quick updates

Got back from Chicago last night. The basic itinerary:

Monday-  Saori and I drove to Bloomington to visit Tay. We get in in the early afternoon, go for a walk and out to dinner.
Tuesday- We drove to Chicago, parked, got settled into the hotel, and walked the miracle mile to a recommended deep dish pizza place. Crash at the hotel after that. I walk around near the hotel at night and take photos.
Wednesday- Up early to catch a train to Mexican breakfast at Xoco, followed by a visit to the Shedd aquarium and then on to the contemporary art museum. Dinner of Chicago hot dogs and then we picked up a bottle of wine and played cards at the hotel until we left to go listen to Gypsy jazz at the green mill.
Thursday- quick coffee and donut and a few hours at the Art Institute, focusing on American modern art, then a last deep dish pizza and finally, we got on the road back to St.Louis. Took us about two hours to get out of the city with traffic. We left around 2:30 in the afternoon, and it took us about six and a half hours to get back. Ridiculous. Never driving to Chicago again.
Friday- this morning, Saori and I had interviews, and Tay hopped between us as we each had interviews at different places.