Chicago - Michigan Avenue

Found it! The start of Historic Route 66! Right at Michigan Avenue.

There were a variety of ways to explore Michigan Avenue. Just like the Mustang--the bicycles were too big. Hate it when I can't reach the pedals.

There was also the big Bus--too fast!

I decided walking was best. Look at the wall of buildings that face Grant Park.

The building with portals at the top floor is the Santa Fe Building, the home to the Chicago Architectural Foundation.

There is a big model of the city in the atrium.

Here are some of the books on Chicago in their shop. I really like the red one with the golden building on the cover!

Next stop was a few doors down for lunch at the Cliff Dwellers Club (get it--the wall of buildings on Michigan Avenue is like a cliff!).

Have a great view of Millennium Park. The silver Bean looks very small from here. See everyone playing in the water of the Crown Fountain?

Another View.

The building next door has lots of lion heads on it!

Back at ground level I found a bit of Paris! One of Hector Guimard's Metro station entrances.

I also found this powerful and grand Native American on a horse. Next stop the Auditorium Theater!

Adler & Sullivan's Auditorium Theater--What a Building!

 

The Grand Staircase.

Great Ornament!

More ornament!

Cool Column!

Chicago - Leaning Towers & Lollapalooza!

Yes, it's Chicago--Really! Well, actually, no the campanale is in Niles, but that is just north of Chicago. We didn't get to see the Leaning Tower in Pisa when we were in Italy, so I was able to visit this almost full-size replica on my visit to Chicago. 

It was pretty tall (94 feet). I liked the rows of columns and arcades.

Here I am holding it up!

I also had some good chats with a couple of Chicago-Italian lions at the tower.

I then went down to the Loop for an evening of entertainment. The Sky Ride Tap opened in the 1930s and was named after the Skyride the Eiffel Tower of the 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair.

I walked pass this huge mural.

This building had a pretty neat fractured facade.

I then went to Lollapalooza to see Paul McCartney! There were a lot of people there!!!

Sir Paul rocks pretty good for a 73 year old! Here is a clip.

South Africa - Lions and Zebras and Giraffes Oh My! -- Part 1

In South Africa we went to Kapama an animal preserve. We drove around in a large open air vehicle. We saw lots of zebras like these.

WE saw lions like this sleeping one.

Her sister was jealous since she was sleeping in the good spot and woke her up.

These guys just crashed in the road.

This giraffe came by to say "hi"!

These guys were putting on a good show of mock fighting. They swing their necks around each other.

We also saw some huge rhinos.

Hong Kong - Ferrys and Lions

Here I am relaxing a bit in the Guilin airport on way to Hong Kong.

Some of my student friends in the airport. They had been really starved for WiFi as there is very limited Internet on the ship.

Made it back home to the MV Explorer in Hong Kong.

Here I am taking the ferry to downtown Hong Kong.

Departing the ferry.

This is a favorite ritzy hotel for weddings!

A bunny wedding couple on the front of a car!

We came across some lions ready to celebrate Chinese New Years in a Hong Kong park.

A strange looking lion.

One of the regal lions at the HSBC Building.

This lion wasn't so tough. See she was playing with one of her cubs. Okay, so going in her mouth maybe wasn't such a great idea.

What was even scarier was coming across this poster!!!

To calm my nerves we went to McDonalds for a Coke.

Here I am with one of my younger ship friends waiting to get back on board.