The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 9

A Sunday in New York didn’t seem complete without a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on Fifth Avenue just a hop/skip/jump away from Rockefeller Center.   I attended the 10:15am mass, which featured Cardinal Timothy Dolan presiding.   As it was Memorial Day, special mentions were given throughout for the Armed Services members attending, and the readings were delivered by those same service members.   As one would expect, thousands of believers (and otherwise) attended, and having Cardinal Dolan officiate was an extra bonus.  A few shots below demonstrate just how majestic this place is:




This is one of the many attractions in the City that is free-of-charge.   Mass is held daily, so if you arrive in the morning, you should be able to spend at least a bit of time checking out the ornate interior.   

Also, as another suggestion:  Last year, I went to the Cathedral of St. John The Divine, in the Upper West Side.   It’s similar in size to St. Patricks, and contains a similar level of artwork and sense of grandeur about the place, though it struck me as darker and more Gothic.   Still, the admission was free when I attended.  

After mass, I stopped briefly at the Gift Shop, then discovered a deli-like restaurant next door known as Toasties.    A little on the pricey side, it nonetheless provided a healthy brunch and a chance for me to catch up a bit on this blog.   

My next stop was to the Saturday Night Live exhibition, going on at 417 Fifth Avenue.   The premise was a behind-the-scenes look at how an episode is produced in six days - from a blank piece of paper on Monday to the show’s airing on Saturday.   Along the way, you see one of Lorne Michael’s desks, many of the props and costumes used in the show’s history, set designs and studio layout models, cue cards, scripts, and a host of other items.   You also sit in a faux control room which goes into the Director’s role in shot selection, and end with being seated in a small representation of the studio, with the main stage in the front, the sketch stage to the right, and the music stage to the left.
 
You can also have your picture taken on the “set” of Weekend Update, with one of the hosts of that segment electronically introduced into the picture.   It’s worth the price of admission, and as with many of the other places I went, it was included on the New York Pass.  

(As a side note, those who are either professional project managers or otherwise take an interest in project management will likely be fascinated with this exhibit, as it describes an intense, compressed project management exercise performed every week.)

My next stop was the United Nations Visitor Center.   As with the cathedrals and some other attractions in the city, getting in is free of charge.   As one would expect, security is tight there - you’ll need your ID to get in, and they will take a photograph of you which will appear on your pass.  You also go through metal detectors and get similar treatment to being in an airport TSA screening.  
Once in the visitor center itself, you’ll see an extended exhibit dealing with food production, GMOs, and the inter-connection with human-caused global climate change.   You’ll also see a large mural detailing some of the UN’s current projects.    Also found are a working conference chamber, a separate meditation room, and a listing of all of the former Secretaries-General of the UN.   What struck me about this visit, however, was that there seemed to be a lot of “space” between exhibits, both within the Visitor Center and outside.   It wasn’t crammed-to-the-gills with “stuff”, this, the viewer is provided ample to time to view, read, and digest the experience.





After an extended wait for the cross-town bus and trip up the 1 line back to the Marrakech, I was back in my room, resting and doing a bit of “housekeeping” . 

But I needed some live music, somewhere.   I also didn’t want to head down to Greenwich Village to get it.  So where was it, in my neck of the woods?

It turns out, that there is a Jazz supper club on 105th and Broadway, called Smoke.    That’s only two streets away from the Marrakech, so a no brainer it was.    I don’t recall the name of the act who played that night, but they did not disappoint.   A trumpet, tenor saxophone, piano, upright bass, and drums kept the place swinging for the time I was there (about 1 1/2 sets), and there was no “cover” - though there was a $20 minimum meaning that if you’re like me - one drink per day is my limit - then the difference between my drink’s price and the $20 minimum was called a “surcharge”.    No arguments made here - the music was good, and the waitress earned her tip.   

So I walk out to find that there are sheets of rain pouring down.   This was the kind of rain for which soap and shampoo would be the more appropriate response than a jacket.    I thought differently about it for a second, until I opened the door and saw a gentlemen heading out, completely plastered, and stumbling outside to the retaining wall of the entrance.   After that episode, I went back in and waited for a few minutes, but after seeing that the rain was not going to stop and the hotel only a few streets away (and the rain was not cold by any means), I dashed out the door and made my way through the sheets of rain.  

