Finding My Inner City Cat: Train Naps, Freezing Winds, & Real Coca-Cola in Chicago

It's the evening of day 2 in Chicago, & as I sit here in the bed of our cozy bed & breakfast, I'm reflecting on everything I saw & experienced today. 

My morning started bright & early around 5:30AM. I brewed some coffee for Kole & I, settled in with my book for  a bit, & then got ready to tackle the day. Once we were all dressed & caffeinated, we headed over to Koles' Aunt Dianne's' home for a plentiful breakfast to power us up before hitting the city. 

Next up was the train station! This was my very first time ever riding in a train, & I was beyond excited (even if the actual set up was much different than I imagined.) Turns out, Train travel might not be made for tall people. My legs were pretty cramped, & I managed to bump my head every time I stood up. The ride lasted about an hour, passing a lot of flat land & city outskirts. I read for a bit longer, until the soft, rhythmic vibrations of the train completely knocked me out, & I napped the rest of the way into the city. 

Once we arrived, the real sightseeing began. We logged plenty of miles walking around & made a few strategic stops at cute local bars & pubs to grab a drink, thaw out, & reset before heading to the next stop. Chicago is massive, beautiful, & COLD. I really thought I nailed the whole layering for the weather thing, but boy, was I wrong - I was FREEZING! I had goosebumps all day & felt like a sun-seeking cat. constantly hunting for the next stray beam of light to stand in for just two seconds of warmth. 

The city vibe is so different than anything I've ever experienced. I don't think I've ever seen that many people in one place in my entire life. Even for a Saturday, Everything moved at such a fast, lively pace. Locals were out & about everywhere - hanging out by the water, grabbing drinks, & enjoying all the charming little seating spots scattered throughout the city. 

During our walk through the city I got to see so many incredible things. I saw The Bean, The Buckingham Fountain, Goth Target (iykyk), The Chicago River & Lake Michigan. Standing at each of these sites, just absorbing & taking it all in, I just kept thinking to myself about how these were all places & experiences I never could of imagined for myself. 

After a full day of taking in all the sites - & dodging the chilly wind. We headed back to the train station to travel back towards our homebase for the weekend & to grab a bite for dinner. Naturally, we went to Portillo's. Where I finally got a real Coca-Cola, I paired that with an Italian Beef Sandwich & fries. It was so delicious - I'd give it a solid 8.5/10. With our bellies full, we finally headed back home, for real this time. 

Which brings me to right now: freshly showered, wrapped in my favorite comfy clothes, & snuggled up under the covers. I'm ready to dive back into my book for the night, feeling so grateful & excited to see what tomorrow will hold. 

XoXo, 

Abby