unexpected stop in chicago

I didn’t know trains could be 4 hours late. But apparently they can. Over the 2 days I spent on my first train trip, we added 4 hours to our travel time. Something about having to wait during the night for freight trains to pass so we could use the track. Other rumors flew about suggesting recent derailments and subsequent repairs. Another suggested that the recent expanding oil drilling in N Dakota requires more freight trains. At any rate, my train arrived in Chicago late.

We found out Thursday evening that it would be late. So I started thinking of alternative plans in case I missed my connection to Jackson, MI. it is hard to coordinate a plan with no internet and few areas of cell coverage. So my family basically took over and arranged for me to stay with my “little” cousin Russell in Chicago area. Amtrak had arranged to send people on buses to their destinations along the train routes. That meant I would get into Jackson at 2:30 am. I opted to stay the night in Chicago and catch the next train. I caught Jemie as she was leaving to pick me up at the station and told her I would be coming in the next day at lunchtime.

I like my cousin. He introduced me to his click; I stayed with the female portion in their apartment. It’s a bit odd being in a college group again. Even odder hanging out with a group of fun-loving kids who aren’t old enough to drink. A fun bunch none the less.

The next morning the train to get back to union station left at 6am. So I got up and walked down to the little station with Russell. And there we sat. Suddenly Russell gets up to check something. Its Saturday. The train doesn’t come at 6am on Saturdays. …ok. Back to the computer for other options. Try to call a cab. That wont get me to the station in time either. Awesome. Plan C; wake up roomie with a car and possibly still not get there, or… go have breakfast and catch the next train. We had breakfast at a wonderful little place where everything on the menu looked wonderful.

We walked around Chicago looking at architecture and exploring the park with its strange art structures. The creepiest one was a tall wall made of glass bricks. It had a face projected onto it making faces at the identical wall across the square. Creepy. I cant even describe the other art things they had there. Chicago has beautiful architecture. In a city that has no natural beauty, something must make its residents proud to call it home. Chicago has chosen architecture to perform this function. Each building looks unique with its own theme. The sears’ building soars into the sky, a small city unto itself with several towers surrounding the core tower. However, my favorite building was actually the library. It may not be tall or expensive looking, but no less imposing. A huge cube of a building with tall windows. I think I might try to see old libraries from now on. Much more interesting than modern structural art.