I wrung my clothes and myself out, and settled back into bed for more adventures the next day.

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 8

First full day in New York City.

I had been to the Apple Grande twice before, but still, in a city like this only repeat visits will provide any satisfaction that you actually achieve in getting a true sense of the city.   One of the places I'd yet to visit was the Cloisters, an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art which focuses on monastic and Christian artifacts from the Middle Ages.   The building itself takes the form of a Middle Ages monastery, situated on the top of a hill overlooking the upper portion of Manhattan Island.  Like any monastery, actually getting to it can be quite the task, and unless you know about the M4 bus which takes to directly to the Cloisters' front door (which I was not privy to at the time - thank you Google Maps), then you'll have to hike your way up there.   The walk I took started about 1/4 mile or so away from the park in which the museum is situated, and after several winding roads, wrong turns and asking "WTF" of the Google Maps app, I finally get across the street and into the park.    Now we get to the real task - of course, the paths wind up, and up, and UP, and are long and offer little relief in terms of downhill stretches.   Toward the merciful end of my jaunt, during an increasing warm and humid morning, I found shade and stopped, at one time soaked in sweat and panting so much I thought I was hyperventilating.   I knew I needed to get back into shape, but this told me how much further I had to go to be able to declare myself as “in shape”.   Finally, I get to the front door with a few other people, wait until the 10:00 opening time, and am welcomed in to air conditioned relief - albeit with more steps.   This is a place where, if you don't know about the bus line that takes you there, you need to EARN your way to the entrance.   

Once inside, however, you’re taken back to those medieval times.
 

Those who currently subscribe to Catholic, Episcopal, or similar traditions will immediately recognize many of the articles used in church services: the chalices, the crucifixes, the vestments, and other like articles are on display.   Among the many religious-themed artifacts that I found of interest was this fierce-appearing lecturn, dominated by the sculpture of an eagle:

(Imagine being in the congregation and listening to a sermon or a bible reading given from this lecturn.   Forget being able to see the person giving the sermon or reading - the eagle is seeming to make the, uh, point.)

The preserved frescoes and statues were also given a good and deserved amount of space, most of them religious in nature but some secular, such as this image of a unicorn doing battle...

...and there is a room devoted to the effigies and crypts used by the royalty of those days.   The gardens, with their variations in bloom and hue, offer a welcome respite to the gray interior, and the entire structure overlooks the Hudson River, creating stunning vistas of the water and of the state of New Jersey just across it   Admission for one adult is $25, but it’s included in many of the discount programs such as the New York City Pass and The Explorer Pass.  

My next stop was back in Midtown, at the Paley Center for Media.   Not a true “museum” per se (since there are no physical artifacts), the Paley Center is essentially a library of historic television and radio programming, extending from the early part of the 20th century through today.   Admission will give you 90 minutes of time to browse the collection - I looked at various documentaries, news events, and sporting events from the 1960s, including parts of Super Bowl III.   The Center is located on 52nd Street, about two building away from the CBS Headquarters Building (where the Center’s namesake, William Paley, made his reputation as a broadcasting pioneer.)   As above, admission was part of the New York Pass. 

Toward the end of the day (which I called early due to an oncoming headache brought on, in part, by what I suspect to be dehydration), I stopped at the City Museum of New York.    Located on the museum-heavy Fifth Avenue (along Central Park), the museum deals with the history of what used to be called New Amsterdam when the Dutch set up an outpost at the southern tip of Manhattan Island around 400 years ago, only to be overrun by the British and the resultant name change to New York.   A theater on the third floor shows a multi-screened movie giving the 30,000 view of this history: the huge role of immigrants throughout the years, its former days as a manufacturing mecca, it’s evolution into a financial mecca, and the divide between the haves and have-nots which has plagued the city from virtually its inception.   There were also exhibits on the role of activism (left wing AND right wing), the role of comics in shaping public opinion, and an exhibit which goes into the role of Yiddish theater.   In all, a fascinating take on a fascinating city.   As above, admission is part of the City Pass.  

As I stated above, I called this day a bit early due to a headache I was trying to prevent from becoming a huge problem, and because of the exhausting from huffing it up to the Cloisters earlier in the day.   I had four more days to explore, so better to rest now and be ready to hit the ground running.  

