We're Not From Merseyside...

Firstly a note that I'm about to break one of my earlier resolutions, that I would not cut my hair this year. Frankly it has gone to hell this trip, and if I happen to come across a no appointment needed salon here or in Anaheim, I'll be rocking my short bob very fast.

This morning we caught a hop on hop off bus to the Willis (better known as the Sears) Tower, the tallest building in the United States, and for a long time the tallest in the world. We laughed on the bus tour over as the Tour Guide was noting where everyone was from, but didn't ask us, he saw Aaron's Liverpool cap, anfd heard our accents and decided we were English, and kept making comments about being English to us. I eventually asked where he thought we were from, and he over confidently said, "well I can tell you're not from Merseyside" like that was the trick... I don't think he expected my response that we were from the Australian part of England...

Thank god for the Chicago City Pass as there was an hour wait to get up to the Skydeck, but we had a fast pass so went straight up. The views were better at the Hancock Observatory, we noted, however the Skydeck features reinforced clear plastic/glass boxes that you can walk out on, so you're literally hovering above 100 storeys above Chicago. We both walked out but I admit, I was fairly nervous standing there because there was nothing to hang on to. The experience was somewhat ruined though as they were so unorganised with the elevators it took us half an hour just queueing to get out!

We then went to Giordano's across the road which serves Deep Dish or Stuffed Pizza, a Chicago creation and tradition. We ordered a cheese and pepperoni pie. My god, it was impossible that we could finish the "small" pizza because of its richness but it was fun trying.

We then hopped on another hop on hop off bus to head to the Shedd Aquarium which is in the Field Museum complex, and across the road from Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears (BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!). On that bus we were asked the dumbest question we've faced in the US - "Are Australia and New Zealand actually separate, or are they the same place?"

I don't know if we're aquariumed out, but I didn't much enjoy the aquarium. I think it felt like it had everything to be good, but it kind of ended up half assed. Eg if you're going to have a show where dolphins and Beluga whales do tricks, have them actually do tricks, rather than it be an education piece on how you train them with whistles. It also didn't feel like it had a lot of animals, eg there were 6 penguins and two otters.

We then met a friend I've made on the internet for dinner which was lovely. I was terrified especially as I had been near killed by humidity so looked absolutely hideous, but Ginger was lovely and very easy to talk to.  We dragged her around shopping for a while, and then went to the Flat Top Grill for dinner where we were joined by her husband. Cool place where you create your own stir fry, the sort of place I wish we had in Adelaide. It was really nice to be out and about rather than just back in the hotel. Tomorrow we're meeting up again for dinner and a movie. Social lives are fun.

Talk to you all tomorrow!