Merchant and Rhoades in Chicago

P.O.S.H. in Chicago

Space519 in Chicago

Downtown Disney - A Visit

Finally, some pictures from Disney Town! I had the most delicious seafood platter there, that genuinely made me rethink how I eat seafood - no need to fry it, people! And that cocktail at the top was by far the most delicious non-alcoholic drink I have ever had.

I'm going to take this moment to recall a time not long ago, where I could wake up at 10 (but not really) and live by the motto "hakuna matata".

A Stroll Around Chicago

Whenever family or friends visit, you are kind of required to show them around a city they have never visited - and do all of the touristy things you are expected to do. This is what we did all of Tuesday of last week (I know, it's a bit late). Walked Chicago for hours and ended walking around 14 miles!! Crazy, I know. But it was a wonderful time.

A Walk About Town

Poems I Found--Part 1

Poems I found in an old French notebook of mine...

(1)

Today I will have an adventure,

I will surely see something new.

As to what type, I'm not quite sure,

but I'll see something seen by few.

When I rise I prepare for my expedition.

I make sure to pack water and bread.

Of course I take a compass for direction,

and my coat the color of red.

After all the essentials are packed-

and my list double-checked-

I make sure the house is locked,

and step closer to the adventure ahead.

Following the River

I came across this park by the Streeterville "neighborhood"--if that's what you call them, I'm not actually sure. Anyway, I actually love fountains; I think they bring such a nice break to concrete scenery. Which is why I tend to dislike this modern designs. For me, the design seems a bit cold and unattractive, and the color simply adds to the blandness of the skyscrapers. Can you tell I'm not a huge fan of a lot of modern design concepts?

A Visit to the Bahai Temple

Here is the second set of pictures! On Sunday, we made a quick trip to the Bahai Temple, since it is such a beautiful building and my mom wanted to show it to my brother and his wife. The detail in the design of the temple is exquisite, with signs from all religions carved onto the entrance. According to the pamphlet, the Bahai faith believes that all religions worship the same god, and that they should be unified. There's also a bit about striving for world peace and for equality in the sexes and colors. Whether or not one agrees with their mission, we must give credit to the beauty in the building itself.

There are no pictures allowed inside, but here are some shots from the outside and from some of the surrounding area.

Island Paradise

Whenever you travel, you have to keep your mind open to new experiences and possibilities. It is likely that you will meet people with different customs, ideas; as well as eat foods you are not used to eating, and weather you are not used to enduring. However, it is those differences that make travel beautiful and exciting. If we wanted the same experience, we would simply stay home.

There is a lot of criticism of Cuba from people who dislike its government and its politics. You will hear bad things from foreigners and from some Cubans themselves. However, visiting Cuba for me isn't about the politics. It's about the family I still have there and the inevitable adventures that ensue from traveling there.

Remembering Paris

The Road South

Here's to dreaming of road trips past and future:

A More "European" Chicago

I came across the Instituto Cervantes again, and decided this time to go ahead and see what was inside. They have Spanish classes, and apparently once a week they hold a book club which apparently meets every 6 to 7 days, and I am seriously considering joining!

The Find--LaSalle Street

Took another route to the train station today. Chicago was relatively foggy all day, and it started clearing up around the time I was getting ready to leave. I wish I could have taken a picture with my phone, but I admit I was a bit embarrassed about taking a picture in front of the other people.

Still, on my way back I stopped by this coffee shopped called appropriately: Coffee Shoppe. I took, quite quickly and embarrassedly, some pictures of the interior. But unfortunately they turned out a bit blurry. I also realized, after having eaten my muffin and drank my espresso, that I hadn't taken a proper picture. Which means I'll have to stop by again soon and take some proper pictures!

The Road Less Travelled

Or at least for you, anyway.

Today, after work, I took a different route to the train station. My summer internship is by the Navy Pier, and I always choose to walk to Ogilvie for the sake of exercise and because it truly is an enjoyable time. Well, today I chose to go down Dearborn from the the Water Tower, and it was such a good choice! There were several new stores I'd never seen and since I took it at a comfortable pace, I got to take in all the different sites.