Get Lost... Embracing the Unexpected
One of the most interesting things about this city is the general lack of useful travel information. Maps cannot, or for some reason unbeknownst to millions of tourists do not, supply the necessary information that seems so natural to Chicago natives. A few examples of things that people should tell you before you come to the city:
1. You cannot go back the same way you came because the exit you used to get there does not exist going the opposite direction. If it does it exist, it will be closed for construction.
2. Traveling northbound there is a place where 94 splits into a trucks and no trucks road. Both end up in the same place-- one is twice as fast, but the signs are confusing so most tourists end up in the slow lane.
3. "Expressway" is not literal-- think of it as an articulation of old fashion midwestern sarcasm.
4. Wacker is east, west, north, and south. Yes, that is right, the street actually goes all directions! And, as an added twist, it also is both above and below ground. Which one do you need? You don't know because maps do not mark the spilt between above and below ground. If you, like me, go subterranean there are no signs to tell you when to exit. If you stay on what you think is Wacker you will end up westward bound on 290.
5. Should you assume the trains are a safer bet-- you would be wrong. Okay, so the set tracks do limit the possibilities, but never underestimate the bizzare. Sometimes the lines are being worked on and aren't running. Occasionally, to mix it up, the CTA decides to not stop at certain places. Recently, there was a whole weekend where the train did not stop southbound at Addison. So weary travelers rode south a stop exited and re-entered the train station to ride north to get to the stop they had just passed.
The plus side of all the confusion is you will inevitably be lost. And, if you have the time, you can discover some pretty interesting places. The Wacker fiasco lead me to Little Italy and Greektown. I also found a shopping mall near our house that has Armani, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom. Joe and I found a Cheesecake Factory 10 minutes from home. Our first adventure getting lost took us to Chinatown. It seems that like so much else in this city, the path you are on is only a good excuse to take a detour (willingly or not) and open your world to something new.
1. You cannot go back the same way you came because the exit you used to get there does not exist going the opposite direction. If it does it exist, it will be closed for construction.
2. Traveling northbound there is a place where 94 splits into a trucks and no trucks road. Both end up in the same place-- one is twice as fast, but the signs are confusing so most tourists end up in the slow lane.
3. "Expressway" is not literal-- think of it as an articulation of old fashion midwestern sarcasm.
4. Wacker is east, west, north, and south. Yes, that is right, the street actually goes all directions! And, as an added twist, it also is both above and below ground. Which one do you need? You don't know because maps do not mark the spilt between above and below ground. If you, like me, go subterranean there are no signs to tell you when to exit. If you stay on what you think is Wacker you will end up westward bound on 290.
5. Should you assume the trains are a safer bet-- you would be wrong. Okay, so the set tracks do limit the possibilities, but never underestimate the bizzare. Sometimes the lines are being worked on and aren't running. Occasionally, to mix it up, the CTA decides to not stop at certain places. Recently, there was a whole weekend where the train did not stop southbound at Addison. So weary travelers rode south a stop exited and re-entered the train station to ride north to get to the stop they had just passed.The plus side of all the confusion is you will inevitably be lost. And, if you have the time, you can discover some pretty interesting places. The Wacker fiasco lead me to Little Italy and Greektown. I also found a shopping mall near our house that has Armani, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom. Joe and I found a Cheesecake Factory 10 minutes from home. Our first adventure getting lost took us to Chinatown. It seems that like so much else in this city, the path you are on is only a good excuse to take a detour (willingly or not) and open your world to something new.
posted by Barbara at 6:29 PM
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