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May 24, 2021

#3: Getting Around the City

Today, my friend texted me and asked how I got around the city. I informed him that driving in Chicago was very hectic, so I parked my car in a safe garage at the Hyatt Regency and left it there. I travelled through the city by walking, riding the city bus, and sometimes taking a yellow cab. I did this in order to make sure that my car was safe. I then returned to my hotel room and turned on the TV only to hear that there were 13 murders in Chicago over the weekend while I was there.

I was surprised at this fact because I really felt that it was very safe. This is especially because when I walked out the front door of the Hyatt Regency, there were large groups of police congregated in front of the building and across the street looking at the water of Lake Michigan. The police also had several patrol cars parked in front of the Trump Towers which was one block away. I personally felt that I could not have been safer, so I was a bit shocked at the news of increased crime. The cops and I did not hear a peep all weekend, so apparently the news had learned of the crime before we did.

Cloud Gate

Irrespective of the news, I was determined to get a photo at Cloud Gate. This is because a journey down route 66 has certain features that connect it to past travelers and one of these significant features is Cloud Gate aka the beginning of Route 66. With this, I went back out to Millennium Park (which a short walk away from my hotel) and took a photo of Cloud Gate. Now, I share this connection and experience with those who have went and stood there before me. Cloud Gate not only reflects the city’s skyline and the surrounding space, but it also serves as a bridge between the past, the present, and the future. Therefore, its significance is transcendent.

With this achievement accomplished 🏆

I then walked to Lake Michigan for the last time on this sojourn. I took a deep breath, inhaling the energy, and enjoying the vibrance as I viewed a magnificent sailboat. The sailboat’s name was quite fitting for this ephemeral moment, “Veni Vidi Vici” which means “I came, I saw, and I conquered.” At that moment, that is how I felt about Chicago.

I then strolled across the promenade walkway arriving at the official starting point of Route 66 on Adams Street. I gently placed my right hand on the pole to fully embrace the moment which signified this achievement. It marked the beginning of my journey in a way that connects me with those that have gone before me as well as those that will follow. I then snapped the photo which you will find below and continued onward!