Chicago Illinois

Journey to the Land of Water Wind and Fire

Part A: Getting There IIc

And this time while we were in Chicago, we finally did what we had said we would do several times before. We took a boat tour of the Architecture of Chicago. Now, there are several different options, including one that is run by The Chicago Architecture Foundation. But we settled for the one run Shoreline Sightseeing from the Navy Pier area. The one we took was probably not as "informative" as "the other one," and our guide was definitely a "showman" complete with Tibetan Throat Singing, a Harmonica, and a Chicago Blues Song. But he did seem to know a lot about the buildings and their designers and how they fit into the overall scheme of architecture. At least enough to satisfy those of us who have not made Architecture, or the study thereof, the very be-all and end-all of our lives.

Our boat tour took us "down" the Chicago River (Read about what the Army Corps of Engineers did in the 19th century to allow us to do this), past a number of different buildings. Some were new and represented the very latest in style. others were old, from a time now gone.











Some were made of Stone and are recognized landmarks:

Others are made of concrete:








Still others proudly display their steel structure:





Others present a shimmering glass facade that changes color as the passing sky dictates:






But at the end of the day we had to say:




Chicago is not where we were headed. This was merely a stop on our way. And so, as the new day came upon us we turned our faces once more to the west, and almost feeling as settlers of old we set off once more on our Journey to the Land of Water, Wind, and Fire.