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 7

I roll into the Marrakech Hotel, on 103rd and Broadway in the Upper West Side,  two overstuffed bags in tow, one on rollers and one on my back.  I hiked up the two flights of stairs to Registration (no elevators in this place), checked in and paid my toll for three nights of sleep in their abode, then was handed the keys to room 15.   Thankfully, there are no more steps to hike up.

On first glance, the room appeared to be in order, and as expected was clean.   The Indian theme of the hotel was made most prevalent in the window curtains, which were draped in the way you would find them in movies set in the same country.   The air conditioning was a single unit, externally mounted from the outside, and apparently had no automatic shutoff.   It was either on or off, and it was most certainly "on" when I came in.   The place looked like it had, at the least, a fresh coat of paint, though it was admittedly a little smaller than what I was envisioning.  There were also a couple of areas - such as the shower rod having a tenuous relationship with the mounting screws in the wall and the fact that the carpets in the visitors area looked like they haven't been shampooed since Prince Siddhartha was walking this mortal coil - where the fit and finish needed some work.   Finally, while the Marrakech offers wifi as part of it's room payment, the service was not particularly fast or reliable, forcing me to rely on my smart phone as a hot spot. 

So my verdict on the Marrakech Hotel is: it worked for the three days I was there.   The subway stop to the 1 line was within steps of the entrance, and as you would expect in New York, there are plenty of eateries and cafes within walking distance.  The northern part of Central Park is also just two streets away.   I would only go there, however, during off-peak times of the year, and at that, only if they are offering rate specials.   The place has promise, but it is small and there are some issues they need to address.  

The rates vary between $150 - $299/night, depending on the room selected and the time of year.  

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 6

I've got a few days of catch up to do, in large part because of the ever-quickening pace that comes with being in the aura of the Big Apple, and because of my need for recovery from all the motley.    So, we'll start with the final leg of the trip that got me here.  

March 27, 2016

It's 4:30 or so in the morning.  I'm on the Capitol Limited high-balling to Pittsburgh, having only a few hours of sleep due to the knowledge that I would have to disembark at about 5:30 or so.   The sun just starts to peek out from the eastern horizon at a little after 5:00, to reveal hills in silhouette and the mist covering the valleys and the towns situated within them.   As the sun continues to slowly rise, the colors make themselves more known: intense shades of the greens of the trees and growth, the rusts of the industrial structures, the varying hues of the a-frames and Victorians, of both wood and brick construction, that pass us by.  The sky itself becomes and increasingly glorious blue, without a patch of white or gray to suggest precipitation.  

We roll into Pittsburgh.   One can see in short order, just from the distance, that there seemed to be much more to this city than Big Oil and the rust of dilapidated, abandoned industries.   The city seemed to have much in common with the smaller towns we encountered previously, as it's nestled in wooded hillsides, and serves as the meeting point between three distinct rivers.  

After about a 90 minute layover, we board the Pennsylvanian to begin the final leg to New York City.  

Between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, we encountered much of the same type of topography on the first half of the trip.   Outside the coach seat window, we observed Huntingdon, a town containing what looked to be an antiques mall running along the route.  For some reason, when I looked at the mall and the antiques alongside of it, the two words that came to my mind were "shabby chic".   The Horseshoe Curve was also along the route, a huge curve cut into the hillsides that formed the boundary of a small lake and valley gorge underneath.    The curve is sharp enough to that if you're at either end of the train, you can see the the other end of your train as you're traveling.   Many a photographer-in-desire were pulling out their video cameras, iPhones, and SLRs to capture the vast vistas.   

Another highlight of this part of the trip was passing by the Altoona Rail Museum.    A roundhouse appears to be the centerpiece, along with the varying ages of rolling stock and locomotives in and around it.    A group of kids can be seen playing on one of the small play areas on the museum grounds.   I could spend hours at a place like this, so if I'm in these parts again, I just might stop in for an extended look-see. 

