I WROTE THIS BLOG OVER MY COFFEE A FEW DAYS AGO AND STA WENT DOWN FOR SITE MAINTENANCE AND I LOST AN HRS WORTH OF STUFF, SO I APPOLOGISE IF ITS DISJOINTED.

I liked Cultural encounters, because to be honest "drinking with mates" doesnt come up on the list of things to do.

I was in the windy city for what seemed like forever, but to be honest 8 days was a bit much. Not to say that I didnt absolutley love the feel of the city, the comedy and the "culture!"... *i'm writing this after a few beers in the hostel in New Orleans so at the moment I am trying to think of where to start on what I've done over the past few days. ( Will write about N.O later on.

Started Downtown in CHicago next to the public library (not being cultured, but that was where the hostel was) our first night in was subdued tbh, but met a cool Aussie guy who spoke for Britain which made things a little bit more amusing. The next day I crammed in as much walking as possible before Adam arrived from Boston. In other words, we went to the Art museum (amazing, but packed full of Rodin obsessee's) am in love with Monets pictures of Waterloo bridge! Went to the North of Downtown to Magnificent mile and window shopped...it said to do that in the guide. Who can resist the million shops etc. Walked along to the 5,000 ft Navy pierto see the Imax, big wheel and city views.

The evening was then preceeded by a trip to The Green Mile, ALcapones Jazz bar. The dimly lit bar, with leather seated booths and red wall paper hosted a 14piece jazz band and proffessional swing dancers. The evening was compared by a 60 year old man with a 50's radio voice talking about the sound of the sixties as if the band was live on air. The dancers were amazing, watching 6 couples pass one another on the dance floor was enough to make everyone swoon. The hostel "friends" were great too, its not very often you get to meet bright chirpy girls called Britney who are in the peace corp!
Friday was another trip to the Art museum, to be honest I feel in love with all the paintings all over again. We had a chance to get in for free for the morning and go around the student exhibits in the Art Uni. For first year students the quality was impressive! THe afternoon was relatively laid back, we met up with Adam and wandered the North streets until the boys got hungry and we stopped in on Melting Pot. A ounce and half later of cheese *the best fondue in the world with beautiful toilets...the things you remember aye. Colum, Adam and I met up later on with James, their larger than life friend who is currently studying to be a comedian at Second City (the pre-saturday night live comedy club for some actors). Taking in the sites, which included the worlds first McDonalds and some seedy pubs...mmm lite beer :S Fast forwarding to the evening (after a long walk across Lincoln park and the end of Lake Michigan) we went out for Giordano's stuffed pizza, the most insane piece of pizza you will ever encounter in your life. To get the idea you need to imagine, pie base, cheese, meat, cheese, meat, cheese SAUCE its essentially the cheesiest pie ever and has the potential to take you down....a few beers later and it did indeed do that...make me want to sleep for EVER.

Saturday kick started with a lie-in! Woop! I went on the internet in the morning Downtown and COlum and I pottered up to Second City on Sedgewick to catch the touring show. It started with some of the original sketches, which didnt mean too much to me, but the Monte crisco sketch was hilarious. (Imagine someone having a heart attack from a deep friend ham and cheese panini with Jam on the side...and then asking for an order to go whilst being brought back to life...) Our afternoon kicked off with This is spinal Tap...and the evening was finished with...wait for it...a few beers. Am not spending all my money on beer FYI...just when the boys werent paying. Lol. WE were taught some new drinking games and Doughboy passed out at 2am!

Sunday brought on another laundry and Sleep morning. DOnt worry I plan to make it to all the other cultural hotspots for the next three days. We went back up North (North of Chicago is where its all happening, so for future visitors, make sure you stay up there) and head off to this cute little "mafia-grill" a Bar called Twin Anchor, which was overflowing with Chicago-ian character. The food was cheap and fabulous! Twin Anchor was also famous for being in Dark Knight (the mafia bar where one character is shot) that and the film Remember me (a film I asked for the 2hrs back). Our afternoon was headed toward the LIncoln ZOo, initially we thought it was a little farm with a John Deer museum (worlds greatest Tractor) but we walked across the river to see Polar Bears, Gorillas and the lions and tigers and bears...OH MY. NY favourite is still the rock hopper penguins (who rocked my socks!)
OUr evening was amazing, we managed to keep free tickets to see Primal Scream at the Metro bar. We were surrounded by the over 40's re-living their American experience of this 90's brit rock band. COlum and I were definatley educated in some new dad moves...hilarious. The music was wicked as well...amd going to buy the album!

Monday night was the day of JERRY JERRY JERRY. We spent the morning queuing in two or three floors hyping up the audience with old classic episodes of the show. Colum and I were sat at the front on the right to watch JErry come out with a few mins of stand up before the craziness begins. His opening joke was... "I was sad to hear in the papers this week that one of Osama BL's wives had passed. Headlines reported that she lifted up her dress, Osama saw bush and fired"...
The story lines were Rapper lover cant help but love rappers and wanted him to give up his really young girlfriend, second story was one town tramp spreading rumours about her boyfriends ex having herpes...the third story was a guy obsessed with his best mates girls hands...???
The question time was hilarious, they give out Jerry beads for people who do outrageous stuff - one woman flashed in Jerrys face and got beads and this other larger than life women properly swung her t*** in Jerrys face and it was the most hideous thing I have ever seen! lol.... Sears tower was the next stop...taking photos of the archecturally amazing city, the views were impressive, even more so that NYC...*col had his photo taken with a cardboard cut out of Barak Obama!

KINGSTON MINES, was the highlight for Colums trip - our first taste of REAL chicago blues! he bar was set up with two rooms alternating with bands and drinks and food. The walls were covered in southern style african motif's street signs random household stuff, to really put you back into the deep south Blues mood. The first band, a little radical guy on the keys , a Chinese beret wearing guitar genious and his two bass playing soul divas took the stage. Accompanied by sweet potatoe chips and honey (wierd but goooood) we bopped away! The second band were even more jaw dropping. Three large guys took the stage dressed in black playing this funk riff waiting for their lead to come on stage. A sultry 60 year old man took to the stage and rocked out! Despite breaking two strings during his performance (and me being told off for filming) we were serenaded and our group of hostellers feel in love with his musical charm! :D

Tuesday was the Day of Science and Industry.
I say day because we spent 5 hours in there! Colum and I found out that 175,000 people come in and out of Chicago airport everyday, we saw toys being made and robots drawing people. We watched the most impressive collection of steam trains, model railways I have ever seen and took a trip around the U-505 Uboat (well we went around it and sat in the bunks!) This was one of the most impressive museums I have ever seen!
Our evening took us to Buddy's legends with Miguelle and Florian, our room buddies! The blues here was hilarious, it started off with this crazy film crew filming every move of the lead singer. Who was a bumbling old man, convinced that the world was out to get young people. His lyrics were mostly about "looking after yourself", his dry course voice was combined with these crazy buddy holly look alikes and wierd death metal bass players. A large missmatch, for impressive musicians! :D

Wednesday was our chill day, we walked around the art exhibits and up around the south side of Lake Michigan! The views alongside the planetarium and the FIeld museum were impressive to say the least! We snuck some cheeky pictures of Soldiers field before going on a final hunt for Arbys. *it turned into Potbelly's....best sarnies so far!

OUr evening took us onto our final train of the trip...bring on the 19hr journey to New Orleans!