What's new

Sweet Joe's Chicago

Error

Strata Poster
Most likely no one will get that reference...

Anywho, I've made the 4 hour or so ride to Chicago quite nicely. So let me firstly say this: I HATE traveling alone.

The train ride was pretty good, running a bit late due to a car getting stuck on the train tracks. I got to Union station with my bag and suitcase on each arm, walking through the multitude of talking station number (which sound ALOT like GLaDOS.). As soon as I hit the streets (it's 11pm mind you) I get asked for change about 7 times. I panicked for a minute when I thought I lost my camera.

One hour on the Red line and a short walk later, I'm here. College visit and apple store tomorrow, and possible pics!
 

lol

Mega Poster
Hey operator won't you put me on through
I gotta send my love down the Baton Rouge
Hurry up won't you put her on the line
I gotta talk to the girl just a-one more time
 

Error

Strata Poster
lol wins a cookie.

Some pictures time:
Waiting for the Amtrak to come in.
DSCN2744.jpg

The train is coming from that way
DSCN2745.jpg

My mom, waiting with me.
DSCN2746.jpg

Finally getting on the train, I have a very healthy and expensive meal. Mostly expensive:
DSCN2748.jpg

Inside the train, it was a double decker train.
DSCN2752.jpg

Chicago, CoasterForce. CoasterForce, Chicago.
DSCN2755.jpg

Batman was filmed down here, if you can recall. But, it's still an alley I wouldn't like to go down.
DSCN2756.jpg

Now waiting for the red line train.
DSCN2757.jpg

Still waiting...
DSCN2758.jpg


I'll have some pictures of Jon's appartment and college visit next time!
 

Ian

From CoasterForce
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Social Media Team
I really loved Chicago.

I love the way the city turns this strange golden colour when it's twilight.

Funniest moment when we were sitting somewhere in "the loop" having a coffee and this ponce in a Boxster pulls up at a set of traffic lights with Madonna blaring out. He looked at me, looked at my mate Ren and then eyes Soulsy up and winks at him. We pissed ourselves.

After that me and Soulsy spent the rest of the day talking to everybody in German porn star accents. Ren didn't join in as it was getting dark and was worried we may be attracting some dodgy people.

Anyway, Paul finally turned up to collect us and then we had a mega-fat pizza.

Happy days.
 

Error

Strata Poster
^I really did enjoy Chicago. And by the sounds of it, you were in what I would call Lakeview and Jon would call "Boystown". Did discover there was also a "Girlstown" as well.

Anyways, since I'm back, here's the Trip Report in most of it's entirety.

Day 1:

I woke up roughly 8am, which is very unusual for me. But being an hour behind made me realize it was actually 9am, much more normal. Maybe it was the couch...

Jon had ran off early to catch a date with someone I never met. As such, he said I could go "explore downtown."
Walked to the Red Line station outside his apparent, and waited for the train to come.
DSCN2762.jpg

My god, there's a lot of buildings.
DSCN2764.jpg


Half to downtown, I saw the "Christ died for our sins" sign next to a Dunkin' Donuts. Yes, I saw this:
Christ-Died-for-Donuts-1265.jpg

But, my batteries died before I got to get a good picture of it. When in downtown I had to buy a new "cheap" set. It was roughly 11:30 and was hungry. So, I looked for some food. Trust me, this wasn't hard. There's a McDonald's on EVERY SINGLE BLOCK.
This one happened to be huge, and themed to Martin Luther King Jr.
DSCN2770.jpg

Outside they were building some sort of tree art..thing...
DSCN2768.jpg

DSCN2769.jpg

Afterwards, I went to Millennium Park. I love this park, and it most likely my favorite park in any place.
DSCN2781.jpg

If you don't know what's there, I'll help you out.
DSCN2783.jpg

Advanced yet relatively overdone myspace shot:
DSCN2785.jpg

Where am I?
DSCN2786.jpg

Another thing is this weird looking stage (which was closed):
DSCN2789.jpg

It's pretty damn big. But look! It's another weird short (It's me standing there, I assure you).
DSCN2794.jpg

Then you have a bridge connecting to the other side of the park. Very artsy. Very twisty, VERY long.
DSCN2797.jpg

Another Joe shot (Since you always could use more Joe):
DSCN2796.jpg

I forgot to grab my camera, and it took an interesting picture of my bum side.
DSCN2803.jpg

They had a playground. And, being the 8-year-old at heart, tried to play on it. But, 200lbs on something built for 60lbs is not going to work well...
DSCN2813.jpg

Some site promotion:
DSCN2815.jpg

DSCN2816.jpg

"YEAH!"
DSCN2817.jpg

Would like to take a mention on how tall these buildings are:
DSCN2824.jpg

And how foggy it was. The building: WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
DSCN2780.jpg

Jon then called and we met back up at the bean. It was another hour or so till my college visit. So, we went to the cultural center Chicago.

...no photography allowed...

