So it has been awhile-nearly a semester!

Yes, my fantastic euro-trip has ended. Yes, I am back in Boston (actually, the more glamorous Allston). But wait, where has all my travel logs gone? I will be honest here...I got lazy and consumed with drinking a few too many Radlers and Jagerbombs. I also had to go through the most stressful semester to date. Who ever said culture shock was worse than reverse culture shock? Let me explain- upon returning to the oh so wonderful U.S. of A I experienced a lovely feeling the Boston University International Programs like to call reverse culture shock. I decidedly liked (loved) my European experience more than being an American. I became (still am) obsessive over anything Euro, really hated coming home to the incredibly intelligent members of fraternities, scantily dressed freshman "biddies" in playboy bunny outfits, and the strenuous curriculum of being a science student. In other words I longed to be back on my euro-vacation. They told me the feeling would fade, but I find myself 5 months later still having the same feelings.

This post is not dedicated to complaining about sharing a full sized bed with my roommate to cut costs, whine over not being in Europe, or cry about being jobless and slowly draining my bank account. No, it is to document my most recent travel experience. Travel makes me happy and writing about travel/finding really cheap deals is a hobby of mine.

My lovely friend Erika happens to live in a nearby suburb of Chicago, IL, a city I have never been to. Of course she generously offered her home, so I decided to take her up on her offer and crash for 5 days at her house while viewing life in the midwest from a liberal yankees perspective. Wheaton Illinois fascinated me mostly because of the incredibly conservative small Wheaton College that is known for producing teachers and pastors. The main part of Wheaton is quite nice and quaint.

Chicago is the main attraction for being in Illinois though (duh). The most expensive part about Chicago was accommodations, and I was fortunate to cut the costs. We spent the first day, which we were fortunate enough to have lovely 70 degree weather, at the bean (note the below pic), millennium park, the chicago art institute, the beach, and navy pier. The second day I was able to eat a real chicago "dog" (again, see below) and stroll on down navy pier again, where I ate at Bubba Gumps- a chain known for its great shrimp, though doubtfully overpriced. I was in Chicago when the end of the world was supposed to happen according to that looney radio talk show host who looks like a corpse. I waited until 6pm and nothing happened except a strange cloud that overtook the city of Chicago and dropped the temperature to like 50 degrees with no sun. It sure seemed like the apocalypse was coming, but yet here I am...still alive and kicking.

Typical Bean Picture

A real chicago "dog"-Pickle, relish, tomatoes, onions, mustard, peppers, NO KETCHUP

I really enjoyed my short visit to Chicago. We went on a water taxi which was a very convenient way (cheap too) to get to Michigan Ave., better known as the Magnificent Mile. Loads of shopping-it hosts stores like Forever 21, Nordstroms, and Coach. The last day I was in Chicago I got away with drinking some malibu on one of the canals on a veteran memorial with gorgeous views of the city near the original House of Blues.

The famous "Chicago" sign

Navy Pier

 Tips to have a fun but cheap trip to Chicago:
1. Find a friend and stay with them!!!!
2. Eat hotdogs
3. Try the Chicago popcorn- 1/2 carmel 1/2 cheese flavor ITS DELICIOUS
4. Take a water taxi
5. Navy Pier
6. Ignore the homeless
7. Water Tower
8. Michigan Ave
9. House of Blues
10. Alcohol (but really, what isn't fun with it?)