Second Wind on the Great Loop and Beyond

Monday, August 27. We couldn’t have planned it better if we tried. Having lived here in the past, Paul and Jane knew how to work the city transit system to get us to the Art Institute of Chicago – what a world-class treat! Our biggest thrill was seeing up close three bronze relief panels from The Gates of Paradise, the Renaissance masterpiece by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

As we were walking down Michigan Avenue, we popped into Millennium Park just to see what was there. We couldn’t miss the “Bean,” a prominent large polished stainless sculpture. Hundreds of tourists were doing just what we did – taking photos of ourselves reflected against the Bean, with the Chicago skyline in the background. Then we noticed a crowd gathering at the amphitheater. We had lucked into a free concert by the Chicago Philharmonic Jazz Band, which continued well into the night. We ate a late supper, caught a bus (then walked an extra mile or so because we got off at the wrong stop), and we got back to the boat by 11:30 p.m., feeling very cosmopolitan.

Flooding on the Illinois River is still a serious problem. Based on Corps of Engineer predictions, Friday will be the earliest day we can leave Chicago. Meanwhile, it's a great place to be.