Monday, 30 April

Monday, 30^th April

After taxiing around for 2 days, our trip finally took off the runway on Monday. After a lovely breakfast with Bob and Merilyn, I was dropped off at Marie’s place by Bob. We then walked up to the train station and took a train to downtown Chicago to go to the Art Institute. 

The train ride was a different experience. I would not say the trains were in the best of their condition but yes, the efficiency was good. In spite of a Monday morning, the train was not crowded, which shows that it’s a least preferred commuting vehicle. People prefer to use their own transport than depend on public transport systems. The impression I got was that only those who cannot afford their own vehicle would use a public transport. The train went above a lot of industrial areas and also some slums around.  Nevertheless, we enjoyed every bit of the experience.

So finally we reached the Art Institute where Marie’s friend Marie Pierre, an art enthusiast and a freelance lecturer of art, was waiting for us at the gates. Marie took us in to a completely different world of paintings and life of these painters. The collection of the ‘Impressionists’ was remarkable at the institute. Listening to the stories and emotions behind the paintings of some of the great painters such as Monet, Picasso, Seurat, Van Gogh, took us on a different plane altogether. It was an out of this world experience.

Then after lunch at the Institute, our coordinator Marie Olmos, took us on a walking tour around downtown Chicago and showed us beautiful buildings with architectural brilliance. After the big fire which burned down practically the whole of Chicago, this city stood up in no time into an architectural wonder. It was not hard to believe that Chicago was blessed with such great Architects.

The day ended just right with all of our host families gathering together at the Greek Island Restaurant to enjoy the most sumptuous Greek food I have ever had. I don’t think the bakhalawa tastes that good in Greece as well.