 After an extended stop in Harrisburg, we eventually arrived in Philadelphia.   A mystery ensued soon after we pulled in, as the head locomotive was detached from the train consist.  Why is this, we wondered?  Was there something wrong with the prime mover?  More brake problems, as I had on the Empire Builder just before coming into Chicago?   It took over one hour to get a catenary-line powered prime mover.  OK, I understand now.   The tracks are enclosed for a great distance going into Penn Station, and to run Diesel power down in those tubes and the station itself would be literally suicide.    After a sustained period of no power (and thus, no air conditioning and water pumps, thus no running water or ability to flush the commodes - I'll leave the resultant smells to your imagination), we finally linked up to our new prime mover, and soon after we exited the station, we took off.   Literally.   The speeds we obtained with the new loco were considerably more than the 80 miles per hour which is the operational limit of diesel power - considering the rate at which scenery was blurring past, this struck me as taking an Acela trip without paying the Acela price.    This was not just high-balling - this was hauling ass.   And given the amount of time waiting in a sweltering train consist, it fit me just fine.  

We sped through the rest of Philadelphia and the communities of New Jersey.   Among the sites along this route was the sight of Prudential Arena (home of the New Jersey Devils) situated only a few blocks from the crushing poverty of the surrounding areas of Newark.    After speeding through the rest of the state, we found ourselves in one of the tubes that led to Penn Station.  We stopped in, I hauled my backpack and roll around (I over-packed for this trip, and it was becoming quite obvious to me as I hauled my literal and figurative booty up the steel steps to the station), I snaked my way around the bustling masses and found a service booth, where I purchased my 7-day transit pass for $32.   These MetroPasses come in handy, and are a virtual passport to the city, especially if you don't make the mistake of trying to drive in it, especially in Midtown or the Financial District.   I took the 1 train Uptown to 103rd street, hauled my literal and figurative booty up two more flights of steps (again) up to the street level, and my hotel was just a few steps across the street.   Right there, in sight.  

I'll have more about the Marrakech Hotel in my next post.  

More Later.  

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 5

5:42pm.  Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge, Chicago Union Station

This one is going to be a two-fer.   That is, two days described in a single article.   

Yesterday, I made the move from the Ohio House Motel to the Marriott at UIC.   It’s about two miles west of the downtown area, and has the usual atmosphere one would expect from a Marriott, but not quite as expensive as a Marriott in the downtown area.   After a bit of housekeeping and setting up shop, as far as my computer and clothes were concerned, I got out of the hotel at about noon to head to the Field Museum.  

Located at the Museum Campus on the lake shore (and next to Soldier Field), the Field contained several exhibits of varying sizes, and as seen from the inside as from the outside, the place is massive.  As an appetizer, and as part of my City Pass coupon, I started my jaunt there with a 3-D movie about Egypt and mummification.   The film touched on the role of DNA analysis, and how the currently preserved Pharaohs still had their DNA intact in their bone marrow.   The potential discoveries from this type of analysis seem endless.   

Next was the extensive exhibit on the evolution of life on Earth, including a large section on dinosaurs.   Fascinating topic and exhibits, even if it’s something I’ve seen before in other museums.   Included in the collection is Lucy, the most complete dino skeleton found and assembled.   You can see the details of the bones throughout the structure, including places of calcification and possible damage.   There is also a smallish exhibit on birds’ direct lineage to the prehistoric dinosaurs.   There were also smaller exhibits on meteorites, vulcanism, and the culture and artifacts of Tibet.   

You will need at least one full day to get through the Field, and many of the events cost extra, in addition to the ticket price.   But the Field boasts an enviable collection of artifacts, natural and otherwise, and if done as part of the City Pass coupon, may be worth the trip.  

My next stop was to be the Alder Planetarium, which was a short walk away.   But, by the time I got there, it was closed.   Better luck tomorrow, I said to myself.   I wanted to take a Chicago River Tour, and Seadog offered these tours on their hundred-seat speedboats for $40/person.   I made a reservation, and after figuring out the mass transit situation, headed over to the Navy Pier. 

The Navy Pier is probably one of the biggest tourist traps I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them.   It contains probably one of the highest densities of trinket/souvenir/novelty shops per person that I’ve ever seen, so I thought, OK, steer clear of those places.   Still, though, I couldn’t resist a small bowl of “Chicago Snow” (a non-milk, cream-ice product), which may as well have been falling as soon as I started into it because the rain and thunder came in with a vengeance.   Rain pelted the Pier, the windows, and everywhere else in Chicago as I sat and wondered about my boat reservation.   Will they cancel?  Can I get my money back?   

