Arrived safely in Chicago last night, despite the little man in front of me reclining his seat so far back that the limited legroom I had was pushed to the ultimate limit, leaving my legs looking like chicken wings as they struggled for air! To top it off I didn't get a drink or even a whiff of a meal on the flight, apparently it was a budget flight: I paid 1800 pounds for that flight, kind of, it wasn't budget for me!

Managed to find my way to the hostel, went on The El and got off at the right stop, even managed to walk straight to the hostel... well straight past it at first and then straight to it! They checked me in and added the $3 per night because I wasn't a Hostelling International member, and told me they still didn't have any beds for Friday or Saturday: that just added sugar to the top of my day. The dorm was nice though, and I had a nice comfy bed so I guess it's not all bad. I guess.

I had a wander around, not too far as I didn't want to get lost! I ended up buying some bargain face scrub from the pharmacy: I've been yearning for face scrub my whole trip. You wouldn't believe the havoc travelling plays on your skin. Well you might if you've seen any of my photos.

As I hadn't eaten since the shuttle driver rushed me away from my pancakes at 6.15am yesterday morning, and hadn't had a drink since my ever-so-lovely Starbucks pumpkin spice latte at 8am, I was feeling a little hungry and parched. I stopped in at a bakery version of Starbucks and had soup in a bread roll, apparently it's common but my first time, so I'll write about it! Pretty nice, nothing to write home about.... except I clearly am doing just that. b*****.

The bloke at the bakery took the Mick out of my accent when I double checked how much a Dime was worth, but the joke was on him when he cockily asked which part of London I was from! Loser. I was polite though, and explained I was from near Birmingham, to which he just nodded. Great.

The earplugs and eye mask came out last night as the lights failed to turn off, and the elderly woman staying in the dorm snored like the train running past outside. How many more nights in dorms do I have again?

On a less cranky note, this morning was good, got up and had the free breakfast: toast, a muffin, and cereal, though the cereal mostly went over the floor as I failed to figure out the dispensing machine. It was this that caused the bloke there to ask where I was from... I don't think I'm being a great ambassador for England. Met an Irish girl who has been travelling for 14 months, well she worked in Sydney for a year so kind of, and a bloke from Bristol who was a fan of Gordon Brown. I'll leave it there.

Eventually managed to get past a load of obstacles such as my phone deciding not to conduct international calls, and met up with Catlin's brother Clint for coffee. Went to Caribou Coffee rather than Starbucks, as recommended by Catlin! Walked around the city, well some of it. Very cool city, and it wasn't too cold so all the better! I wrapped up far too much this morning thinking I'd freeze my four month old socks off, and proceeded to get nice rosy cheeks!

Off for another bread bowl, chilli this time. Good lord it was messy! I tried to tear the bowl apart in a ladylike fashion, but still ended up with a whole load of chilli on pretty much every finger! Somehow ended up doing some shopping - but only spent $14 so not too bad, didn't get swept away!

Back to the hostel after a Caramel Apple Tea (very nice by the way) at the same bakery as last night, but my dislike of having my accent ridiculed must have been passed along the grapevine as the lad tonight said I had a very nice accent! Creep.

I found out there still isn't any room at the inn on Friday or Saturday, neither is there any room at any nearby hostels. There must be a Star Trek convention on. So after a lot of panic and some looking at stupidly expensive hotels I managed to get a hostel further out of the city, but it's a bed.