Chicago One.

As we looked out the window, on final approach to O'hare airport we could see two other passenger jets on final approach too.  And they stayed that way until they disappeared into the buildings that separated us on our descent.  We landed at an airport.  I hope they did too.  Busy place.

Step three of our trip from Rome to Chicago went without a hitch.

Now.  How to get to town?

Airport transport?  $30 per head and $30 per bike added up to a lot.  Especially compared to $5 per head on the subway.

Subway it is.  15 stops later and we emerged from the depths into downtown Chicago.  Glossy on the outside. Dozens of towering glass buildings rise 30 stories and more.  Three levels of roads in some places.  A metro that rattles loudly above the ground as well as below it.  Roads of four lanes each way, full of traffic going who knows where. Each car with one person in it. Starbucks on every corner and restaurants in between.

Beggars and homeless are sprinkled around, in alcoves, road tunnels and parks.  A contradiction to the glossy front.  Not so glossy underneath.

The lake is cool, clean and has good access along the water front.  Officious police and security people give instructions and herd people, despite the obvious walk/don't walk signs at the intersections and the signs everywhere warning you to keep off the grass..

The skyline is amazing.

This is looking in one direction.  There are many more big buildings.

A yellow cab, hybrid style.

 We are here for the ITU world championships for elites and age groupers.  The afternoon we arrived evaporated with the time spent getting to our apartment, organising food, eating food and settling in after 4:30.  Any thoughts that we'd had, of having a swim or a bike ride, disappeared in the dwindling hours and jet lag.

Wednesday we woke up at normal time (for Chicago) and had to get organised for the aquathlon, do the aquathlon, attend a team function and join the march - so no training again today.

Once Kim and I had qualified for Hawaii this race had become more of a training hit out than the culmination of our trip and the loss of training time in Rome where we could only manage one run in four days and Chicago where long rides are out of the question and long swims need a wetsuit was becoming frustrating.

Kim, David and I had entered the aquathlon and with little recent work under our belts and plenty of jetlag it was a big question mark how we would perform.  Reports from Kim and David suggested they weren't affected by the upset to the training schedule and I don't think I was.  David ended up 20th and second Australian in the 50s, despite taking half an hour to get her wetsuit off Kim was 6th and second Australian in the 55s and I was fourth and first Australian in mine.  Very happy with the run, doing well under 21 minutes for the five ks.

The rest of the day was a drag.  Kim's wetsuit was missing from transition when she went collect it so her and I spent most of the afternoon going from there to the presentation to the lost property tent (presentation because I thought I had come third) and back but to no avail.  We had little time to get to the function where David and Kim gorged themselves on a wide range of tasty food while I had to content myself with ham and mustard on gluten free bread.    I'm a bit sour because they spend a fortune looking after "disabled" athletes when with a little effort could make more than a token effort for people who are forced to eat gluten free.

We came to be part of this team.  300 odd Aussies.  We didn't get to hold the sign during the march, just stole it for a photo.

Buckingham fountain.  The queen donated this fountain.  Looked good in the late afternoon light.

 Millenium park is just down the block from where we are staying.  It stretches along the waterfront, with busy roads either side, about a kilometre long and 500 metres wide.  Lots of grassy areas and seriously sculpted outside theatres, walkways, fountains, cafes (that's what they are called but getting a "real" coffee there isn't possible) and actual sculptures.  V

The gang appreciating the roof of the stage of an outside theatre.

Thursday, after an easy run and a ride along the lake, dodging walkers, skaters and other cyclists we went wandering.  Dunno how you are supposed to see a city like this in a couple of days but the area around where we are staying, on East Washington Avenue and Millenium Park has plenty of attactions.

A large bean shaped reflective sculpture that eliminates the need for a selfie stick.

Couldn't help myself.  Photobombed my own photo

The gang.

The panorama from the lake side of Millenium Park

A quick ride home from the field museum.  Home of Sue.  You'd think they'd come up
with a better name for a Tyrannosaurus Rex

The closed road for the triathlon course.  With storm brewing.

The view from the mounting paddock.  Day before the race.  Looks of anticipation all round.

Our apartment is probable 50 years old and looks like it could have been used for Seinfeld. Although we haven't seen a Kramer yet.  Big loud fridge, big black electric stove, tiny cupboards, small food preparation area, largish living area, loud but effective air conditioning and a bedroom and bathroom either side.  Its is close to the shops, reasonably close to the race and does the job of accomodating us but I'd hate to be a permanent resident.

Our apartment is about a block up on the left of this city canyon.  Check out the firestairs on the building on the right.  Straight out of the movies.  

From our filthy window on the 19th floor we can look down on the traffic and people through a single pane of glass.  No thoughts of insulation here.  From heat, cold or from noise.  We can hear the elevator signal its arrival through our door, the sirens that seem to go off every 10 minutes, the trains roaring along the railway above the street on steel scaffolds seemingly designed to amplify the noise and the constant roar of the traffic.  They don't use their horns here as much as they do in Cairo but they go off with useless frequency.  All this goes all night and day and is masked only a  little by the roar of the fridge.

I don't think I am a city person.