I had these questions in my mind when i sauntered down toward the end of the Pier (all indoors, but with a sieve-like roof), and discovered a Tiffany stained-glass window gallery.   A small gallery, but the price was good: $0.   The exhibits took on a church-like aura even though some of the themes were not directly related to religion.    Definitely something to stop by if you're in the area.  

I then headed to the Billy Goat Tavern Grill.    Here, I discovered that the concept of “salami” here was different than what I was accustomed to - a large patty that covered the bun like a hamburger patty rather than what I find on a pizza.   Still, with the condiments applied liberally, it worked.   Not what I would call wall-to-wall nutrition, but just enough to take the edge off.   

The rain was continuing to pour down, so I walked over to the Seadog office.    They told me that yes, my 7:15 architecture tour would be cancelled, and they kindly refunded me.    Next time I’m in Chi-Town, I’ll give them a ring…

This day demonstrated why changing hotels in mid-stream may not be the best decision.   I took the Marriott because I have points with their rewards program and wanted to add to them.   But, for future reference, the better choice would have been to stay at the Ohio House.  Lesson learned.   

Fast forward to today.

After packing my bags and leaving them in storage with the bell hop, I took the “L” Pink Line back downtown, and then Bus 146 to the Alder Planetarium.   Again, this trip was made possible by the City Pass coupon book - if you’re there for but a few days, get it.  After a bit of browsing of the exhibits (most of which seemed to be geared for kids, who were found in quantity and mostly in field trip groups), I headed to the main dome theater for two shows - one pertaining to the “wonders of the cosmos”, the other dealing with the solar system.   Both were led by live guides as opposed to a faceless narrator, which I found interesting.   The first show was created in a way that could be easily understood by most in the audience, and didn’t disappoint as far as using the dome for full warp-speed effect.   The second show, however, was definitely meant for the kids: cheesy, hokey, and requires someone of my age or older (or slightly younger) to turn off the more “mature” portion of their brains and pretend you’re a kid to enjoy.   

I didn't stay too long in the Alder, as I was limited on my tourism time and I wanted to see the Museum of Broadcast Communications.   I had heard about this place soon after I arrived in Chicago, I think it was listed on one of the Google maps I use to plan these jaunts.   I negotiated the mass transit, then walked a few blocks to said museum.   Places like this are, for me, like a candy store to a kid, and while the Museum was a bit on the small side, it didn't disappoint.   The first thing you see are the doors used on Oprah Winfrey's long-running TV show.  Up the stairs to the second floor, and you're greeted by a sculpture, shaped in a pyramid and about fifteen feet tall, made up of old electronic equipment and TV monitors, some of which were showing TV shows from the fifties through the eighties.    Turn left and in, and you're greeted by the Radio Hall of Fame.   Here, you'll find the names of some of the people you may listen to now, or have in the past.   I recognized the names of Jim Dunbar, Ronn Owens, and Mike Luckhoff (KGO Radio San Francisco), Rush Limbaugh (insert Bronx cheer here), Vin Scully, and many others.   There was also an exhibit devoted to Johnny Carson's tenure on The Tonight Show, including cue cards, monologue notes, props, costumes, and other related memorabilia.  There were the exhibits dealing with vintage TV commercials, musical/drama/comedy/variety shows, and other aspects of vintage broadcasting.   There is also a display of Edgar Bergen's original, made-of-wood alter egos, including Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd.   Even people with a passing interest in old TV or radio shows will likely find this museum to be a trip back to their own childhoods and formative years.   In short, it's $12/adult well spent.

(As a point of trivia, the founder and curator of the museum is a nephew of broadcasting pioneer Allan B. DuMont.  I recommend googling him - he's a key figure in TV's infancy, both from a manufacturing perspective and a content provider, having founded the DuMont Network).

After interesting conversation with  one of the researchers and with the receptionist, I slid out, having completed tourism of this town to which I must return.   Grabbed a bit of lunch, checked out a used bookstore (After Words), then headed back to the Marriott to collect my bags, finalize my packing, then call for Uber to take me to Union Station.   

