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Friday 12 June. Airport to downtown
Uneventful departure from O'Hare (airport) area to my hotel for the next three nights, downtown Travelodge. The room is not so good and the WIFI is ever so slow, but at least I'm near the action…
Did some essentials shopping (beer, folding chair, Coke and more beer) and wandered round The Loop in Chicago (i.e. downtown). The Billy Goat Tavern had been recommended to me as a must-eat-at, so I did. It's simply another burger place!! They pride themselves that they don't do fries, they do chips - which was true. And I asked for a double cheeseburger but the triple was on offer and cheaper so I had that instead. Triple burger indeed…
The Blues Festival takes place on 5 stages in Grant Park, which is about 5 minutes from my hotel. I arrived at it in brilliant sunshine around 4 pm. It wasn't too busy, and I saw three acts -the best known (well, the only one I'd heard of!!) was the Charlie Musselwhite Band who played a good rocking blues set for 90 minutes. You buy tickets to exchange for refreshments, and a beer works out around $9. Or you can smuggle your own in, if you are subtle about drinking it. I'll leave you to guess what I did.
I got chatting to a couple - Martha is a realtor (estate agent) and Bob's an ex-Chicago street cop. They live in Milwaukee and offered me a bed for as long as I want whenever I want! I hope it was my own bed, not a part of theirs!! They told me that there is a summer festival in Milwaukee on 4 July weekend, and to go to stop with them then. I already have plans but I'll see how it goes. I inwardly smiled when Bob was telling me his grandmother was born in London even though she was Welsh. It's struck me how Americans are aware of their old country roots - no offence intended to any of my American buddies who may read this, George! Bob also told me to contact him if I have a run-in with the law while in Chicago - obviously still has influence - but I'm not planning to have to make that call!!!
I managed to drag myself around a few bars after the concert. I have reverse jet lag, so not knowing how long I'd last I avoided going too far from home and wasting too much money. Saturday's another day though J
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