Monday - Palmer House Hotel- it is calm and beautiful and I decide this is the
place for a cup of coffee - served in a very large cup, delicious - but now how do I pay ask one
fellow who sends me to another fellow who says 'on us' -- this is my day - should rush out and buy a lotto ticket!
Millenium Park - walk to this fabulous Park - the Cloud; the Crowne and the Buckingham
Fountains lots of children play in the water at the Crowne which is very shallow and splashable also the surface non-slip - hopefully can add picture of the faces 'spouting' water -- lunch by the Buckingham near the shore of the Lake .
Decide to 'do' Hop on/off just for the ride - the City Centre and Chinatown (not much) Italy and Greek - mere shadows of their former selves but the guide does point out the 'names' for food - also the DiMaggio statue - this town likes sports - I've overheard a couple of animated conversation re: the game - have no idea hockey, baseball or whatever - but they were 'into it'!!

Would love to stay longer but the 'body calls' - eat at the hotel - a lovely waitress with a very strong Russian accent - who finds me a bag (her initiative) so I can carry the can of micro-brewer beer I have bought back to my room discreetly!!

Tuesday - Im torn and tired and decide - over a delicious breakfast from Prairie Bread Co - oatmeal with fruit/nuts and good coffee - to stay in Oak Park - lots of small shops - also a stop at Walgreens who seem the model for Shopper's - they sell everything - including cinnamon Altoids
on sale for only .99 (if I had a Walgreen card 2.49 without) .... back to the hotel for a crummy lunch although outside - get out of there as quickly as possible and cross the street to the 'Marion St Cheese Market' - cafe (should have eaten here) and cheese market for a great cup of Americano - meet my taxi promptly at 1:30 and off to O'Hare.....back to Ottawa -- a lovely evening!-- a bientot!