If they survived until now, the actual users of the water tower must be surprised to see how the buildings growing around it have dwarfed the tower. The Millennium Park has a good blend of nature and contemporary arts. The bean (officially Cloud Gate) sitting in the centre of the park artistically engages the surrounding magnificent architectures into a bent miniature - what a convenient steal! or more appropriately an efficient copy?

 

A city without water is without a soul. If Lake Michigan is a shiny big pearl gifted by God to Chicago, then the Chicago river must be the running blood in the veins of the dynamic city... On a sunny day, a boat trip along the river offers a floating view inside the museum of achitectures. Or if you have already made the effort to walk down the magnificent mile, a boat tour on the Michigan gives a sketch of the beautiful skyline from another prospect.

 

The Art Insititute has abundant pieces to explore for a whole day. There are great works of Monet, Van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir etc etc, if you are into impressionism. I was quite pleased to first see a reproduction of Beata Beatrix in a panel, with the original much easier to access in Tate Britain. A live proof that great arts do get around the globe...

 

The expanded suburb of the city also has some ordinary charms to offer. The only shame is it is so expanded that people actually do not take much time out of their houses or cars. The view of a young family of deers is certainly not quite a surprise if you do take notice of the warning signs for "deers crossing" on the side of the roads.

 

All should start and end in Frank Sinatra's deep voice, yes "one town that wont let you down"...