today we woke up just in time for lunch- i think the busy days are starting to take a toll! as well as the heat... we tried to find somewhere to eat lunch, and saw that jimmy john's was close. it is a sandwich bar, much like subway- except they are better. entering the store, we were greeted by about ten employees all at once- 'hi and welcome to jimmy john!!'. we were taken a back by the loud and obvious welcome. they all looked at one another- even they realized that level of customer service was a little much. the main sell of the chain of stores is the speed with which they deliver your food. ordering at the counter- our sandwiches arrived before our change did. very impressive. both mum and i realized the whole time we sat in the restaurant eating, i had eyes burning into the back of my head. one of the gourmet kitchen hands was a starer. and he had it bad- way to make the white australian girl feel any more alien! we ate whilst they sang to the backstreet boys blasting, then headed for the subway.
arriving downtown, we headed for the mocp (museum of contemporary photography). the exhibitions as a whole were average, despite a handful and some really interesting ones on the third floor. there was also a fantastic video piece documenting polish people and the way in which their religions clashed. they all came together and painted their religious views, and then lit one anothers on fire and fought about who was living the right way. there was no conflict resolution happening anytime soon.
we returned to the crown fountain to cool off after the museum, and made friends with a gorgeous african american baby and her curvacious mother. mum suggested that the mum had lost it just a little- talking laughing to herself. i wasn't convinced, and thought she might just be talking to her kid. it wasn't until she followed her child into the shallow water fully clothes, started dancing and breaking it down beyonce style and then jumped into the splits into the water that i was sold.
we then found ourselves in the middle of an orchestra performance at the jay pritzker pavilion. the sound carried beautifully, and it was a nice way to cool off in the shade- as it had hit about 38 degrees and we were struggling.
we spent the late afternoon at the navy pier- a place tourists tend to flock to. we bought assorted candy (i found metallic gummy bears and rock candy on sticks!) and then went on the ferris wheel. it was about 8 stories high, and not for those with a fear of heights. the view of the city was pretty impressive from up top, but i was happy to get off! we continued to saunter down the pier, and i came very close to buying a build a bear and decking it out in chicago cubs attire. but i resisted temptation.
dinner on the pier and then headed back on the bus into town. had a quick shop at h&m, picked up some fruit at walgreens and then back on the subway and home again to escape the heat. nearly 11pm here now and still 30 degrees outside. thinking of you all in that 8 degree melbourne weather.
