Chicago- A Home Away From Home

So given it has been a couple of weeks since I wrote last, I thought it was time to share in the continuous excitement of this thing we call my life!

Having just spent the past 5 days in Chicago, I can confidently say that to date, Chicago is definitely the closest I have come to finding a home away from home. The city itself is just beautiful, and almost resembled a mixture of Melbourne and Sydney, being set on a lake (which totally looks like a beach in Sydney) and also having a river running alongside all the well designed city buildings (Melbourne).

The city was clean and the buildings were a mixture of old and new world, which felt more like a mixture of an old European and new Australian city, rather than the characteristic older American cities.

I will let the photos do most of the talking for this trip, but lets just say I really had a nice relaxed time. I actually hit a point where I said to my friend, the last thing on earth I want to do is set foot in a club (thats a big thing for me).

I did manage to fit into my long weekend:

Attending a random seder and leading the way at my table into finding all the extra bottles of wine that were scattered around the hall so as to make the most of our 4 (+) glasses that we get to enjoy throughout the meal. We did happen to have a few peoples non jewish partners at the seder on our table who were attending their first ever seder, so we all did our best to make it an extremely enjoyable experience to welcome them (and I’m told my efforts were appreciated and were successful in having a very positive impact!)- Oh and to my family, please tell Zaida that of course I found the afikoman as usual!

Being woken up at 5am by at least 10 screaming Swedes who seemed almost tone deaf. This screaming did not last 5 minutes, but rather it was at least an hour or more. One of them actually came into my room and tried to pretend it was breakfast time as though I was going mad!? (I of course graciously declined the offer for breakfast at 5am!). It was like a break in the middle of my sleep that just didn’t end! (and for people that are usually so peaceful and quiet..amazing!)

Played tourist and walked around the sunny streets and went to the local zoo (where I was recommended to visit the kangaroo enclosure..because clearly I have never seen them before!)

Concocted one of my specialty cocktails at a roof top bar and left the bar tenders discussing the potential to adding it onto their menu because it was so tasty!

Trialling the local authentic mexican restaurants (my favourite!).

Getting to know a long lost Swedish friend who I had met 7 years ago at a sporting event (who could hardly speak English at the time may I add) who appears to have grown into an absolutely gorgeous young man (with the thought of all women out there- if only men like this existed everywhere in the world, it would be a very good place).

and last, but definitely not least, I had an epiphany regarding my next business venture…and yes, I am somewhat excited! ( I think I’ll hold off the details till things are a little more cemented).

All in all, Chicago was a great trip. Sorry that there isn’t the million ridiculous stories as usual. Sometimes we just have to recharge our batteries!

For now, the travelling dietitian x