It has been a busy spring:  4 crafts shows; swim meets at Georgia Tech, Geezer (Senior) Games, Greensboro (Nationals), and Athens; Griffin Choral Arts’ season finale concert; train trip to Washington, D.C.; and, a trip to Chicago.  Mix in some contract work, a handful (or two) of community events, and a 100+ miles of swim training, and, it made for a delicious spring that went by in the blink of an eye.  Happy summer, everybody!

Turning 50 in January kicked off what has turned out to be a fantastic year, so far.  So, my best friend, Laura, and I kept things rolling by meeting in Chicago to celebrate her upcoming 50^th birthday.  In 42 years of friendship, this was the first time we had met up for a girls-only trip out of town.

Since we both enjoy staying at B&B’s, we decided to rely on our favorite travel website, www.TripAdvisor.com, to recommend one for us in Chicago.  Research led us to Gold Coast Guest House Bed & Breakfast (http://www.bbchicago.com/index.html ), centrally located in downtown Chicago.

So, Laura flew from California and I flew out from Atlanta, meeting up in the airport, to begin our adventure to a city she had visited before, but was new to me and on my bucket list.

Sally greeted us upon arrival at the B&B, a charming row house located on the edge of the Gold Coast, one of the priciest neighborhoods in the country.  It is quite charming and comfortable; just perfect for what we wanted.  And, the location could not be beat!

After settling in and being shown around, Laura and I headed out to enjoy drinks on the 96^th floor of the John Hancock building; a short walk away through the lovely streets of downtown.  As we strolled down a small section of the Miracle Mile (Michigan Avenue), we passed by sports commentator, Peter Gammons,; probably in town for the Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox, game taking place that evening.

Upon arrival, an ear-popping elevator ride took us up to the 96^th floor bar, where we gawked at the view, as soon as we stepped out.  But, check this out…  When was the last time you used the restroom facilities anywhere with a view like this?  It brought hand-washing to a whole new level!

More scenes of downtown, as we made our way to Big Bowl for a tasty dinner of Asian stir-fry.

Next up:  Winding our way through windy Chicago by boat.  Check back soon!