My blog and newsletter have been inactive for the past two weeks because I was visiting a close friend in Chicago. Instead of talking about the software in this blog post I thought I’d talk about my trip in Chicago since it was a great time to step back. Though I have made progress on my software I think it is important to step back and take a break sometimes.
Chicago was founded in March 4, 1837 by Haitian trader Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The city was inhabited by various Native American tribes while it’s name most likely came from the French work Algonquian word “shikaawa”. The city grew due to it’s strategic positioning by Lake Michigan.
The sculpture’s official name is Cloud Gate, designed by British artist Anish Kapoor. It’s become one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks since its unveiling in 2004. The mirrored surface reflects the city skyline and draws in tourists year-round. Walking underneath it creates a warped, surreal view of yourself and the city above.
Completed in 1973, the Sears Tower (Willis Tower) was the tallest building in the world for nearly 25 years, standing at 1,451 feet. It was renamed Willis Tower in 2009, but honestly, no one from Chicago seems to care. They’ll always call it the Sears Tower. We took the elevator up to the Skydeck, where you can step out onto a glass ledge and look straight down 103 stories beneath your feet. It’s both terrifying and incredible.
From 103 stories up, the view from the Sears Tower is nothing short of surreal. The city stretches endlessly in every direction lit up in gold and blue as the sun dipped below the horizon. Looking north I could spot the Hancock Tower standing tall near the lake, and just across the river, the reflective glass of Trump Tower with it’s tall spire.
At 1,353 feet in the air the Skydeck offers a panoramic view of Chicago that stretches across four states on a clear day. “The Ledge” is a set of glass boxes that extend out from the building, letting you step out and look straight down.
Here is a picture at North Avenue Beach. One of the best spots to catch a view of the Hancock Tower rising above the skyline. The beach was full of energy with people swimming in the waters of Lake Michigan, others were playing volleyball or just laying out in the sun. It felt more like a beach town than a major city.
One of my favorite memories in Chicago was seeing the city at night. In this picture I was on the N Dearborn St bridge. The corncob-shaped Marina Towers lit up the left side, the river shimmered beneath the city lights, and the skyline stretched quietly into the night.
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