We liked Buffalo very much - it was nice and clean and quiet and friendly so we were a little sad to leave...but we dutifully hopped on the overnight train and off we went across about 3 states, to arrive mid morning with a new friend Andrew - straight into torrential rain! The rain lasted all day and try as we might to see the sights we were obliged to turn to a bit of shopping - to buy new shoes and socks for Cal as her cheap old trainers gave up the ghost!

Downtown Chicago was just like the films, with the Loop overground railway twisting past the skyscrapers above our heads. Happily the rain stopped after the first day so we could see Chicago better - much cleaner and nicer looking than New York. Walking along the banks of Lake Michigan reminded us of Mumbles! We enjoyed a stroll from our accomodation (a little snooty but grubby) to the town centre, past lots of sights and through some lovely parks with arty works and sculptures, and some interesting fountains, before getting down to the real business of seeing the Chicago Bulls play ball! The game was hilarious in that the audience were barely watching, chatting etc while the game was in play, but when the interactive animated entertainment bits came on in the breaks the crowd went wild, the place roared - at a doghnut racing a coffee cup -?! The reserved looking guy in front of us jumped up yelling 'Run you stupid cup of coffee, run!!' at the top of his voice - and he was not alone. Most odd! Another highlight was the 5 year old cute Cosbie show style kid saying to his grandad 'Dude get ma back' and his grandad giving him a massage at the bus stop - 'Oh yeah, right there. I needed that'!

More nights of entertainment; a bonafide live blues night in a packed sweaty little bar in Lincoln Park (Jack Daniels and Martinis), a trip to a comedy club called Second City, where people like Bill Murray started out - very funny! All made us feel like we had experienced the authentic Chicago.

Time to move on somewhere warmer!