Chicago August 2007


Day Three - August 15, 2007 cont'd
The boat tour ended at one-thirty. We decided to see another attraction. Both Bev and Bernice had liked what they called the "Museum of Natural History". We thought we'd give it a go. Our guide book did not list such a museum. The 411 operator looked in Chicago and then in surroundings and could find nothing. Finally Pat came along and we asked him. The Chicago Museum of Natural History is called "The Field Museum." Who woulda thunk it?
		The taxi driver dropped us off right in front of a hot dog stand. How very convenient!
One of the exhibits is of stones - both semi-precious and prescious.		And then there is Sue - the largest and most intact specimen of a T-Rex. Quite impressive.


We had dinner that evening at Tucci Benucch which is right across from The Drake in the mall of 900 N. Michigan. I ordered a Roman style pizza while Hank chose a steak trio. Peter, the manager, gave us a tasting sample of their baked spaghetti. It was delicious and we were tempted to change our orders. But the pizza was very good. The steak was so outstanding that I pressed Peter into taking me to meet the chef - who grinned widely at my complements.

Day Four - August 16, 2007 We were sort of museumed out so Hank suggested we take a drive. The valet pulled the car up to the curb and turned off the engine. And off it stayed, the battery having gone totally dead. The parking supervisor assured us that the car had started all right in the garage. He gave us a jump, directions to the nearest Midas shop, and his cell number - just in case. Although the shop was very busy they were able to install a new battery right away. I must say that the folks in Chicago are really very nice indeed. Equipped with a new battery, we drove North along the lake (avoiding Wrigley field where some sort of a game involving a ball was being played). We drove through Evanston which is quite beautiful. We stopped for a lunch at a sandwich shop, drove a bit more, and returned in time for another dinner at Tucci Benucch. Peter was pleased to see us again. Henry ordered the baked spaghetti and I ordered pasta and meatballs with marinara sauce, which I NEVER do as I don't usually like red gravy. The Bennuch marinara is the best I've ever tasted. Imagine that - and in a mall, no less. Final thoughts Hank liked Chicago. I loved it. (But then I always have been a city girl.) There are all sorts of things to do, great food, lovely people, and a decent mass transit system. We will return. We'll get a hotel again right in town, The Drake if we can. We'll fly instead of drive as parking is so expensive and we used the car only once. We'll take the bus tour, go again to the zoo, see Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, return to the Museum of Science and Industry, have a deep dish pizza, a burger at Mike Ditka's and more pasta at Bennuch. See - I'm making plans already!
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