First, I flew out of IAH Monday on a flight that was scheduled to leave at 11:45 a.m. but due to rain in Chicago that morning, our flight didn't leave until right after 2 p.m. The ride was smooth and we landed without incident around 4:30 p.m. Once off the plane, we got into a shuttle that would take us to our hotel. The traffic getting to the hotel was unreal and I was very glad I did not choose to rent a car. Towards the end of the trip, the shuttle was turning and a taxi which was on our left honked and then turned around us almost knocking off the front of the shuttle. I was so glad to get out of the van when we finally go to the front door.
When I got my luggage, this is what greeted me:
A side note: I have a childhood phobia of revolving doors. I went with my dad to work one day when I was young and due to the fact that I was too short and too light it stopped and I was trapped. My dad heard me crying and had to come rescue me. Ever since this occured, I have avoided revolving doors at all costs.
Apparently, every store and hotel in downtown Chicago has a revolving door to enter and exit through. Due to this, I finally overcame my phobia.
I got my hotel key and then went to my room. It was gorgeous and just like the photos from the website:
http://www.embassysuiteschicago.com/accommodations/
That night my coworker and I walked across the street to eat at a very convenient Chili's. We were hungry and exhausted.
The next morning, we ate the delicious continental breakfast and then walked the 0.8 miles to the hotel that the conference as being held. The weather was beautiful and it was NOT hot. Using my iPhone, we walked a very scenic route and we were not alone. My first observation was that there was not a button for the crosswalks, instead they were just timed along with the traffic lights. There were more people walking on the sidewalk than there was driving in the street. The sure number of cabs verses cars was mind blowing. Also, I noticed that the use of the car horn is a requirement. If the first car wasn't rolling by the time the light finished turning green, at least two cars behind it was blaring its horn. Buses honk at each other like it is accepted, I was shocked.
After about 10 minutes of walking, my coworker and I came to our destination:
http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumchicago/index.html
The inside was breathtaking:
We then went into the conference room which had quite a bit of history:
Afterwards, we went to the John Hancock Observatory and went up an elevator at 20 mph to the 94th floor. The view was amazing and unreal.
Exhausted from all the walking, we all went back to our respective hotels to start the day over again. On the way back to our hotel, I saw this sign and couldn't help myself:
Due to a Starbucks withdrawal, the next morning I walked next door to the Starbucks and got myself a Java Chip Frappichino, it was awesome. My coworker and I walked the same way back to the conference for our second day of training and then we went to lunch at a Cheesecake Factory nearby.
After the day was over we walked to a local pizza place for dinner. We all wanted to get a chicago deep dish pizza. The pizza was awesome and completely worth the wait.
One of my coworkers from Solon, Ohio had us meet her sister for dinner. When I first met her sister, the thought of her being different did not pass my mind. My coworker mentioned her being an Albino but I was taken back since I had no idea. Once her sister was with us while we were waiting to be seated, I had burning questions to ask and get answered. She was very gracious and appreciated me asking and not assuming. I had to admit that I couldn't tell and that she was the first one I had ever met.
We all walked our separate ways to our separate hotels to start our third day in the morning.
My coworker and I walked the last time to the other hotel and sleepily sat through the training. Due to some Houston issues, my coworker had to walk back to the hotel we were staying in to get on his work laptop and try to work on an urgent agent case that had just come up. After the conference was over with, I walked alone back to the hotel to eat my leftover pizza for dinner. On the way back, I was able to take in more sights and take more pictures of what I had seen.
This is what I saw on the sidewalk and thought it was amazing. This is a live person who is in costume and make-up:
I was able to upgrade my ticket to first class which was a completely new adventure for me since I had never sat in first class. Due to my first class boarding pass, I was able to go to a special line for security and essentially went through in half the time it would have taken for general boarding. First class was able to board first and so I took my seat next to an older gentleman who was very kind to help me with my luggage. The man next to me drank FOUR Vodka/Tonics from the time we boarded to the time we landed. I just drank Sprite and ate some peanuts due to my lack of hunger and nerves about the flight. The seats were leather and I was able to watch the Direct TV programming that was displayed on the seat back in front of me the whole flight as opposed to the going flight that cut off after only an hour or so of play. I was shocked just how much was free in first class and the fight attendant was surprised I didn't want much. It was nice to have more leg room and to be with business people with no kids. Due to the weather, the flight was bumpier than usual resulting in the seat belt sign staying on. The pilot stated on the overhead that we had to go around Dallas to avoid some storms which tacked on about 30 minutes to our flight. The landing was very rough but I was prepared with my hands firmly on the seat in front of me.
We landed and I hightailed it to the pick up for Park N Fly to get to my car so I could drive home. I drove home and relaxed with some wine. I had fun but I was exhausted.
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