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