Chicago Blues
Got into Chicago a few days ago after a nine hour Greyhound bus trip which was actually quite fun. After getting settled in our hostel we ventured out into the windy city which was very cold (31 degrees Fahrenheit or -1 degree Celsius) to see some of the nicest architecture we have ever seen. We went to the Chicago Cultural Centre and got a tour of the inside design which was extremely elaborate and ornate - full of marble and Tiffany stained glass. We also had some of the best soup I have ever tasted at a bakery nearby. The next day we went down to 2120 South Michigan Avenue - the location of Chess records and the home of the Blues Heaven Foundation - where some of the best Chicago blues artists recorded, including Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, the Rolling Stones. and Houndog Dumitriu (see picture). Yesterday we went to the St Patrick's Day parade as did about 20,000 other people - we saw many, many people dressed up in green looking like leprechauns. Today we went and had a Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues which was a spectacular event, both musically and gastronomically. One of the great things about Chicago is that it has 24 hour public transport pass
es which allow you to see a lot of the city very cheaply - we have spent much time riding around and hopping on and off to view sites of interest including the Wrigley Field Baseball Stadium and many of the places where the Blues Brothers film was shot. Unfortunately, Chicago is trying very hard to disassociate itself from its gangster/prohibition past so there are no markers/reminders of any of the places so prominent in shows like the Untouchables especially since most of the buildings have been torn down. Nevertheless we have seen the locations of some things like the St Valentines Massacre place, the site where Al Capone lived, the cemeteries where some of the more notorious are buried etc.
Got into Chicago a few days ago after a nine hour Greyhound bus trip which was actually quite fun. After getting settled in our hostel we ventured out into the windy city which was very cold (31 degrees Fahrenheit or -1 degree Celsius) to see some of the nicest architecture we have ever seen. We went to the Chicago Cultural Centre and got a tour of the inside design which was extremely elaborate and ornate - full of marble and Tiffany stained glass. We also had some of the best soup I have ever tasted at a bakery nearby. The next day we went down to 2120 South Michigan Avenue - the location of Chess records and the home of the Blues Heaven Foundation - where some of the best Chicago blues artists recorded, including Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, the Rolling Stones. and Houndog Dumitriu (see picture). Yesterday we went to the St Patrick's Day parade as did about 20,000 other people - we saw many, many people dressed up in green looking like leprechauns. Today we went and had a Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues which was a spectacular event, both musically and gastronomically. One of the great things about Chicago is that it has 24 hour public transport pass
es which allow you to see a lot of the city very cheaply - we have spent much time riding around and hopping on and off to view sites of interest including the Wrigley Field Baseball Stadium and many of the places where the Blues Brothers film was shot. Unfortunately, Chicago is trying very hard to disassociate itself from its gangster/prohibition past so there are no markers/reminders of any of the places so prominent in shows like the Untouchables especially since most of the buildings have been torn down. Nevertheless we have seen the locations of some things like the St Valentines Massacre place, the site where Al Capone lived, the cemeteries where some of the more notorious are buried etc.
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