Chicago, Godzilla, and the Shedd Aquarium
Jul. 12th, 2005 10:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pamelonianI just returned from Chicago yesterday far too drained to post about the trip. On Friday ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shrijani and I hopped a plane to Chicago to attend Godzilla Fest! (We Con veterans like to call it G-fest).
My parents let me park my truck at their house and they drove me to and from the airport. They are both retired now and have time to do stuff like that. After my mom dropped us off and made sure we had boarding passes, we headed to the bar and bought $8 Bloody Marys to get the party started. It was 9:00 AM, but so what? We had drinks on the flight, which was so short the flight attendants practically ripped the glasses from our hands as they prepared us for landing.
Our hotel was right near O'Hare airport. Our tiny, freezing cold room had large windows overlooking the LOBBY. We clamped the curtains so as not to provide the kids with an early education. The convention events did not really begin until around 9:00, so we decided to do something touristy. We took the train downtown to the Shedd Aquarium, which is right on Lake Michigan with some lovely views that I will post soon.
The train station was supposedly 3 blocks from the hotel. They were some HUGE blocks, if you ask me. The aquarium was "right near" Roosevelt Station, which involved more walking. Somehow, I never seem to wear the right kind of shoes for increased amount of walking I always seem to do while travelling. My sandals seem comfortable going out or running errands, but they suck for distances!
I loved the Shedd Aquarium! Our visit began with seals and penguins, but I particularly liked the Ocean tanks that you could view from underwater levels. They had sea otters, White-sided dolphins and a Beluga Whale who was hauntingly beautiful. I was completely under her spell. Then we saw the rays swim under a glass floor at the reef exhibit. The reef fish and corals were, of course, very colorful, but the sharks were the stars. There was a shark tank and they would swim right by. I tried unsuccessfully to take pictures, whenshrijani suggested the experience would be more rewarding if I just watched. She was right.
After that we saw the Caribbean reef tank, which had schools of huge silvery fish, more rays, and a tiny Hammerhead shark. I loved to sit and watch them go by. I wandered by the Amazon Rising tanks and saw turtles, rays, and a giant anaconda. I also spent some time watching the illuminated jellyfish tank.
After the aquarium, we were exausted and knew we still had two long walks ahead of us. We tried in vain to find alcohol to soothe our aches, but eventually just got back on the train. I salute the Chicago Transit Authority! It was easy and inexpensive to ride the rail system. So far the people we encountered in Chicago were friendly, from the hotel staff to the man on the train who helped me choose a transfer. I did not expect kindness in such a large city. Chicago is large, international, and friendly. Who knew? I feel more comfortable knowing Spanish, though.
The Convention was kicked off with a screening of Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (aka the Smog Monster), which is possibly the cheesiest G-film ever made. It had go-go dancers and Monty-Pythonesque animation in spots. I love it, though, because I saw it in the theater when I was very young. My first experience with Godzilla, and here I am some 30 years later...
shrijani and I hopped a plane to Chicago to attend Godzilla Fest! (We Con veterans like to call it G-fest). My parents let me park my truck at their house and they drove me to and from the airport. They are both retired now and have time to do stuff like that. After my mom dropped us off and made sure we had boarding passes, we headed to the bar and bought $8 Bloody Marys to get the party started. It was 9:00 AM, but so what? We had drinks on the flight, which was so short the flight attendants practically ripped the glasses from our hands as they prepared us for landing.
Our hotel was right near O'Hare airport. Our tiny, freezing cold room had large windows overlooking the LOBBY. We clamped the curtains so as not to provide the kids with an early education. The convention events did not really begin until around 9:00, so we decided to do something touristy. We took the train downtown to the Shedd Aquarium, which is right on Lake Michigan with some lovely views that I will post soon.
The train station was supposedly 3 blocks from the hotel. They were some HUGE blocks, if you ask me. The aquarium was "right near" Roosevelt Station, which involved more walking. Somehow, I never seem to wear the right kind of shoes for increased amount of walking I always seem to do while travelling. My sandals seem comfortable going out or running errands, but they suck for distances!
I loved the Shedd Aquarium! Our visit began with seals and penguins, but I particularly liked the Ocean tanks that you could view from underwater levels. They had sea otters, White-sided dolphins and a Beluga Whale who was hauntingly beautiful. I was completely under her spell. Then we saw the rays swim under a glass floor at the reef exhibit. The reef fish and corals were, of course, very colorful, but the sharks were the stars. There was a shark tank and they would swim right by. I tried unsuccessfully to take pictures, when
shrijani suggested the experience would be more rewarding if I just watched. She was right.After that we saw the Caribbean reef tank, which had schools of huge silvery fish, more rays, and a tiny Hammerhead shark. I loved to sit and watch them go by. I wandered by the Amazon Rising tanks and saw turtles, rays, and a giant anaconda. I also spent some time watching the illuminated jellyfish tank.
After the aquarium, we were exausted and knew we still had two long walks ahead of us. We tried in vain to find alcohol to soothe our aches, but eventually just got back on the train. I salute the Chicago Transit Authority! It was easy and inexpensive to ride the rail system. So far the people we encountered in Chicago were friendly, from the hotel staff to the man on the train who helped me choose a transfer. I did not expect kindness in such a large city. Chicago is large, international, and friendly. Who knew? I feel more comfortable knowing Spanish, though.
The Convention was kicked off with a screening of Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (aka the Smog Monster), which is possibly the cheesiest G-film ever made. It had go-go dancers and Monty-Pythonesque animation in spots. I love it, though, because I saw it in the theater when I was very young. My first experience with Godzilla, and here I am some 30 years later...
