Chicago sights

Chicago city landscape.

View of the city skyline from the cycle path on the lakefront.  We rode a couple of kms down from Tonja and Matt's apartment.


The reflections of surrounding buildings on the facade of 333 West Wacker Drive.  This shot was taken during the incomparable Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise - a not inexpensive $35 tour - which was worth every cent.  A very informative and knowledgeable older woman volunteer, an architecture lecturer, Nancy was our guide.  She explained that many of the buildings are known only by their street address.

Chicago is an architectural wonderland.  After the fire in 1870 when almost the whole city was destroyed, architects flocked to Chicago to work on a blank canvas to create buildings of the most imaginative design.  Incidentally, Chicago is the third largest city in population in the US after New York and Los Angeles.

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the famous sons of this city.  We went to see his house and studio at Oak Park where he spent some 20 years of his life.  As well as designing his own house, he also designed many of the surrounding houses.  We did a tour with audio guide - it was very interesting,  But it was not until we got inside his own house that FLW's amazingly innovative designs became fully evident.  He was amazingly creative, individualistic, modern with a fantastic spatial perspective.  But he could not have been easy to live with.  As well as designing most of the furniture and fittings including lightshades, someone told us that he made his wife wear matching dresses with certain room designs!!!!!!

No cameras were allowed inside the house.  I guess this was to encourage you to buy the booklet, which we did, but it is a shame I was not able to capture some of the inside to show on this blog.



The Marilyn statute in front of the Chicago Tribune building.  And yes you can see her white lace panties.

Perhaps another Marilyn wannabe?