Clouds

Joe and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary yesterday.  We drove to Chicago on Friday with plans to see "Cloud Gate" - affectionately known as "The Bean" -, the John Hancock Building, Lake Michigan, and maybe an art museum.  Prediction were for it to be hot but no rain on Saturday.  What we didn't know was that there was a fitness fair going on that involved a 5K race on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday, The Big Greek Food Fest all weekend, and Taylor Swift concerts both Saturday and Sunday.  These are just a few of the events.  First we drove in circles for 30 minutes just to get into the parking lot that I had pre-paid to park in.  Then we walked south instead of north once leaving the parking lot (South Chicago is NOT a place you want to be) Next, the Museum of Contemporary Photography was closed due to changing the exhibit and the Institute of Art was so crowded we didn't bother to wait in the line. Finally it poured rain and lightening (we had umbrellas, unfortunately they were back in the car).   On the other hand, getting lost let us find St. Patrick's Catholic Church - a historic building of great beauty, the rain and lightening drove away the tourists and let me get an unobstructed photo of the Bean, people were really friendly, and there were cute teen age girls everywhere excited to see Taylor.   Joe was thrilled we found a Mediterranean restaurant to have dinner and we had an all around great time.  Next time - the John Hancock Building.

Hibiscus at the Arboritum in Lexington.

 We've had lots of rain here in Kentucky this summer.

 Finding sky in Chicago

 Top of the Chicago Public Library

 The ceiling of St. Patrick's Church

 The curved pews at St. Patrick's Church

 Patriotic sky in Chicago

 Teenage girls and their hula hoops - just for the fun of it

 Windows and sky

 I believe these porta-potties were brought in for the Taylor Swift concert or one of the many other events going on in Chicago.  There was an equal row of them behind me.

 Under the Bean with the other tourists before the lightening

 

 After the guards cleared out the tourists