As I'm typing this now, I'm on the Capitol Limited, somewhere in Indiana and headed toward Pittsburgh.   As with my other trips, I had dinner with three former strangers, all of whom were train enthusiasts of a degree much higher than me (and that's saying a lot!), and I heard the stories of various routes and their trips to Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York.   They're apparently going to be in New York next Tuesday - I might see them there.   

Enough for tonight.   Tomorrow is another adventure.   

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, part 4

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, part 4

After a bit of housekeeping, I started out at a new coffee shop, Asado Coffee Roasters, on West Erie Street across from UNAM.   Today, it was a one-woman show as one person was playing both roles of barista and cashier.   The non-fat mocha came out well, with the right balance of espresso and cocoa.   I’ll recommend it as an alternative to the chains, if you happen to be in these parts.  

I used my Ventra card (these come in handy - I recommend looking into them!) to take the 66 bus down to Michigan Avenue, to take my downtrodden laptop to the Apple Store for what I hoped would be an inexpensive repair, which turned out to be the case (a crashed hard drive, but under warranty, and most of my documents are saved on cloud servers anyway).  While the machine was undergoing surgery, I played tourist and headed to Millennium Park.   I made witness to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a lovely amphitheater with a large metal sculpture above the stage which, to me, is reminiscent of the sails of a large sailing ship:

   

Next, was the Cloud Gate Sculpture, otherwise known as the Big Bean:

 

Like the fountain in Grant Park, this sculpture was a tourist magnet, with people of different nationalities snapping selfies and group photos around the the reflection provided by this sculpture-serving-as-a-mind-trip.    If you really want a psychedelic effect, or a case of vertigo, walk underneath the bean and take a photo straight up:

 

The reflections are, in a word, a trip.   

I then walked a few blocks, down to the Michigan And Wacker Corner Bakery Cafe.  It turned out to be a reasonably priced place to get a quick lunch, especially consider that were were on the tony “Magnificent Mile”.  I had a spicy chicken wrap (and boy, was it spicy!), and a pineapple and mango smoothie.  I also couldn’t resist in indulging in a Blueberry Hand Pie and a Vanilla Whoopie Pie.   I knew I was going to walk it off, anyway, so why not.   I was just finishing my last bite when the Apple Store called to tell me the computer was finished.  

After a few hours of rest back at the hotel (and additional laptop setup),  I headed back out to Grant Park.   I wanted to see it, and the surrounding area, while the sun was still out.   The scene was idyllic for this city and this time of year:  bicyclists, walkers, and joggers negotiating their way around each other on Lake Shore Boulevard and the walkway next to the lake, the occasional couple or family on the lawns, the sound of the lake lapping against the retaining wall, the sailboats and powerboats in the near distance.   I continued up the walkway, which branched out in different directions that took you to the Shedd Aquarium, the Planetarium, Field Museum, and Soldier Field.   All of those attractions within a very short walking distance from each other - uncommonly wise planning for most cities I can name.   I plan on heading back here for at least one of the attractions prior to departing for New York.   

I took the 6 bus over to The Gage, a higher-end eatery and bar with what looked to be a higher-end clientele.   Prepare to spend if you go here: my fish and chips (which were quite good) and Chimay ale went for $34 without the tip.   This is one of those places where you pay as much for the atmosphere and the opportunity to rub shoulders with the well-heeled as much as for the food or drink.   Afterward, I took the “L” for the first time in 5 years back to the hotel.   

More tomorrow.   

The Big Apple and the Big Bean Dip, Part 3

11:07am Central Time.   Onboard the Empire Builder.   

Sleep was in short supply this morning, in part because of the overnight thunder and lightning, and partly because of the sometimes-shaky condition of the tracks.    I got up in time for the 6:00 breakfast, which I took in with a couple of new former strangers - both from Indiana.   I'm finding out, first hand, what a great conversation starter train travel is, and how much people who do it enjoy it.    I heard about the different routes in the Amtrak System - the Silver Star, the Sunset Limited, the Southwest Chief, and and others.  I also heard about how it's possible to do an entire circle around the country in 15 days, with stops between cities, on one Amtrak ticket.    I'll check into that and get back to you, my loyal readers.   

