Chicago, Chicago, I'll Show You Around

I couldn't think of a better way to start my morning. Green chai tea, a quiet neighborhood street (cue birds singing and leaves rustling), the warmth of early May morning sunlight....who could ask for more?

After we said our goodbyes to M&M, we set the GPS towards Chicago. One last verse of Cleveland Rocks, and on to Frank Sinatra's peppy tune. We couldn't, however, skirt across the northern part of Indiana without stopping by to see my aunt and uncle, Wayne and Jan. I'm still getting used to needing to take a picture for the blog everywhere we go, so 15 minutes after we left their company, I realized I missed another photo opp. with them. Luckily, Phill's on top of things and at least got this shot when we first met up with Wayne. I'm sure he just finished cracking a joke, as he usually does. My expression says it all.

You can't pass through Middlebury, Indiana, without grabbing a bite to eat at the infamous Das Dutchman Essenhaus. I can remember going there as a little kid with my grandparents. The food is much the same...you know, that Midwestern, down-home, puts meat on your bones kind of fare. And the pie! There was no way Wayne nor I could leave without partaking in a homemade slice. For him it was old-fashioned creme, for me, strawberry-rhubarb. After tummies were filled, we finished exchanging all of our updates and goodbye hugs, we headed for the toll road again.

And just as we passed the last stoplight before the entrance booths, we saw this:

A little preview for what's down the road, you could say. Good to know how far we have to go!

Fast forward two hours and a couple hundred cornfields. I love this city. I understand why my brother, Brandt, loves this city. I'm pretty sure he'll never leave.

We arrived to his place just in time for his evening run, the marathon fanatic that he is. After sitting for most of the day in the car, neither one of us could resist a stroll beside the lake. So Phill and he went running, and I walked down to enjoy the sunset over the skyline.

Sigh. How beautiful.

When the runners returned, I requested a first row seat to watch the lights come on over the city. I'm glad we stayed. Phill and I decided that between Boston and Chicago, these have to be the two prettiest nightscapes we know.

With stomachs grumbling, Brandt took us to a burger joint in Lincoln Park. But not any burger place. They serve grass-fed beef and bison. He knows me too well. Such an awesome brother. We finished the evening, a very late one I might add, with burgers and brew.

As I readied myself for bed, I took delight in knowing that over the course of this trip, we will traverse 17 states. 17!! What an amazing journey....and it's only just begun. Tomorrow brings Milwaukee. Is there a song about Milwaukee? Starting the trip with Cleveland and Chicago, makes me feel the need to keep up the melody tributes.