“Chicago, Chicago...that Toddlin’ Town”

Chicago airport is very organized.  A stranger or first time visitor has no problem finding his/her way around.  We are all safe on the ground and through immigration, which went quickly once we got to the end of the long queues.  The officer asked me (Elisme) what I will be doing in America...once he heard that we are a group of seven people doing Route 66, we went through without a hitch.

Getting the rented vehicle was another story.  Hans established that we must take a train to a remote platform where the vehicle is parked.  The rental agency communicated with Hans while we were still in South Africa where he paid everything.  They describe to him what the vehicle looks like and where in the nose of the vehicle he will find a safe (they sent him the code on email before we left South Africa).

Thumbs up for Hans - Coming in to a strange country, knowing nothing and finding a GREY MERCEDES BENTZ SPRINTER COMBE!!!  All he had was the key and checklist and no assistance from any officers!  Well done Hansie!!!

Getting to the Hilton Garden Hotel, without a GPS, was another story. . Luckily we were in the very capable hands of Stephanus who is Hans’s co driver.  After a few stops to ask where to go, we arrived at our destination.  I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see how confidently Hans drove on the right side of the road...

Elisme at Harrods > Chicago Airport > The Sprinter > Safely at Hilton Garden Hotel

We checked in and al went hunting for MALL to find a grocery store.  What a surprise in America, Chicago you do not find grocery stores in a Mall. It’s not like in South Africa where they first get a grocery store as a tenant, then the rest of the stores.  Here FAST FOOD and RESTAURANTS are the main tenants.  FAST FOOD is a big trade here. I heard that in New York the house come without ovens now???

We ordered a taxi for 13h00 to take us to down town.
We were so surprised to find this Limo waiting for us in front of our hotel.  It was a first time any of us drove in a Limo. Many jokes and laughter were passed on our way to the Millennium Park.
The Park has many surprises and round every corner something else pops up.

A 21 seater for the 7 of us...???