This morning was spent largely alongside bodies of water, specifically, the Mississippi River and its tributaries.   We also learned, courtesy of the friendly Park Service volunteers, about the various lakes and streams (including Lake Pepin), the fish and other life that inhabit them, and what a certain particular life form is doing to them and managing them (hint: it's a highly advanced primate).   The waters seemed to go on, and on, and on, with cottages, houses, piers, and even small towns gracing their banks.   The water was quite calm today, and the day was somewhat hazy but with some blue peaking through.   Fishermen and their boats dotted the lakes and rivers as we passed by, along with the occasional speed boat.    After passing Winona (and the stories about Garrison Keillor and Winona State University) and crossing the river bridge (which also serves as the Minnesota/Wisconsin state line), we were met with vast, farmed flatlands nestled in wooded, rolling hills.   Another four and 1/2 hours of motley, and I'll be in Chicago for the three day Big Bean Dip sampler tour.   

6:01pm.   Ohio House Motel, Downtown Chicago. 

The train stopped longer than expected somewhere in either Minnesota or Wisconsin for an issue with "the air system" (I'm assuming the air brakes were the culprit.).  Fix put in place, and off we went. 

Milwaukee's skyline struck me as somewhat frozen in time, with all of the early-to-mid-20th century office buildings dotting the downtown area.   Of course, Miller Brewing was a prominent feature of said skyline, with the brewery and former corporate headquarters in view. (The company is now foreign-owned.). As I didn't get out of the train, I don't have an opinion to give about the city itself, but I see hints about the city's former industrial glories as the train moves through former factories and freight receiving stations.   

We turn south and head for Chicago.    Midway through this final leg, we stop in the middle of the right-of-way.   Minutes tick away before I hear over the loudspeaker that the train was having "mechanical issues", and that the crew were working as fast as possible to fix them.   This, soon after the air conditioning and all electrical power were turned off.   OK - this seems serious.   Another problem with "the air system"?   Or an engine problem - the locomotives generate the electricity for the rest of the train in addition to that used for the tractive force to propel the train.   About 45 minutes pass before the air conditioning turns on again, and we're told that we will stop at one more station prior to Chicago, then have to stop for systems testing one more time.   The time passes, the train stops at said station, and after a couple of miles, the train stops again.   Fifteen more minutes, and the train finally begins to lumber toward Union Station.   

We got off the train with the masses, and after enduring the diesel soot and loud volume of those massive machines and the phalanx of departing and boarding passengers, we make it into the station.   The station itself appears quite modern, making up in amenities what it lacks in old-time grandeur.   I got my iPhone out and pulled up Uber.   I got into a pool with two other people, and headed off to the hotel which just happened to be on the way of the other two passengers.   The fare to me? $3.75.   

Score another one for Uber. 

Got to the motel, which from appearances looked to have been built in the fifties or sixties and having a vibe which seemed to take me back to that time for a bit, but was completely remodeled.   Modern expectations such as Wifi and HD Television were present, and the room I entered was unpretentious and quite clean and comfortable.   One cannot beat the location, either:  I'm staring straight at Lasalle Street and the high-rises of downtown Chicago, so I'm expecting that the things I want to get to over the next three days will either be within walking distance or an easy ride on one of Chicago's many transit options.   

I might lay a bit low today, as I need the time for Apple to figure out what's wrong with my laptop.    But, once that's figured out, I'll be completely free to explore.   And share with you what I find out.   

10:49pm.  Back at the Ohio House Motel. 

I decided that no, I've only got three days and the evening is still young.   So, with the Google Map's app, I found a way to get to Hyde Park by the Subway.   I've taken the "L" here before, but not the Subway.   So, I bit.    

The feeling was like when I took the subway in New York for the first time - that anticipation that comes with a new adventure.   Using the Ventra Card turned out to be as simple as using BART or many other transit systems - just touch the card to the button, and the gates open.   Went about five stops, and walked over the bridge to Hyde Park.   One of the highlights from this mini-jaunt include the multi-colored fountain as it changed colors against the nighttime sky - there were several onlookers with hand-held and tripod-mounted cameras, taking still and moving pictures of the fountain's changing hues.   The view of the skyline itself was also intriguing from that vantage point.     

After taking a few wrong turns and getting off of the subway one stop too soon, (and thus, increasing my Fitbit step count which is a good thing), I found my way back to the Ohio House.   

Pictures and videos (which I've taken) coming up soon, as soon as my laptop is back to duty.