Then my visit rolled by. After walking up the same section of street 12 times, we found it.
Inside, they had several examples of what they had to offer, and several people who went there and moved on to highly successful lives.
DSCN2846.jpg

DSCN2844.jpg

Someone check on this please?
DSCN2848.jpg

I liked the college, so it was very nice to visit. Our next stop was more of something I wanted to check out:
DSCN2850.jpg

The Apple Store. I wanted to see if a Macbook worked for me. I can say honestly now that it's freaking awesome.
DSCN2851.jpg

My brother decided to "get revenge" and take me to his old workplace. American Girl...
DSCN2852.jpg

It was really weird, but something that little girls could enjoy. Unfortunately, I'm not a little girl...
DSCN2855.jpg

But dear GOD it was huge.
DSCN2856.jpg

After a interesting day, we got back to the apartment to go visit my sister, staying at her friend's place. I didn't bring my camera.
Now, if you recall, my original plan was to see "Watchmen" while there. Showtimes were not till late and cost about $12 a ticket. I'll watch it here instead.

Day 2:
The fateful day: the interview at Six Flags. I can sum it up quite nicely as such: If I were just a few minutes earlier.
If I were just a few minutes earlier I could have made the Red Line instead of waiting 20 minutes for it.
If I were just a few minutes earlier I would have not missed the Metra that was hourly, making me 30 minutes late.
So I waited:
DSCN2862.jpg

And waited...
DSCN2863.jpg

And wait-there it is!

The metra is a train of sorts that travels as far south as Indiana and as far north as Wisconsin. They're very nice inside, but pretty pricey.
DSCN2866.jpg

After an HOUR long trip, I made it to Gurnee. Here's the Metra in full(ish)
DSCN2868.jpg

Another bus ride taking about a half-hour dropped me off at a corner. I didn't know what was there that was a park. But something seemed...hidden...
DSCN2869.jpg

DSCN2870.jpg

DSCN2881.jpg

Thus, after walking in the mud, I found the "other" entrance I was suppose to find.
DSCN2871.jpg

And, what you wanted:
Six Flags Great America
DSCN2880.jpg

The park was still in pre-season and putting itself back together. It could here lift hill clicking while they were testing.
DSCN2879.jpg

A shiney nickel to anyone who name both of this rides:
DSCN2878.jpg

These lovely trailers is were I was interviewed...and trained as well. They were really awesome in the way it was set up. If you were waiting, you were watching a movie. The repeatedly reviewed anything and everything to make it clear what was/wasn't allowed (Hair length, body jewelery, tattoos, shoes, etc.), even their goal to be the cleanest park in 2009.
DSCN2875.jpg

If you didn't already know, I got the job as a ride host. Woo. But, We all know why you came to this trip report:
DSCN2872.jpg

DSCN2876.jpg

I couldn't get many rides, but a few I did manage to grab.
For those who also missed the Iron Wolf question, I have the answer.
It was originally designed to run and hold 3 trains. But, due to it's short length, could only run 2 quickly and effectively. Thus, the track was never changed and the 3rd train sat as an extra.
DSCN2873.jpg

B&M sexiness.
DSCN2874.jpg

I found another entrance by my bus stop, and went to take some shots. Love these shots: I missed the bus for them.
DSCN2882.jpg

Rolling Thunder: hear my cry
DSCN2883.jpg

Raging Bull: B&M orgasm
DSCN2885.jpg

It looks awesome, shame it was closed for the season :(
DSCN2884.jpg

Drop tower which name escapes me:
DSCN2887.jpg

Then I waited for the bus.
DSCN2891.jpg

Patiently...
DSCN2893.jpg

After getting on 2 different, but wrong, buses, I got back to the metra, waiting an hour there (having, of course, just missed it). I got back to Chicago about 9pm. My brother asked if I was hungry, and told me to come to Chili's if I was. It made my day better.

Day3:
I went home. Nothing really happened, actually.
 

Lain

Giga Poster
If you didn't walk to the top of the Sears Tower using only stairs, then you are officially a big woman.
 

Error

Strata Poster
Lain said:
If you didn't walk to the top of the Sears Tower using only stairs, then you are officially a big woman.

Didn't go in the Sears Tower. It's $12 and never really thought it was worth it. I walk by it on the way to Union station and walked everywhere so there.
 

Ian

From CoasterForce
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Social Media Team
I used the lift to get to the top of Sears.

And YES! I remember that park, stage and play area. Yay! I liked Chicago loads more than New York.

Nice report, apart from the roller coaster stuff.
 
Didn't go in the Sears Tower. It's $12 and never really thought it was worth it. I walk by it on the way to Union station and walked everywhere so there.

It's definitely worth it, and it was really cool because the day I went they had a plane show. Sadly, I didn't know this at first, and I actually thought it was a terrorist attack. Yeah.. I'm stupid.

I remember they had a show at that stage in Millennium Park, but I didn't attend it, though I did see the bean and all that. I really like that fountain near there at night as well.

As for the damn train thing that goes above the streets and stuff, it was soo annoying because our window in our hotel (Palmer House Hilton... Soo fancy) was right near there and it woke me up like a zillion times!

Great report, brings back good memories.
 
Top